URL File: Windows Internet Shortcut

Quick facts

Extension

.url

Format

Internet Shortcut

Category

system

MIME type

Not reviewed

Standard / developer

Microsoft

Open with

Notepad or Visual Studio Code

What is URL?

The shortcut is not a saved copy of the destination. Following it can open an external URL under the operating system’s association rules, so inspect the target text before navigating.

How to open URL

Following the shortcut navigates to its target; reading the shortcut text does not verify that target.

Common uses and compatibility

• Store a small shortcut to a web page or other remote URL

Things to check

• The destination can change or be unsafe; inspecting the file does not verify the target.

Technical details

Signature

Not reviewed

Encoding

Plain text; character encoding not fixed by the reviewed description

Container

Not reviewed

Compression

Not reviewed

Public specification: no public spec.

How to open a URL file safely

The Windows Internet Shortcut handler follows the stored address using the configured handler. Viewing the file in an editor and following that address are separate actions.

1. Start a text editor and use File > Open to read the shortcut.
2. Inspect the full address, including the protocol and hostname. Do not follow an unexpected destination.
3. For a trusted https web address, copy it into a browser. On Windows, a trusted shortcut can also use its normal Internet Shortcut association.

Sources: Microsoft: Internet Shortcuts · Visual Studio Code: opening files and language support

What does a URL file contain?

A typical Internet shortcut stores a URL value under an InternetShortcut section. This minimal example points to a reserved example website; it does not contain that website's HTML, images or downloads.

[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://example.com/

Sources: PRONOM Microsoft Internet Shortcut · Microsoft: Internet Shortcuts

URL file vs web address vs LNK file

A web address is a string identifying a resource. A .url file is a shortcut that stores an address. A .lnk file uses the separate Windows Shell Link binary structure and can reference local objects and application launch settings.

Sources: Microsoft: Internet Shortcuts · Microsoft: Shell Links

Why does a URL file not open on another device?

Windows file associations do not guarantee identical handling on macOS, Linux or a phone. For a trusted web destination, inspect the text and use the address in a browser. A broken destination or missing application handler is not repaired by changing .url to .html.

Sources: Microsoft: Internet Shortcuts · Visual Studio Code: opening files and language support

Can I convert a URL file to PDF or use it offline?

The shortcut itself has no saved page content. To create an offline document, visit a trusted destination and use that page's save or print workflow. Renaming the shortcut does not download the resource.

Sources: Microsoft: Internet Shortcuts

Related formats

• Windows Shortcut File

  Windows Shell Link stores a different kind of shortcut, including local targets and launch settings.