HQX files are a type of Macintosh Compressed Archive file. They can be used to store binary versions of images and other multimedia files as well as documents. Older versions of this filetype used the HEX and HCX extensions – all three types are BinHex 4 Compressed Archive files.
BinHex stands for binary to hexadecimal – thus also the file names. The format is ideal for transmitting files through, for example, email. Despite not reducing the original file size, this filetype is said to be less likely to be corrupted or damaged during transmission.
How can you open HQX files?
As you may suspect, these files are native to Apple operating systems. Apple computers should be able to open and edit these files directly via their archive utility features. If that doesn’t work, or on a non-Apple computer, additional software is needed to open or edit this filetype.
What programs work with HQX files?
Programs like Incredible Bee Archiver, WinZip, StuffIt, and most other file extractors will be able to open HQX files. WebUtil’s online BinHex Decoder tool can also open this filetype – by using this tool, you won’t have to install additional software on your machine.
Did this help? Let us know!