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WIM

wim icon

Windows Imaging Format archive

File type: Disk image (ISO) binary file, Backup file

wim file extension is related to the Windows Imaging Format (archive format) used for installation of Microsoft Windows operating system.

Found 2 different file type records with the same wim filename suffix.

What is wim file?

File type category:
Disk image (ISO) binary file
Backup file

Date updated: July 19, 2025

The wim file extension is used for Windows Image Format. The Windows Imaging Format (wim) is a file-based disk image format.

It was developed by Microsoft to deploy its latest Windows operating system releases, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, which use it as part of their standard installation procedure.

Features of WIM

  • WIM is hardware-agnostic, meaning that you need only one image to address many different hardware configurations.
  • WIM lets you store multiple images within one actual file.
  • WIM enables compression and single instancing.
  • WIM allows you to service an image offline.
  • WIM lets you install a disk image on partitions of any size.
  • Windows Vista provides an API for the WIM image format called WIMGAPI that developers can use to work with WIM image files.
  • WIM allows for non-destructive deployment.

How to open wim file?

Use 7-zip and other compatible tools to view content of the wim file.

Suggested software to open wim file:

Associated software actions with the wim file

Software applications that can open wim files:

Software applications that can edit wim files:

Microsoft Windows

Software capable of saving wim files:

Microsoft Windows

Software apps that create wim files:

Microsoft Windows

Software apps that import wim files:

Microsoft Windows

Software apps that extract wim files:

Articles about wim files

August 4, 2016

Install Windows without DVD or USB

Microsoft Windows system is typically installed on computers with DVD installation media or with USB...

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WAP Wireless identity module

File type category:
Internet related file

Date updated: May 17, 2019

Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.

The wim file extension is used for the security module implemented in the SIM card for WAP applications.

WIM provides security services for WAP applications, and allows you to use digital signature. SIM cards with security module are provided by the SIM card issuer.

Related file extensions