SYS File

What are SYS files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a SYS 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 SYS files.

What is a SYS file?

SYS files have multiple uses, and MS-DOS / Windows 9x System Driver is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

MS-DOS / Windows 9x System Driver

Files with the .sys extension are either MS-DOS or Windows 95/98 system files.

Standard SYS files include MSDOS.SYS and IO.SYS. These files contain the core system code, and the PC running the mentioned operating systems cannot run without them.

The computer's operating system hides most files containing the .sys file extension as they are not meant to be tampered with by the user.

These files are also referred to as device drivers. Some hardware devices will install an accompanying device driver that makes the operating system detect and support said hardware, e.g., a printer or scanner.

How to open SYS files

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

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

Last updated: January 24, 2024

All known file formats using extension .SYS

While MS-DOS / Windows 9x System Driver is a popular type of SYS-file, we know of 5 different uses of the .SYS file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

PlayStation 2 Icon Library

We know that one SYS format is PlayStation 2 Icon Library. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

FreeDOS KEYBoard Layout Collection

We know that one SYS format is FreeDOS KEYBoard Layout Collection. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

OS/2 Device Driver

We know that one SYS format is OS/2 Device Driver. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

SPI Scanner Driver

We know that one SYS format is SPI Scanner Driver. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Various apps that use files with this extension

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