VST File

What are VST files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a VST 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 VST files.

What is a VST file?

VST files have multiple uses, and Microsoft Visio Template is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Microsoft Visio Template

A Microsoft Visio Template file with the extension .VST is a legacy template file used by Microsoft Visio (versions before 2013) to define reusable starting points for diagrams. It holds preset layouts, style settings, master shapes (stencils), themes, page configurations and defaults that users can build new Visio drawings from. It is especially useful when creating similar diagrams over time - for example organizational charts, network diagrams or flowcharts that share style or structure.

The .VST file is created by Microsoft Visio itself when a drawing is saved as a template. When you open or create a new document based on a .VST file, Visio loads those preset elements - page layouts, themes, symbols - so you don't have to recreate them manually. After creating the new diagram, you generally save it as a regular Visio drawing file (.VSD or later .VSDX) rather than modifying the template directly.

This template format is part of the binary file formats used in older Visio versions (such as Visio 2003 through 2010). It uses the Microsoft Compound File Binary Format, also called OLE Structured Storage. Files of this type begin with the byte signature D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 at offset 0 and contain internal identifiers such as streams named VisioDocument, VisioDocumentPages, VisioDocumentMasters, among others. These identifiers identify internal structures like pages, shapes, masters, and styles.

Visio 2013 and later replaced this binary .VST template format with the XML-based .VSTX template format, though support for opening legacy .VST files remains.

How to open VST files

We have identified one VST opener that is compatible with this specific type of VST file.

Programs that open Microsoft Visio Template files

Last updated: January 22, 2025

All known file formats using extension .VST

While Microsoft Visio Template is a popular type of VST-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .VST file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Truevision Vista Graphic Bitmap

A .VST file (Truevision Vista Graphic Bitmap) is a raster bitmap image used to store pixel-based graphics. You encounter VST files when working with images produced or exported in this specific bitmap format for artwork, textures, or archived graphics.

These files are used for storing images such as textures and artwork for editing, archiving, or use in projects. Image conversion and editing utilities that support this format can open and convert VSTs; remove them if you no longer need the stored image.

Technical ID: some VST files contain the ASCII sequence "IGCH" at offset 17; TRiD also reports a run of zero bytes at the file start. These byte patterns are used by file-identification tools to recognize this bitmap variant.

VST opener for Windows

We have identified 4 VST openers that are compatible with this specific type of VST file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

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

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