_NWS File – What is ._nws file and how to open it?

Summary of a _NWS File

A file with the .NWS extension is a Windows Live Mail Newsgroup Copy File. Windows Live Mail is an email client developed by Microsoft that allowed users to access their email accounts, manage their contacts, and read and participate in newsgroups. Newsgroup discussion boards are online forums where individuals can communicate about specific topics or share information. When a user downloads a copy of a newsgroup message in Windows Live Mail, it is saved as a .NWS file. This file contains the message’s text, attachments, and any other relevant information.

Additional Information

._NWS files are not intended to be opened or edited directly by users. They are temporary files that are automatically created and managed by Windows Live Mail. The files are typically stored in the user’s temporary internet files folder, which is usually located in the following directory:


C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files


When Windows Live Mail is closed, the .NWS files are automatically deleted. However, if Windows Live Mail is not closed properly or if the user manually deletes these files, it may cause problems when trying to access newsgroup messages in the future. To ensure proper functioning of Windows Live Mail, it is recommended to not modify or delete .NWS files.

Windows Live Mail Newsgroup Copy File (.NWS)

A .NWS file is a copy of a newsgroup article created by Windows Live Mail. It typically contains the article’s header information, content, and any attached files. The “.” prefix indicates that the file is a hidden file and should not be visible to users in normal file browsing operations.

Opening a ._NWS File

To open a .NWS file, you can use the Windows Notepad application. Simply right-click on the file, select “Open With,” and choose Notepad. The article’s header information and content will be displayed in the Notepad window. If the article has any attached files, they will be saved in the same directory as the .NWS file. You can access these files by browsing to the directory and opening them with the appropriate software.

Alternatively, you can also use the Windows Live Mail application to open ._NWS files. However, you must first import the files into the application by dragging and dropping them onto the Windows Live Mail window. Once imported, you can open the articles by double-clicking on them in the Windows Live Mail sidebar.

Definition and Use of ._NWS Files

.NWS files are temporary files created by Windows Live Mail to store copies of newsgroup messages. These files are hidden by default and typically not visible to users. When a newsgroup message is opened in Windows Live Mail, the program creates a corresponding .NWS file in the same folder. The ._NWS file contains a copy of the message, including its content, headers, and attachments. This temporary file is used by Windows Live Mail to quickly reload the message if needed, improving the user’s browsing experience.

Characteristics and Location of ._NWS Files

.NWS files are plain text files that can be opened and viewed using any text editor. They have a simple format that includes the message’s content, separated by header lines. The .NWS file is always named with the same filename as the original message, but with the .NWS extension. For example, if the newsgroup message is named “message.eml,” the corresponding .NWS file would be named “message.eml._NWS.” These temporary files are typically stored in the same folder as the original message on the user’s computer.

Other Extensions