Microsoft Windows Mobile hive
File type: System file
A .hv file is a registry hive used by the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system.
It stores registry data used to configure the mobile device and its software.
File type category:
System file
Date updated: October 12, 2026
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The .hv file extension is associated with Microsoft Windows Mobile, Microsoft's operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones.
An .hv file contains registry data in a hive file. These files can be kept on any file system and provide parts of the system and user configuration.
Examples include Boot.hv, System.hv, and User.hv. Windows Mobile and related Windows CE system components load these files as part of the device registry.
Windows Mobile is obsolete, so the .hv file format is no longer generally used on current mobile platforms.
An .hv file is a system registry hive rather than a document intended for direct viewing. Windows Mobile or Windows CE loads it automatically when the corresponding device starts.
On a desktop computer, the file usually cannot be opened meaningfully with ordinary applications. It should be handled with tools designed for the specific Windows Mobile or Windows CE version, and should not be edited or deleted from the device unless a system backup or maintenance procedure requires it.
There is no general-purpose conversion from an .hv file to a standard document or modern registry format. Its registry data is intended for the Windows Mobile or Windows CE system that created it.
When moving a device configuration, use the device's supported backup, restore, or migration tools instead of converting the hive directly.
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