Windows Setup Information File
An INF file is a Windows Setup Information file used to install device drivers, software components, and system services. It contains plain text instructions that tell Windows how to copy files, modify the registry, and configure hardware.
This format is not currently supported for conversion in FileDex.
Common questions
What is an INF file?
An INF file is a Windows Setup Information file that provides instructions for installing device drivers and software components.
How do I install a driver using an INF file?
Right-click the INF file and select Install, or use Device Manager to browse to the INF file location when updating a driver.
Are INF files safe?
INF files themselves are plain text instructions, but they can trigger driver installations that modify system files and registry settings. Only install INF files from trusted hardware manufacturers.
What makes .INF special
INF files use an INI-style section-based format with headers like [Version], [Manufacturer], [SourceDisksFiles], and [DestinationDirs] that define installation procedures. The Windows Plug and Play subsystem reads INF files to match hardware IDs with appropriate drivers, copy binaries to the correct directories, and create registry entries. INF files support string substitution, conditional sections for different OS versions and architectures, and co-installer references for complex setup scenarios. Signed INF files (paired with .cat catalog files) are required for kernel-mode drivers on 64-bit Windows to pass digital signature verification. The format has remained largely unchanged since Windows 2000, providing backward compatibility across decades of driver development.
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Related Formats
Technical reference
- MIME Type
text/plain- Developer
- Microsoft
- Year Introduced
- 1993
- Open Standard
- No