Microsoft Windows prefetch data
File type: System file
Files with pf extension can be typically found as so called prefetch system files in MS Windows operating systems. It was first introduced in Windows XP.
Found 7 different file type records with the same pf filename suffix.
File type category:
System file
Date updated: December 31, 2024
File extension pf is used by Microsoft Windows for its prefetch trace files.
In Windows XP Microsoft has used the prefetcher memory management utility to speed up the start-up of Windows. Put very basically whilst booting up Windows access different parts of the same files at different points in the process.
Reloading each of these files every time Windows needs to access a different section takes time, and hence the prefetcher utility helps by keeping a record (in the .PF trace files), of which files are accessed and when, and then seeks to use this information to expedite the boot up process in future.
The Task Scheduler is the process responsible for parsing the trace data collected by the prefetcher and writing files to the Prefetcher folder. As a result, the Prefetcher will not operate correctly if the Task Scheduler service is not started.
The prefetcher stores its trace files in the Prefetch folder in the root Windows directory (typically \Windows\Prefetch). The name of the boot trace file is always NTOSBOOT-B00DFAAD.PF, and application trace files are a concatenation of the application's executable name, a hyphen, a hexadecimal representation of the hash of the path the file resides in, and a ".pf" extension.
Windows will access these files automatically, but there is really no way how you can open it manually.
Prefetch files cannot be converted to anything else and there is also no reason to do so.
Software apps that create pf files:
Software applications that handle other tasks involving pf files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: March 30, 2018
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The pf file extension is generated by Allume Systems Stuffit (Allume was also known as Alladin) which is usually used to compress, encrypt and password protect files with private data.
Use Stuffit compatible tools to open *.pf files.
There is no way how to convert the encrypted *.pf files. However, after decoding the *.pf files, original files can be converted, if their format allows it.
Software applications that can open pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that extract pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software applications that handle other tasks involving pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
Archive and compressed file
Date updated: March 22, 2019
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The pf file extension is related to the data archive.
The old file archive format or not supported application.
Most likely some old format without support. No further information could be found.
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: October 14, 2024
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
An ICC profile is a set of data that characterizes a color input or output device, or a color space, according to standards published by the International Color Consortium (ICC).
ICC Profile: Windows ICM profile
Software apps that manage or store settings in pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: September 23, 2026
The .pf extension is commonly used for monitor or printer profile files. The profile contains device-specific color information used to help software reproduce colors consistently on a monitor or in printed output. It is normally created by calibration or color-profile software for a particular device.
A .pf file is used as part of a color-management setup rather than as a document for direct editing. The software that created the profile, or another compatible color-management system, can apply it when displaying or printing images.
Open the file with the color-management software that created it, or with software configured to use monitor and printer profiles. Profile files are generally selected or installed through that software rather than opened as documents.
A text editor will not display the profile in a useful form, and changing its contents manually may make it unusable.
A .pf file is not normally converted like a document. If another profile format is required, use the color-management software that created or installed the file, if it provides an export option.
When no compatible export is available, the practical alternative is to create a new profile for the monitor or printer using suitable calibration software.
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: November 10, 2017
The pf file extension is associated with applications for data integration, big data, mobility or data analytic challenges developed by Progress Software Corporation.
The pf file stores database parameter used by Progress apps.
Use Progress to work with *.pf files.
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: April 10, 2017
The pf file extension is related to the Stuffit, an archiving and data compression tool for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac computers, developed by Smith Micro.
The pf file contains private archive, protected by by password and encrytption.
Use Stuffit to open *.pf files.
Conversion to other formats is not possible.
Software applications that can open pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that create pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that extract pf files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
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