# File inspector

See a file’s real format from its bytes, its metadata, embedded files and hidden data, with a hex view.

Original page: https://alisoglu.com/tools/file-inspector/

## Formats and limits

Any file type · one file up to 100 MB.

Reads the format, metadata and embedded data without changing the file. It is not a virus scanner, and encrypted parts stay unreadable.

## Related tools

- [Excel → PDF](https://alisoglu.com/tools/excel-to-pdf/): Turn visible XLSX sheets or CSV data into readable PDF tables.
- [Extract text](https://alisoglu.com/tools/extract-text/): Read text from images or scanned PDF pages, edit it and download a TXT file.
- [Document scanner](https://alisoglu.com/tools/document-scanner/): Straighten a photographed page, clean up the paper and save an image or PDF.
- [Word → PDF](https://alisoglu.com/tools/word-to-pdf/): Preview a DOCX on your device and export its pages as a flattened PDF. Check layout before sharing.
- [PowerPoint → PDF](https://alisoglu.com/tools/powerpoint-to-pdf/): Preview a PPTX and export static slides as a flattened PDF. No upload or account.

## Questions and answers

### Is my file uploaded?

No. The file is read inside your browser tab, in a background worker on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and the result disappears when you clear it or close the tab.

### How does it know the real file type?

Most formats start with a fixed byte pattern, often called magic bytes. PNG files start with 89 50 4E 47, PDFs with %PDF and ZIP-based files such as DOCX with PK. The inspector compares those bytes and the inner structure with more than 70 formats instead of trusting the extension.

### What metadata can it read?

EXIF camera data and GPS locations in JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF and HEIC, XMP edit history, PNG text chunks including AI image prompts, PDF document information, Word, Excel and PowerPoint properties, audio tags, video creation dates and locations, and details of Windows, Linux and macOS programs.

### What counts as hidden data?

Bytes after the official end of a file, other files embedded inside it, tracked changes and hidden text or sheets in Office files, PDF scripts and earlier PDF versions kept by incremental saves, private keys and tokens, user folder paths and invisible Unicode characters.

### Can it tell me if a file is safe?

It can point out red flags such as disguised programs, macros or PDF JavaScript, but it is not an antivirus. When in doubt, do not open the file, and check its SHA-256 checksum with a scanner you trust.

## Cost and file handling

FileForge is free to use without an account. Selected files, pasted text and results are processed on the visitor’s device, not uploaded to a conversion server or saved by this website. Download results before leaving the tab. Ordinary page visits download code and engines from the host, which receives connection information. Optional settings are stored locally only after opt-in; optional offline mode caches public code, not visitor files. The separately hosted game uses its own storage and game-data downloads.

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