ARN File

What are ARN files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ARN file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ARN files.

What is an ARN file?

ARN files have multiple uses, and CD Autorun Creator package is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

CD Autorun Creator package

.arn files are package files used by the CD Autorun Creator. CD Autorun Creator is software that allows you to create auto-play CDs or DVDs. Auto-play CDs or DVDs provide users with easy access to content by opening a dialogue box. When inserted into the computer's CD/DVD drive, the dialogue box displays several options the user can choose for the computer to do.

How to open ARN files

Important: Different programs may use files with the ARN file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your ARN file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the app ourselves yet, our users have suggested a single ARN opener which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 20, 2026

All known file formats using extension .ARN

While CD Autorun Creator package is a popular type of ARN-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .ARN file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Sysinternals Autoruns Data

Sysinternals Autoruns Data files store the results of what programs, drivers, scheduled tasks, and other components are configured to start automatically in Windows. Created by Microsoft's Autoruns utility, they preserve a snapshot of all auto-start locations, including registry entries, startup folders, and system configuration, so that this data can be reviewed or compared later.

These files are produced when one uses Autoruns' Save-As feature and chooses the binary option "Autoruns Data (*.arn)" or when using the -a command-line option. The saved file retains everything visible in the Everything tab, including details such as signature verification or VirusTotal status, and respects filters like "Hide Microsoft entries" (entries removed by those filters do not appear in the saved file). Later, the .arn file can be opened in Autoruns (either via the File menu or by double-clicking in Explorer) and can be compared to another saved result set to identify changes.

The old version of the format (used until about version 13) begins with the ASCII characters "ARN_" at offset 0, followed by more proprietary binary data. In newer versions (from about version 14 onward), the format changed to use the Microsoft OLE2 (Compound Document) container structure. That newer form includes multiple named streams (e.g. "Header", "Items", "LargeIcons", "SmallIcons") and is identifiable as a compound file format.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of ARN files. Remember, different programs may use ARN files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about ARN file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.