| File Type 1 |
Macbinary II Encoded File (Most common) |
| File Format |
File |
| Common? |
No |
| File Description |
Compressed file encoded as binary or MacBinary; commonly used for transferring Macintosh files over the Internet; ensures the Macintosh resource fork and data fork are kept in one file. |
| Program(s) that open bin files |
Mac: Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe for Mac
Windows: Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe for Windows |
| File Type 2 |
Binary Video File |
| File Format |
Standard File |
| Common? |
No |
| File Description |
Video file saved as raw binary data from a DVD or other media; may be saved along with a .CUE file that describes what data is saved in the BIN file.
Since BIN video files may contain long streams of video, they may be several gigabytes in size. |
| Program(s) that open bin files |
Mac: VideoLAN VLC media player
Windows: VideoLAN VLC media player; Lightning UK ImgBurn
Unix: VideoLAN VLC media player |
| File Type 3 |
Generic Binary File |
| File Format |
Standard File |
| Common? |
No |
| File Description |
File that stores data in a binary format; different than a text-based file, which can be edited in a text editor; may be created by a variety of different programs; typically cannot be manually edited.
Disk images are typically binary files, though they often use other file extensions; BIN files may also be used for firmware updaters. |
| Program(s) that open bin files |
Mac / Windows: Open with program that created the file |
| File Type 4 |
Sega Genesis Game ROM |
| File Format |
Standard File |
| Common? |
No |
| File Description |
Game ROM of a Sega Genesis video game; stores the data from a Sega Genesis cartridge in a single data file; can be played on a PC using a Genesis emulation program.
Sega Genesis ROMs also use the .SMD file extension. |
| Program(s) that open bin files |
Mac: Genesis Plus; Generator; Dgen
Windows: Gens; Gens Plus!; Kega Fusion; retroDrive; HazeMD; Ages; Xega |
| File Type 5 |
Unix Executable File |
| File Format |
Standard File |
| Common? |
No |
| File Description |
Program, or compiled binary file, that can be run on a Unix operating system, such as Linux or FreeBSD; may be run from the command line by typing "[filename].bin," where [filename] is the name of the executable file. |
| Program(s) that open bin files |
Unix: Runs itself |
| File Type 6 |
CDRWin CD Image |
| File Format |
Standard File |
| Common? |
No |
| File Description |
Disk image created from a CD using CDRWin; stores data copied from a CD or DVD; can be mounted by the computer and recognized as a physical disc; similar to the standard .ISO disc image format.
If a BIN file will not open, it may be opened by some disk utilities by changing the extension from ".bin" to ".iso." |
| Program(s) that open bin files |
Mac: Roxio Toast; NTI Dragon Burn
Windows: Roxio Creator; Golden Hawk Technology CDRWin; Daemon Tools; IsoBuster; EZB Systems UltraISO |
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