In the following simple solution, I cover how to Open SFV files. These are files with an .sfv extension which stands for simple file verification. These filetypes are used as a CRC hash checkfile to ensure that a file download has not become corrupt or damaged.
What is an SFV file?
An SFV file (Simple File Verification) is a type of file used to ensure the integrity of other files. It contains checksums (typically CRC32) for a list of files, allowing users to verify that the files have not been corrupted or altered. They are commonly used in file sharing and distribution to ensure data integrity, especially in cases where large files or collections of files are involved.
There may be times when you stumble upon an archive of (.ZIP, .RAR, .ACE files) downloaded from the internet that comes bundled with a file that has an extension of .sfv. Hence, it is always good to know how to open and use this file to check the archive for corruption.
How to Open SFV files and Verify your Download
There are a few nice software applications available that can open an SFV file and run a check on the downloaded archive. However, the one that I typically use is called QuickSFV and is entirely free to use.
- Download QuickSFV to your computer, then launch the executable and proceed to install the program.
- Once your reach the File Associations section, make sure to check the SFV box as pictured below:
If all goes well, you should now be able to proceed to open any of these file types that may have come bundled with your downloaded archives and check the archive for corruption. Simply browse to and double click the .sfv file to open it with QuickSFV.
