How to Open and Read a JSON File on Your Computer

What a JSON file actually is, and why you might have one

A JSON file is a text file that stores data in a specific format — it uses curly brackets, square brackets, and quotation marks to organize information so that computers can read it easily. JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation, but you do not need to know JavaScript to open one. The file ends in .json instead of .txt or .docx.

You might have a JSON file because you downloaded settings from a website, exported data from an app, or received configuration information from a colleague. Some programs save their settings as JSON files. Others use JSON to store lists of contacts, preferences, or records. Unlike a Word document or a spreadsheet, a JSON file is plain text — it has no fonts, colors, or formatting buttons.

The good news: opening one requires no special software. Any program that reads text can open a JSON file. The challenge is that JSON files are not designed to be pretty or straightforward to read on screen — they are designed to be straightforward for computers to understand. So when you open one, you will see a lot of brackets and punctuation that might look confusing at first.

Key Takeaways

JSON files are plain text and can be opened with any text editor — Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, or any program you already have.
If the file is large or has many nested brackets, a code editor like Visual Studio Code (free) will format it so it is easier to read.
Online JSON viewers let you paste the contents of a JSON file and see it formatted automatically, without installing anything.
If you want to edit a JSON file, use a text editor or code editor, but be careful not to delete brackets or quotation marks by accident.

Opening a JSON file with the text editor you already have

The simplest way to open a JSON file is with a text editor. On Windows, right-click the JSON file, select "Open with", and choose Notepad. On Mac, right-click (or Control-click) the file, select "Open With", and choose TextEdit. On Linux, right-click and select "Open With" and pick a text editor like gedit or nano.

The file will open and you will see the raw text. It will look something like this:

{"name": "Sarah", "age": 28, "city": "Portland"}

Or if it is more complex, with nested data:

{"users": [{"name": "Sarah", "age": 28}, {"name": "James", "age": 34}]}

This is the actual content of the file. There is nothing hidden or formatted — what you see is what is there. If the file is small, this is all you need to do. If it is large or deeply nested with many brackets, it will be hard to read in a plain text editor.

Using a code editor to make JSON easier to read

If the JSON file is long or has many layers of brackets, a code editor will format it automatically so each piece of data lines up and indents properly. Visual Studio Code is free, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is designed exactly for this kind of task.

read Visual Studio Code from code.visualstudio.com. Install it. Then open the JSON file by dragging it into the window, or by using File > Open File. The editor will automatically indent and color-code the brackets and text so you can see the structure.

Many code editors also have a "format" button or keyboard shortcut (often Shift + Alt + F on Windows, Shift + Option + F on Mac) that will clean up the spacing automatically. This is especially useful if someone sent you a JSON file that is all on one line with no spaces.

Viewing JSON files online without installing anything

If you do not want to install software, you can use an online JSON viewer. Search for "JSON viewer" or "JSON formatter" in your browser. Common options include jsoncrack.com, jsonvisio.com, and jsonformatter.org.

Open the website, copy the contents of your JSON file (open it in Notepad first, select all the text with Ctrl+A or Cmd+A, and copy it with Ctrl+C or Cmd+C), then paste it into the text box on the website. The viewer will format it and display it in a readable way. Some viewers also show it as a tree or diagram so you can see how the data is organized.

The downside: you are sending the contents of your file to a website. If the JSON file contains private information — passwords, personal details, financial data — do not use an online viewer. Use a text editor or code editor on your own computer instead.

Understanding what you are looking at inside a JSON file

JSON uses a few basic symbols to organize data. Curly brackets {} hold a single object or record. Square brackets [] hold a list of items. A colon : separates a label (called a "key") from its value. A comma , separates one piece of data from the next.

For example:

{"name": "Sarah", "age": 28, "hobbies": ["reading", "hiking", "cooking"]}

Here, name, age, and hobbies are the keys. Sarah and 28 are values. The hobbies value is a list (inside square brackets) with three items. You do not need to memorize this — just know that the brackets and colons are the structure that lets computers read the data. If you are only reading the file, you can ignore the punctuation and focus on the actual information.

Editing a JSON file safely

If you need to change something in a JSON file, use a text editor or code editor. Open the file, find the value you want to change, and edit it. For example, if you see "age": 28 and want to change it to "age": 29, just change the number.

The key rule: do not delete or add brackets, colons, or quotation marks unless you know exactly what you are doing. If you remove a bracket or comma by accident, the file will break and computers will not be able to read it. If you are nervous about making a mistake, make a copy of the file first (right-click, "Copy"), edit the copy, and keep the original safe.

Some code editors like Visual Studio Code will warn you if you break the structure — they will show a red squiggly line or an error message. This is helpful because it tells you something is wrong before you save the file.

What to do if you cannot open the JSON file

If you double-click a JSON file and nothing happens, or it opens in the wrong program, the file association is broken. Right-click the file, select "Open with", and manually choose Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). If that does not work, the file may be corrupted or the file extension may be wrong — check that it actually ends in .json and not something else.

If the file is very large (over 100 MB), some text editors will struggle to open it. In that case, use a code editor like Visual Studio Code, which handles large files better. If you still cannot open it, the file may be damaged and you may need to ask whoever created it for a fresh copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit a JSON file in Excel or Google Sheets?

Technically yes, but it is not a good idea. Excel and Sheets will treat the JSON as a spreadsheet and may change the formatting, remove brackets, or add extra characters. Always edit JSON in a text editor or code editor instead. If you need to convert JSON into a spreadsheet, use an online converter tool, but know that the conversion may not preserve all the structure.

What if the JSON file is all on one line and impossible to read?

Use a code editor or online JSON formatter. Both have a "format" or "beautify" button that will automatically add line breaks and indentation. This takes a file that looks like one long string and breaks it into readable chunks.

Is it safe to open a JSON file from someone I do not know?

Opening and reading a JSON file is safe — it is just text. However, if the file came from an untrusted source, be careful about what you do with it. Do not run it as a program or import it into a system without understanding what it contains first. Reading it in a text editor is the safest way to see what is inside.

Can I convert a JSON file to a different format?

Yes. Online converters can turn JSON into CSV (for spreadsheets), XML, or other formats. Search for "JSON to CSV converter" or "JSON to XML converter" depending on what you need. Keep in mind that some data structure may be lost in the conversion, especially if the JSON is deeply nested.

Why does my JSON file have a .json extension but my computer does not recognize it?

Your computer may not have a default program set for JSON files. Right-click the file, select "Open with", and choose any text editor. You can also set a default by selecting "Always use this app to open .json files" if that option appears.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.