# What is a "winamp media file"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 13, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233 "2003-01-13T03:08:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/1 "2003-01-13T03:08:14Z")
I was downloading some sound files recently, when I noticed the download box identified them as "winamp media file"s. Does Winamp have its own, specific format? Or is this caused by Winamp being installed on my computer?
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### Author:  [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/2 "2003-01-13T03:11:41Z")
It just means that it’s a file that is associated with Winamp… mp3, wav, etc… if you didn’t have winamp installed it would likely say Media Player File or something similar…
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### Author:  [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/3 "2003-01-13T03:16:17Z")
Great, so how can I identify what file it really is? Checking its properties results in “Winamp media File” again, and there seems to be no visable extension.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/4 "2003-01-13T03:21:18Z")
You can tell what sort of a file it is by looking at the extension. (The three letters after the ‘.’ in the filename.) If you can’t see the extension, you may have it hidden.
Assuming you are using Windows 9x, open a folder, and select Tools --\> Folder Options.
Uncheck “Hide Known File Extensions.”
You will probably find that the files are .mp3 or .wav files.
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### Author:  [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/5 "2003-01-13T03:22:44Z")
What OS are you using? Start by removing the association that these files have with Winamp. In the properties box it should say “Open with” . Go there and remove the association and then see what happens.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/6 "2003-01-13T03:22:52Z")
Oh yeah, click the “Like Current Folder” button at the top to make it apply to _all_ folders, or the change will only effect the one folder you’re looking at.
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### Author:  [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/7 "2003-01-13T03:27:58Z")
Thanks! It worked.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-winamp-media-file/148233/8 "2003-01-13T06:28:36Z")
Happy to serve.