Open LNK files in your browser
The shortcuts on every Windows desktop and Start menu. See where one points and what it would run, right here, without running it. Nothing leaves your device.
Or drop it anywhere on this page
What you'll see
Your shortcut opens as where it points, with nothing run or opened.
- Where it points • A web address opens after it asks
- What opening it runs, shown as text
- Windows, Mac and Linux shortcuts alike
- Nothing in it ever runs
About LNK
Windows 95 brought shortcuts, small .lnk files that point to a program, a document or a folder. Windows makes them on the desktop, in the Start menu and in Recent Items, and they often come along in ZIPs and on USB sticks.
A shortcut keeps the target's path, arguments, the folder it starts in, an icon and a hotkey, and facts about the drive the target was on, its label and serial, and the computer's name. A shortcut can also run a command with its arguments, which is how some malware arrives.
Filepeek shows where the shortcut points and, under Opening it runs, the exact command, as text. Nothing in it is run or opened, so it's a safe way to check a shortcut you didn't make.
Windows Shortcut
.lnk
Format
- MIME type
- application/x-ms-shortcut
- Made by
- Microsoft
- Released
- 1995
Inside the file
- Points to
- A program, file or folder
- Keeps
- Arguments, icon and hotkey
- Remembers
- The drive and the computer
- Made by
- Windows
Opens in every browser
Browsers download LNK files. Filepeek shows where one points in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
- YouChromeOpens through Filepeek
- YouEdgeOpens through Filepeek
- YouFirefoxOpens through Filepeek
- YouSafariOpens through Filepeek
Questions
How do I see where a shortcut points without opening it?
Drop it on this page or press Peek an LNK. Its target, arguments and starting folder show as text, and nothing runs.
Is this shortcut safe?
Look at Opening it runs. A shortcut to a document or a program you know is ordinary. One that runs PowerShell, cmd or mshta with a long line of arguments is a warning sign.
Why does it name another computer?
Windows keeps the name of the computer the shortcut was made on, and the drive its target was on, to find the target if it moves.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The file opens inside your browser and never leaves your device.