What is a .qcow2 file?
A .qcow2 file is a QEMU QCOW disk image. Its registered MIME type is application/x-qemu-disk, which places it in the application or document family of formats.
QCOW stands for QEMU Copy On Write.
QCOW2 is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
Files of this type usually begin with the bytes 51 46 49. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.
The same format is also saved with the extension .qcow.
QCOW2 file format details
| Extension | .qcow2 |
|---|---|
| Format | QEMU QCOW disk image |
| MIME type | application/x-qemu-disk |
| Category | Application or document |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | 51 46 49 |
| Registered with IANA | No |
| Other extensions | .qcow |
How to open QCOW2 files
| Windows | QCOW2 files (QEMU QCOW disk image) are made by specific software. The reliable way to open one is with the program that created it; a generic viewer will only show raw data. |
|---|---|
| Mac | The same applies on a Mac: look for a Mac version of the program that makes QCOW2 files. |
| iPhone and iPad | Phones rarely open this type of file directly. The viewer above can show what is inside it without installing anything. |
| Android | The same applies on Android. The viewer above shows the first bytes of the file so you can confirm what it is. |
Can you convert a .qcow2 file?
TapToConvert does not convert QCOW2 files. The usual route is to open the file in the program that made it and use its Export or Save as option.
QCOW2 file FAQ
What is a .qcow2 file?
A .qcow2 file is a QEMU QCOW disk image, with the MIME type application/x-qemu-disk.
How do I open a .qcow2 file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .qcow2 file safe to open?
QCOW2 files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.
What is the MIME type of .qcow2?
application/x-qemu-disk. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is QCOW2 a text or binary format?
Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.
File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.