ELF File

What are ELF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ELF file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is an ELF file?

ELF files have multiple uses, and Executable Unix is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Executable Unix File

ELF is an acronym for Executable Linking Format. Files that contain the .elf file format are system files that store executable programs, shared libraries, and memory dumps.

The ELF file format is primarily used on Unix-based operating systems. However, this versatile file format is also used by many popular game systems such as the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation systems, including the PS1, PS2, PS3, and the Sony PSP.

How to open ELF files

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

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested five different ELF openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: December 8, 2022

More file formats using the ELF extension

Through our research of ELF files, we know that the following formats exist. However, we have not yet analyzed them in detail.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of ELF files. Remember, different programs may use ELF 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 ELF file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.