Extract text from Unix shell scripts (SH)
To convert SH scripts to another format, you need Bash or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Shell Script" file type, you need software like Bash or a similar tool.
The .sh file format is a plain text Unix shell script, primarily written for the Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) or the original Bourne shell. These files contain a sequence of command-line instructions that Unix-like operating systems (Linux, macOS) execute to automate system administration tasks, compile software, or process data. You can open and edit them safely using advanced code editors like Visual Studio Code or Vim.
A major disadvantage of .sh files is their lack of native cross-platform compatibility. They will not execute on Windows systems without installing a compatibility layer like Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) or Cygwin. Furthermore, sharing .sh files is a frequent logistical headache; because they are inherently executable, most enterprise firewalls and email clients automatically flag or block them to prevent the distribution of malicious scripts.
To bypass these limitations, you must convert the file depending on your goal. For safe archiving, sharing, and code review, convert .sh to TXT or PDF to neutralize the executable risk while preserving the raw text. If you need native Windows execution, the logic must be translated or wrapped into a Windows Batch (BAT) or PowerShell (PS1) file. Drop your file here to view and convert it securely right in your browser, free and without installing software.
Convert.Guru analyzes your SH file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted BASH, LINUX, BAT, TXT, ELF, C, SHS, DEB, OVF, CFX, DOCX, ZIP and SO files.
If you want to convert SH file to BAT, PYTHON, CSH, PS1, BASH, ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, BZ2 or XZ, you can use Bash or similar software from the "Unix Shell Script Execution" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert XXE, 7Z, Z, PAK, LHA, DEB, UUE, TAR, LZH, ZIP, PKG or RAR files to SH, try Bash or another comparable tool in the "Unix Shell Script Execution" 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 SH converter.