.bin File Extension
File Type 1Sega Genesis Game ROM
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Game files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 1
A BIN file is a ROM image of a Sega Genesis video game. It stores data dumped from a Sega Genesis game cartridge, which is an exact copy of the game. BIN files can be played on a computer using a Sega Genesis emulation program.
Sega Genesis game ROMs are typically used by gaming enthusiasts, specifically nostalgic gamers who enjoyed the console in the 1990s. While the games were developed to be played by the actual gaming console, various emulators have been developed to play the games on computers.
There are a variety of Sega Genesis emulators for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Some of the emulators are Kega Fusion, Genesis Plus, HazeMD, Gensplus, and DGen.
NOTE: Sega Genesis ROMs may also be stored in .SMD files.
Programs that open BIN files
File Type 2Generic Binary File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Data files |
| File Format | N/A |
.BIN Type 2
A BIN file is a file that stores data in a binary format. It is different than a text-based file, which can be edited in a text editor. BIN files may be created by a variety of different programs but typically cannot be manually edited.
Disk images are typically binary files, though they often use other file extensions. BIN files may also be used for firmware updaters.
| Windows |
|
| Macintosh |
|
File Type 3Unix Executable File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Execution files |
| File Format | N/A |
.BIN Type 3
Program, or compiled binary file, that can be run on a Unix operating system, such as Linux or FreeBSD; may be run from the command line by typing "[filename].bin," where [filename] is the name of the executable file.
| Linux |
|
File Type 4Binary Disc Image
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Disk image files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 4
Disc image created from an optical disc; stores the binary data copied from a CD or DVD; can be mounted by the computer and recognized as a physical disc; similar to the standard .ISO disc image format.
BIN files are often saved with other metadata files that describe the disc contents. For example, they are often saved with a .CUE file that describes the ordering of data in the binary image.
If a BIN file will not open, it may be opened by some disk utilities by changing the extension from ".bin" to ".iso."
File Type 5Generic Binary Executable File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Execution files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 5
A BIN file is an executable file used for running various programs. BIN files may contain both executable code and data required to start a program and may be created for Mac, Windows, or Unix platforms.
An example binary executable file is soffice.bin, the quick starter program for OpenOffice.org.
File Type 6PCSX PlayStation BIOS Image
| Developer | PCSX |
| Category | Game files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 6
BIOS file used by PCSX and other variants of PlayStation emulation software; saves an image of the PlayStation BIOS, which enables the emulator to replicate the game console's functionality; allows games to be run exactly as they are run on the console.
A valid BIN file is required for PCSX to emulate the PlayStation.
| Windows |
|
| Linux |
|
File Type 7Macbinary Encoded File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Encoded files |
| File Format | N/A |
.BIN Type 7
Compressed file encoded in a binary or MacBinary format; contains a finder header, data fork, and resource fork; saved in one of the MacBinary, MacBinary II, or MacBinary III formats; often used to send Macintosh files over the Internet.
MACBIN files are much more commonly seen with the .BIN extension.
File Type 8Nintendo DS Binary File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Game files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 8
Binary file used by the Nintendo DS series portable gaming systems; contains executable data for a Nintendo DS game; can be used to patch, or modify, emulated Nintendo games for DS emulators.
NOTE: BIN files are commonly found within .NDS files.
File Type 9BlackBerry IT Policy File
| Developer | Research in Motion |
| Category | Settings Files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 9
Configuration file named policy.bin and used for making administrative updates to BlackBerry Desktop Software and the BlackBerry Wireless Handheld; often distributed by IT system administrators to company computers; may be stored on the desktop or other locations specified by the system administrator when distributing configuration updates.
The policy.bin file is created by IT Policy Manager, a program included with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Typically only company IT system administrators interact with this software to create and distribute the BIN files.
When the BlackBerry Desktop Software is opened, it searches for the policy.bin file to make any policy changes to the software and to connected BlackBerry devices. The location of the file is specified in the Windows registry with the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Research In Motion\BlackBerry\Policy Manager\Path.
If this key doesn't exist, the C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry\ directory is searched instead.
File Type 10Router Firmware File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | System files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 10
Firmware file used by various routers, including Linksys routers; contains data and programs used to operate a router; used to provide firmware updates for bug fixes and security patches.
RMT files typically are updated using a Web browser that is connected to a Web application hosted on the router.
| Windows |
|
File Type 11Atari 2600 Game ROM
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Game files |
| File Format | Binary |
.BIN Type 11
Atari 2600 ROM used by Atari emulators such as Stella and PCAEWin; contains an exact copy of the original game cartridge; used for playing Atari games on computers; commonly downloaded as a .ZIP file, which can be extracted to the BIN file.
File Type 12Binary Video File
| Developer | N/A |
| Category | Video files |
| File Format | N/A |
.BIN Type 12
Video file saved as raw binary data from a DVD or other media; may be saved along with a .CUE file that describes what data is saved in the BIN file.
Since BIN video files may contain long streams of video, they may be several gigabytes in size.