A file type determines with which program you can open this file, what you can do with it and how you can edit it if necessary. Sometimes it happens that the file type and your desired action do not match. Fortunately, you can convert the files to the correct file type. There are several ways to do this and we will explain a few for you.
When will you encounter it?
For example, if a colleague with a Macbook sends you a text file, this is often a pages file. This you will on your Windows 10 computer and so you will have to convert it to a word document. Sometimes websites also ask for specific file types when you want to upload an image, for example. Or maybe you want to edit very specific things about a photo. Even then you will not arrive with a jpeg file.
Otherwise save
The file in which you created the document often gives you the option to save it as a different file type. In Word, for example, under ‘save as’ you can change the file type to, for example, a PDF document or a txt file. For example, if you want to take pictures in RAW format, you will have to check this in the settings of your camera (or camera app). So you can always open a file with the program in which you created it, and choose a different file type under ‘save as’.
Conversion sites
To convert most file types to a desired one, you often simply need to enter a search query in Google. See search is as simple as: convert file type X to file type Y. You often come across free sites that will do the job for you within minutes. Consider, for example, sites such as Zamzar, which is very suitable for converting images and audio files. Are you looking for a hands-on site that specifically converts audio files? Then try the Free Audio Converter. You just have to drag your file into the converter and select the desired file type.
Often there is an upload limit to this, which means that you cannot convert large video files so easily, for example.
Convert video
There are several free programs available with which you can convert video files. Handbrake is such a program. It works pretty straightforward and lets you convert most video file types. In addition, this program also allows you to optimize video files for a particular device. Handbrake also allows you to rip video from DVDs, even with subtitles included.
And if you’re just looking for a media player that supports and plays a wide variety of file types, you’ve come to VLC media player at the right place. However, this also means that you can save and convert files from VLC media player in a different way. Open the desired video file, then click on ‘media’ at the top left of the screen and then choose ‘convert / save’. You can now upload and convert a file from your hard drive. VLC then makes a copy of this.
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