In the world of technology and computing, .exe files are one of the main and most important. These refer to data that is executable whose location is relocatable and its storage location is relative based on the user’s choice.
This format is widely used to create program installers, since they allow a large amount of data to be compressed and then executed and installed in a path chosen by the user. But its use is much broader than that..
In this article we are going to explain in detail what .exe executables are and how they are used., so that it is clear to you how they work. Also, we will give you a list of great apps to run these programs so that you can freely use them on any of your devices.
What is it and what are files with the .EXE extension used for?
Returning to what has been said, an .exe responds to the abbreviation of English “executable” either “executable” in Spanish. This refers to a file that can be executed and whose data is stored according to the user’s preference, making it relative. The nature of this format basically depends on the operating system on which it runs.
The first version of this appeared in 1983 and was known as “Executable 2.0” since it was developed for the operating system MSDOS and it was an alternative to the previous previous 1.0 that could only execute COM files. Its appearance marked a before and after in the way in which programs were installed.
Previously, to install any software, it was necessary to copy file by file to a specific location on the computer. In a way it was like rewriting the program code again. However, with the advent of the .exe format, the possibility of putting all the files in one was born to later execute and uncompress them in any path that the user wishes.
The invention of MSDOS inspired other operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, to create your own executables. That is why there are currently several types of .exe whose difference lies in the way of identifying them, the operating system in which they can be run and the way of storing the data.
These are the following:
- DOS or 2.0 executable: this is identified with the ASCII letters “MZ” or with the hexagesimal code 4D 5A. At first it was only read by the MSDOS system, but later Microsoft would develop the ability to read it in its Windows.
- New 16bit executable: It is identified with the ASCII letters “NE” and it was introduced with the appearance of the DOS 4.0 system, being compatible only with this system or with Windows and OS/2 or higher. In hexagesimal form it is identified as 4E 45.
- Mixed executable 16Bit/32Bit: This was the first Macintosh executable for their OS/2 2.0 systems and was compatible with all Windows systems, but not DOS systems. Its exagesimal form is 4C 45.
- 32Bit linear executable: It was also introduced with OS/2 2.0 but in this case it can only be run on this system. It is identified in hexagesimal with the number 4C 58.
- 32-bit portable executable: This was created by Windows and released in its NT version. Of all the known ones, it is the most complex since it can be ported and executed on different computers. It is compatible with all versions of Windows created so far.
- 64-Bit portable executable: This is identical to the previous one with the difference that it is only compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows.
How to open and run .EXE files on smartphones or computers?
.exe files are currently very evolved and basically all operating systems have their own version. The interesting thing about these is that they can automatically make any executable compatible with the system in question on which they are going to run.
Here’s how you can run them on all major desktop and mobile operating systems:
On Windows PC
Doing this task in Windows is very simple, in fact you won’t have to download any other program. What you have to do is just right click on the .exe file and then select the option “execute as an administrator” and the program contained within will be installed with the wizard on duty.
On Mac computers
In MacOS the procedure is the same, with the obvious differences between one interface and another. What you have to do is double left click on the file or right click and select the option “Run”. Then the program content will be installed.
*Note: In fact, the .exe is an executable application, so it could be said that on Mac it would be .app, although it is not really an equivalent as such. Therefore the .exe are not valid for Apple operating systems.
On Android mobile phones
The .exe format is exclusively for desktop operating systems and there is no mobile operating system that supports it. The closest thing in this case are , which contain installable applications on Android. However, there are apps like Wine or ExaGear that allow you to install Windows programs on your mobile.
On iPhone devices with iOS
The same thing happens in iOS as in Android, this system does not have support for .exe and therefore you must use the jailbreak system to be able to install applications on it without using the APP Store. However, also you have the option to use an emulator like Wine, Wineskin, or Winebottler to install Windows programs on iPhone or iPad.
List of best alternative apps and programs to extract a file with .exe extension
In addition to the default wizards that all operating systems contain, there are several alternatives for both desktop and mobile which are great for extracting a file with an .exe extension on any platform.
Wine
This is an emulator for Android and iOS that allows you to run and extract an .exe file on your mobile without any problem, but the interesting thing about this is that it also allows you to open a Windows or MacOS program and run it as if you were on a computer.
Exa Gear
Like the previous one, this is an excellent program that will help you extract and run .exe on Android and iOS and run the program as if you were on a computer. It’s completely free.
Darwine
This is a .exe executable reader for desktop operating systems. In addition, it is also a very easy to use program installation wizard. You just have to download and install it. After this when you right click on the .exe file you will see the option “Open with Darwine”.
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