All the files with the LNK are actually the shortcut files. The Windows creates shortcuts under the . lnk extension for the programs with the .exe extensions. Here, LNK stands for Link. These shortcut files are created to establish a direct link to the program so that navigation to the main executable program can be done faster and easier. A file can be pointed out as a shortcut by the &qout;curled arrow&qout; indicator on it which says that it is .lnk extension file.
What are the problems one faces with these files?
Sometimes, the files with this extension do not work or display an error message when they are double-clicked on. A simple reason behind them is that the link established between the shortcut and the main executable program has broken, primarily because the program has gone corrupt or it has been removed from the system. Another problem which may creep in while accessing such files can be that each such file is leading to the same executable program. This can be easily solved by making suitable changes in the registry editor.
These shortcut files with the LNK are also known as the shell links. Because of the reason that these files are nothing but the shortcuts to a particular executable program, they cannot be used in place of the files themselves. The .lnk files provide a faster way of accessing a particular program. Double-clicking any such shortcut . lnk file will have the same function just like double-clicking the original icon of the program itself.
So, how do these files help?
There are many Windows Managers which support the shortcut files. Some of them are 4Dwm, aewm++, cwm, dwm, ecomorph, epiwm, fpcbol, and ion2, KWin, Metacity and Window Maker. In addition to defining the target path of the program, a shortcut file may also contain the directory path of a file. However, this system of shortcuts is not for the Apple Macintosh Computers. But the system m ay create symbolic links which can be made using the UNIX subsystem. For shortcut files with LNK, it is always recommended that such files should be properly scanned and checked before they are accessed. They might get infected and thus, demand security attention.
Open LNK File on Windows OS
- Look for an LNK file you need to open in Windows Explorer and double-click on it
- If the file doesn’t open automatically and you see a “Windows can’t open a file” message then you should search for a program which can open LNK file
- If you have a program which can open LNK file installed on your computer then launch that program and select “File” and then “Open” or similar options from its menu to open the LNK file
- If you don’t have the program installed then you need to try searching for “LNK wiki”, “how to open LNK file” in the search engine.
- Once you find the application, install it on your computer
- After the program is installed double-click on the LNK file to open it
File extensions are used by Windows operating system to specify what kind of information is stored in the file. Every file in Windows OS needs to have file extension and file extensions are used by Windows to determine which application it should use to open the file. Every application installed on Windows OS places information about which extensions it could open into the Windows registry and Windows uses this information to determine which application it should launch when user double-clicks on the file. If application which can open LNK file is not installed, then Windows will show ‘Windows can’t open LNK file’ message and buttons to either select an application on the computer which can open the file or to search the web for the application which can open LNK file.