How to Open JSON Files

JSON files (.json) are plain text files that can be opened with various applications. Here's a comprehensive guide to opening JSON files on any platform.

Quick Methods

1. Text Editors

Any text editor can open JSON files:

• Notepad (Windows)
• TextEdit (Mac)
• gedit (Linux)

Simply right-click the file → Open With → Choose your text editor.

2. Code Editors (Recommended)

Code editors provide syntax highlighting and formatting:

• Visual Studio Code (Free, cross-platform)
• Sublime Text (Free trial, cross-platform)
• Atom (Free, cross-platform)
• Notepad++ (Free, Windows)

3. Web Browsers

Modern browsers can display JSON files:

1. Drag and drop the JSON file into your browser
2. Or use File → Open and select the JSON file

Pro tip: Install a JSON formatter extension for better viewing.

4. Online Tools

Use JSONLint to:

• Paste JSON content directly
• Validate the syntax
• Format for readability
• Edit and download

Opening JSON by Operating System

Windows

Method 1: Notepad

1. Right-click the .json file
2. Select "Open with"
3. Choose Notepad

Method 2: Set Default Program

1. Right-click any .json file
2. Select "Open with" → "Choose another app"
3. Select your preferred editor
4. Check "Always use this app"

macOS

Method 1: TextEdit

1. Right-click the .json file
2. Select "Open With"
3. Choose TextEdit

Method 2: Terminal

cat filename.json
# or with formatting:
cat filename.json | python -m json.tool

Linux

Terminal:

# View file
cat filename.json

# Formatted view
cat filename.json | jq .

# Open in editor
nano filename.json
# or
vim filename.json

Opening Large JSON Files

For files larger than 100MB, standard editors may struggle. Use:

Command Line Tools

# View first 100 lines
head -100 large-file.json

# Search within file
grep "search-term" large-file.json

# Format with jq
jq '.' large-file.json | less

Specialized Tools

• jq - Command-line JSON processor
• fx - Terminal JSON viewer
• JSON Viewer Pro - Chrome extension for large files

Viewing JSON in Different Formats

Tree View

Many tools display JSON as an expandable tree:

• Browser extensions (JSON Formatter, JSON Viewer)
• VS Code's built-in JSON viewer
• Online tools like JSONLint

Table View

For array data, table view can be helpful:

• JSON to Table — View JSON as an interactive table online
• JSON to CSV — Convert JSON to CSV for Excel/Google Sheets
• Excel (with Power Query)
• Google Sheets (with ImportJSON)

Editing JSON Files

When editing JSON:

1. Use a proper editor - Syntax highlighting helps prevent errors
2. Validate after editing - Use JSONLint to check syntax
3. Format before saving - Keep files readable
4. Back up first - Especially for configuration files

Common Issues

"File is not valid JSON"

The file might be:

• Corrupted
• Using wrong encoding (try UTF-8)
• Actually JSONL (JSON Lines) format

File Opens as Download

In browsers, add this header to serve JSON files:

Content-Type: application/json

Encoding Issues

If you see strange characters:

1. Open the file in a text editor
2. Save with UTF-8 encoding
3. Try again

Conclusion

JSON files are simple text files that can be opened with any text editor. For the best experience, use a code editor with JSON support or an online tool like JSONLint for validation and formatting.

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Related Tools & Resources

Tools

• JSON Validator — Validate and format your JSON
• JSON to Table — View JSON as an interactive table
• JSON to CSV — Export to spreadsheet format
• JSON Path — Query specific data from large files
• JSON Minify — Compress JSON files

Learn More

• Mastering JSON Format — Complete JSON syntax guide
• Common JSON Mistakes — Avoid syntax errors
• Fix "Unexpected End of JSON" — Debug parsing errors