CIA file format description

Many people share .cia files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn’t evident for everyone which program a .cia file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .cia files.

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.cia - Nintendo 3DS CTR Importable Archive

The CIA data files are related to Nintendo 3DS. The CIA file is a Nintendo 3DS CTR Importable Archive. The Nintendo 3DS is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. CIA stands for CTR Importable Archive. This format allows the installation titles to the 3DS.

Application:

Nintendo 3DS

Category:

Data files

Mime-type:

application/octet-stream

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

Nintendo 3DS CTR Importable Archive related extensions:

.tcax: TestComplete Events Project Data
.erp: Encarta Researcher Data
.ds: SketchEl XML Datasheet
.asc: Atari Jaguar Sound Patch
.arlold: AOL Organizer Backup Data
.lidata: LiDAR360 Data

Naturally, other applications may also use the .cia file extension. Even harmful programs can create .cia files. Be especially cautious with .cia files coming from an unknown source!

Can't open a .cia file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Windows can't open this file:

example.cia

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select one from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.

To avoid this error, you need to set the file association correctly.

Open Control Panel > Control Panel Home > Default Programs > Set Associations.
Select a file type in the list and click Change Program.

The .cia file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

ca, cai, ci, ciq, ciw, cix, cka, cla, coa, dia, fia, ia, ica, sia, via

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.via: ARM Compiler VIA Data
.xia: Chiasmus Encrypted File
.ia: Rollei RAW Image
.cla: Java Class Data
.ciw: EndNote Web of Science Export
.cix: IBM Rational XDE Collaboration Instance File

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8/10, Windows 11, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

If you find the information on this page useful, please feel free to link to this page.

https://datatypes.net/open-cia-files

If you have useful information about the .cia file format, then write to us!