How to open a PRN file
A PRN file can contain several different printer languages. Drop yours in to find out which one, and convert it if it's supported.
Converted entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded.
How to recognize the contents yourself
If you open a PRN file in a text editor, the first line often gives it away:
| Starts with | Language |
|---|---|
%!PS-Adobe | PostScript |
) HP-PCL XL | PCL XL (PCL 6) |
ESC E or ESC & codes | PCL 5 |
%PDF- | Already a PDF |
@PJL ... ENTER LANGUAGE= | A printer job header; the language named after it follows |
JZJZ | HP ZjStream (host-based, can't be converted) |
The detector checks these and many other signatures, including Canon, Samsung, Brother, Epson and raster formats, and tells you plainly when a file can't be converted.
Questions
Can I tell the type from the file name?
No. The .prn extension is used for every printer language. The only reliable way is to look at the first bytes of the file, which is what the detector does.
What does “host-based” or “GDI” mean?
The computer, not the printer, turned the pages into dots, compressed in a format specific to one printer family. There's no page description left to convert, so these files can't be opened as documents.
Is anything about my file recorded?
Only the detected format type (for example “pclxl”) and a size range, for anonymous usage statistics. Never the file name, contents, job name or user name.