Extract text from MO files
To convert your MO file to another format, you need GNU gettext or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Localization File" file type, you need software like GNU gettext or a similar tool.
A .MO file is primarily a Machine Object file, a binary format used by the GNU gettext system to display software translations. Unlike its source counterpart, the human-readable PO (Portable Object) file, the .MO format is compiled for computer efficiency, making it smaller and faster for programs to read. This format is ubiquitous in the open-source ecosystem, serving as the standard localization method for WordPress themes, plugins, and various Linux applications.
The primary challenge users face with .MO files is their binary nature. Because they are compiled code rather than plain text, you cannot open them in standard editors like Notepad++ or Microsoft Word to correct a typo or update a translation; attempting to do so results in unreadable gibberish. Furthermore, these files are strictly for reading by the software, meaning any changes must be made to the source PO file and then re-compiled. This creates a significant barrier for translators or developers who inherit a project with missing source files.
To modify the content, the best solution is to convert the .MO file back into an editable format. For translation work, converting to PO is the industry standard. For integration with modern web applications or data analysis, converting to JSON or CSV is often necessary.
*Note: A small percentage of .MO files may be guitar effect presets for MOOER Audio devices like the GE300. These are proprietary data blobs and generally cannot be converted to text formats.*
Convert.Guru analyzes your MO file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted PO, ZIP, MKV, PAK, MP4, BIN, PKPASS, SAV, TORRENT, AC, EL, SED and GO files.
If you want to convert MO file to GO, PO, JS, TS, PY, JAVA, CPP, C, CS, PHP, RB or RS, you can use GNU gettext or similar software from the "Compiled Translation Data" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert SH, PY, KT, PS1, SWIFT, LUA, PL, JAVA, SCALA, JS, VBS or TS files to MO, try GNU gettext or another comparable tool in the "Compiled Translation Data" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our MO converter.