How to Open, Edit, and Convert AXX Files

AXX Files screenshot

Tim Fisher 

by Tim Fisher
Tim Fisher has 30+ years' professional technology support experience. He writes troubleshooting content and is the General Manager of Lifewire.
Updated May 30, 2019

A file with the AXX file extension is an AxCrypt Encrypted file. AxCrypt is a file encryption program that scrambles (encrypts) a file to the point that it's unusable without first being decrypted with a specific password/passphrase.

When an AXX file is created, it's automatically assigned the exact same name as the unencrypted file but with the .AXX file extension appended to the end. For example, encrypted vacation.jpg results in a file called vacation.jpg.axx.

The AXX file extension is awfully similar in spelling to AAX, which is used for Audible Enhanced Audiobook files. If you're here for AAX files, you can open one with iTunes.

How to Open an AXX File

You can double-click an AXX file to open it with the AxCrypt software. However, note that if you're signed in to your AxCrypt account, double-clicking the AXX file will open the true file and not actually decrypt the AXX file.

Use the program's File > Open Secured menu to open the AXX file but not actually decrypt it. To truly decrypt the AXX file requires that you either right-click it and choose AxCrypt > Decrypt or use the File > Stop Securing option.

On the download page for AxCrypt, you can choose the standalone option if you want to use the portable version, which doesn't install to your computer and can easily be opened on a flash drive.

If you find that an application on your PC does try to open the AXX file but it's the wrong application or if you would rather have another installed program open AXX files, learn how to change the default program for a specific file extension in Windows.

How to Convert an AXX File

An AXX file is used only with the AxCrypt software, and therefore cannot be converted to a different format. If you do manage to "convert" an AXX file to some other format, the contents will remain encrypted and be unusable.

To convert a file that AxCrypt has already encrypted and stored as an AXX file requires that you first decrypt it using AxCrypt, after which you might be able to convert the file with a free file converter.

For example, if you decrypt an AXX file to get an MP4 file out of it, you can use a video converter like Freemake Video Converter to convert that resultant MP4, but you can't use it to convert the AXX file directly.

More Information on AXX Files

AXX files are easy to make on a computer that has AxCrypt installed. Either use the File > Secure menu or right-click what should be encrypted and then choose AxCrypt > Encrypt.

The free version of AxCrypt cannot make an AXX file from a folder unless you first make the folder an archive file, like a ZIP file. Then, you can encrypt the ZIP file to turn it into an AXX file. If you do choose to encrypt a folder with AxCrypt, it will encrypt all the files inside, individually.

Still Can't Open the File?

The AXX file extension looks similar to the suffix appended to files of other formats, but that doesn't mean they can open with the same software. Some examples include AZZ (AZZ Cardfile Database), AX (DirectShow Filter), AXE (Annotated XML Example), AXD (ASP.NET Web Handler), AXT (Adobe Photoshop Extract), and AXA (Annodex Audio) files.

If your file doesn't open with AxCrypt, check the file extension to see what it ends with. If it's not AXX, research the real file extension to learn more about the format it's in and what program is capable of opening it.