File Extension Library


.CLN File Extension

  • Developer by: Microsoft Corporation
  • Category: Backup Files

What are .CLN files and how to open them?

Can't open .CLN file? Are you wondering what it contains? On our site we will explain to you what this file is, what it is used for and what software opens the .CLN file.

What is a .CLN file extension?

.CLN file extension is created by Microsoft Corporation. .CLN has been classified as Backup Files.

.CLN is Microsoft Windows 3.x configuration backup

The cln file extension is associated with the Microsoft Windows 3.x an MS-DOS based family of 16-bit operating systems released in 1992.

The cln file stores backup of Microsoft Windows configuration file:

  • SYSTEM.CLN
  • WIN.CLN
  • PROTOCOL.CLN

.CLN file format is deprecated and this file format is no longer supported.

Currently, .CLN file type is not actively used and is obsolete. This usually happens with system files in older operating systems, files from long-discontinued software, or with previous versions of some file types (documents, projects, images, etc.) that were replaced in later versions of the original programs.


How to open:

This file type is not meant to be opened directly, there is no software that could open and work with it directly, or there is no information available in public sources about opening this file type. This is usually the case of some internal data files, caches, temporary files etc.

How to convert:

As far as we know, this .cln file type can't be converted to any other file format. This is usually the case of system, configuration, temporary, or data files containing data exclusive to only one software and used for its own purposes. Also some proprietary or closed file formats cannot be converted to more common file types in order to protect the intellectual property of the developer, which is for example the case of some DRM-protected multimedia files.

How to fix problems with .CLN files

  1. You need to update the application that you normally use to open .CLN files. Only the latest version of the software supports the current .CLN file format
  2. You need to check the .CLN file for viruses. To do this, you need to scan it with a popular antivirus (Norton, Nod32, Kaspersky, Dr.Web, etc.)