Extract text from Program information files (PIF)
To convert PIF Program files to another format, you need Microsoft Windows or other System software.
To convert other file formats to the "Program Information File" file type, you need software like Microsoft Windows or a similar tool.
A .PIF (Program Information File) is a legacy system file created by Microsoft to dictate how MS-DOS applications should run within the Windows environment. It functions as a specialized shortcut, storing technical parameters like memory allocation, window size, and executable paths. Historically, these files were managed using the Windows PIF Editor.
Today, .PIF files are obsolete on modern 64-bit systems and represent a severe security risk. Because Windows natively treats them as executable files (similar to EXE), they are a primary vector for malware distribution. Email providers and web browsers aggressively block .PIF downloads. Additionally, a small fraction (around 1%) of .PIF files are IUPAC Property Information Format files used for exchanging thermodynamic data.
Users typically want to convert or open .PIF files to extract the underlying shortcut path, read the configuration data, or analyze suspected malware. Unfortunately, traditional conversion to formats like PDF or JPG is impossible. Extracting the readable strings to TXT is the most practical conversion target.
This file format is exceptionally difficult to open or convert safely. Because it is a proprietary, binary settings file, standard online converters fail to process it. Opening it natively on Windows risks executing malicious code. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your PIF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted TIF, PDF, 1PIF, JPG, DOCX, DOC, JPEG, JFIF, HTML, PNG, EXE, HEIC and TXT files.
If you want to convert PIF file to EXE, MSI, APP, DMG, DEB, RPM, PKG, RUN, SH, BAT, CMD or COM, you can use Microsoft Windows or similar software from the "MS-DOS Program Configuration" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert JAR, APP, SCR, IPA, COM, AAB, PS1, DMG, VBS, EXE, XAPK or MSI files to PIF, try Microsoft Windows or another comparable tool in the "MS-DOS Program Configuration" 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 PIF converter.