Windows 95 password file (.pwl)
.pwl file signature | application/octet-stream
The Windows 95 Password File (PWL) is a legacy password storage format created by Microsoft for Windows 95. It was used by the operating system to store cached credentials for logon accounts and protected network resources, and was handled by Windows 95 and related system utilities. The format is obsolete, and files may expose historically stored credentials if recovered, so they should be treated as sensitive artifacts from older systems.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
B0 4D 46 43
Sources: Gary Kessler
All Known Signatures
2 signature variants are documented for .pwl files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| B0 4D 46 43 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| E3 82 85 96 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Extension
.pwl
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .pwl files in Python
def is_pwl(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid PWL by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0xB0, 0x4D, 0x46, 0x43])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .pwl files in Node.js
function isPWL(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0xB0, 0x4D, 0x46, 0x43]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .pwl files in Go
func IsPWL(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0xB0, 0x4D, 0x46, 0x43}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/pwl
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/pwl
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .pwl file?
A .pwl file is a Windows 95 password file file. The Windows 95 Password File (PWL) is a legacy password storage format created by Microsoft for Windows 95. It was used by the operating system to store cached credentials for logon accounts and protected network resources, and was handled by Windows 95 and related system utilities. The format is obsolete, and files may expose historically stored credentials if recovered, so they should be treated as sensitive artifacts from older systems.
What are the magic bytes for .pwl files?
The magic bytes for Windows 95 password file files are B0 4D 46 43 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .pwl file?
To validate a .pwl file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (B0 4D 46 43) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .pwl files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .pwl files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .pwl files?
Windows 95 password file (.pwl) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.