What is .ini?

INI (Initialization) is a standard plain-text configuration file format. Originally the primary method for configuring Windows and its applications, it is still widely used today for software configuration (e.g., PHP's php.ini, Git's config, and desktop shortcuts).

This quick guide explains when to use .ini files, how to open them on any device, and how to share them instantly with FileXhost.

When to use .ini files

You are configuring legacy Windows applications or system settings (`desktop.ini`).
You are editing PHP settings (`php.ini`).
You are working with Git configuration (`.git/config`).
You need a simple key-value store with sections.

How to open .ini files

INI files are plain text. They can be opened and edited with any text editor like Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code, or Sublime Text.

Algorithm details

INI files use a simple structure: Sections are enclosed in brackets `[SectionName]`, and properties are defined as `key=value`. Comments typically start with a semicolon `;`.

Browser & platform support

Direct: Browsers display it as plain text.
Parsing: No native browser parsing; requires custom JavaScript or server-side parsing.

Format comparison

Feature	Details
Simplicity	Extremely simple structure. Easier to read than XML or JSON for flat lists of settings.
Nesting	Limited to one level of nesting (Sections -> Keys). Cannot handle deep hierarchies like JSON or YAML.
Typing	Everything is treated as a string. No native support for arrays or booleans (parsers handle this differently).

How to create ini files

Text Editor: Save file as `config.ini`.
Software: Many applications generate these automatically upon installation.

How to convert ini files

To JSON/XML: Online converters exist, but data structure differences (flat vs nested) can make this tricky.
FileXhost: Upload to share configuration snippets.

Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages

Universal and easy to understand
Supported by almost every programming language's standard library
Great for simple key-value configurations

Disadvantages

No standard for comments (some use `;`, others `#`)
No standard for escaping special characters
Limited to 2-level hierarchy (Section -> Key)

Tools & software

Editors

Notepad++, VS Code, Sublime Text

System

Windows (uses it extensively for system configs)

Runtime

PHP (php.ini), Python (configparser module)

Frequently asked questions

What opens an INI file?

Any text editor can open it. On Windows, double-clicking usually opens it in Notepad.

Is INI obsolete?

It is considered 'legacy' compared to JSON/YAML/TOML, but it is still heavily used (e.g., in Git, PHP, and Python projects) because of its simplicity.

What is desktop.ini?

A hidden file Windows uses to store folder customization settings (like a custom icon or localized name).

Technical specs

File type: Code
Extension: .ini
MIME type: text/plain, application/x-ini
Compression: Uncompressed
Max file size on FileXhost: Up to 25 MB per file on the free plan and up to 1 GB on Pro FileXhost accounts.

Upload your .ini file to FileXhost to get a clean, shareable URL in seconds. View the file in a modern browser, protect access with optional settings, and let others download it without any confusing ads or cluttered file pages.

Upload .ini file