What is a .vdi file?
A .vdi file is a VDI disk image. Its registered MIME type is application/x-virtualbox-vdi, which places it in the application or document family of formats.
VDI stands for Virtual Disk Image.
VDI 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 3C 3C 3C 20 51 45 4D 55 20 56 4D 20 56 69 72 74 75 61 6C 20 44 69 73 6B 20 49 6D 61 67 65 20 3E 3E 3E 0A. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.
VDI file format details
| Extension | .vdi |
|---|---|
| Format | VDI disk image |
| MIME type | application/x-virtualbox-vdi, application/x-vdi-disk |
| Category | Application or document |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | 3C 3C 3C 20 51 45 4D 55 20 56 4D 20 56 69 72 74 75 61 6C 20 44 69 73 6B 20 49 6D 61 67 65 20 3E 3E 3E 0A |
| Registered with IANA | No |
| Other extensions | None |
How to open VDI files
| Windows | VDI files (VDI 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 VDI 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 .vdi file?
TapToConvert does not convert VDI files. The usual route is to open the file in the program that made it and use its Export or Save as option.
VDI file FAQ
What is a .vdi file?
A .vdi file is a VDI disk image, with the MIME type application/x-virtualbox-vdi.
How do I open a .vdi file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .vdi file safe to open?
VDI 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 .vdi?
application/x-virtualbox-vdi, and it is also seen as application/x-vdi-disk. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is VDI 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.