What to Do When .CRX Files Are Lost After a System Crash

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .CRX file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

What to Do When .CRX Files Are Lost After a System Crash

What is a .CRX file?

A CRX file is an extension that adds extra features or themes to the Google Chrome web browser. It is saved in a compressed format and may contain .JS, .JSON, and other files, such as images and executable programs. CRX files are used for installing browser addons such as games, ad blockers, and news readers.

What Are Common Causes of ".CRX" Files Lost or Failure?

There can be several common causes for ".CRX" files lost or failure. Some of them include:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete the ".CRX" file while organizing or cleaning up their computer system.
  2. Software issues: Problems with the software that handles ".CRX" files, such as conflicts with other applications or corruption of the software itself, can lead to file loss or failure.
  3. Virus or malware infection: Malicious software can corrupt or delete ".CRX" files, causing them to become lost or non-functional.
  4. File system errors: Errors in the file system, such as disk corruption or bad sectors, can result in the loss or failure of ".CRX" files.
  5. Hardware failure: Physical damage to the storage device where ".CRX" files are stored, such as a hard drive failure or a damaged USB drive, can lead to file loss or failure.
  6. Improper file handling: Improperly handling ".CRX" files, such as force-closing the software or interrupting file transfers, can cause them to become lost or corrupted.
  7. Software updates or upgrades: Sometimes, updating or upgrading software that handles ".CRX" files can result in compatibility issues or file loss.
  8. Human error: Mistakes made by users, such as accidentally renaming or moving the ".CRX" file to an unknown location, can lead to file loss or failure.

It is important to regularly backup ".CRX" files to prevent loss and use reliable antivirus software to protect against malware or virus infections.

How to recover lost ".CRX" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".CRX" file may be deleted.

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🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".CRX" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".CRX" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".CRX" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 4.9
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software
  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".CRX" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type
  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored
  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan
  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery
  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".CRX" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo chrome Extension image file file?

Programs that open ".CRX" files

Windows
Google Chrome Google Chrome
Chromium Chromium
7-Zip 7-Zip
Mac
Google Chrome Google Chrome
Chromium Chromium
Linux
Google Chrome Google Chrome
Chromium Chromium

Additional Information

  • File type: Chrome Extension

  • File extension: .CRX

  • Developer: Google

  • Category: Plugin Files

  • Format: Binary

  • HEX: 43 72 32 34

  • ASCII: Cr24

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 16:54 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .CRX files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What is a ".CRX backup" file and how is it created?

    A ".CRX backup" file is a backup file format used by Google Chrome extensions. It contains the compressed and packaged files of an extension, allowing users to easily backup and restore their installed extensions.

    To create a ".CRX backup" file, you can follow these steps:

    1. Open Google Chrome and go to the Extensions page by typing "chrome://extensions" in the address bar.
    2. Enable the "Developer mode" option located in the top right corner of the Extensions page.
    3. Locate the extension you want to create a backup for and note its unique ID (a long string of letters and numbers).
    4. Open the file explorer on your computer and navigate to the following directory:
    • Windows: C:Users[Your Username]AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensions
    • macOS: /Users/[Your Username]/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions
    • Linux: /home/[Your Username]/.config/google-chrome/Default/Extensions
    1. Find the folder with the same unique ID as the extension you want to backup.
    2. Copy the entire folder and paste it to a different location on your computer, such as your desktop.
    3. Rename the copied folder to "[Extension Name].crx" (replace [Extension Name] with the actual name of the extension).
    4. You have now created a ".CRX backup" file for the extension.

    Note that ".CRX backup" files are specific to Google Chrome and cannot be directly used in other browsers. They are primarily intended for backup and restoration purposes within the Chrome browser.

  • How can I restore a ".CRX backup" file to its original state?

    To restore a ".CRX backup" file to its original state, you can follow these steps:

    1. Open a web browser (preferably Google Chrome) and type "chrome://extensions" in the address bar.
    2. Enable the "Developer mode" option located at the top right corner of the page.
    3. A few buttons will appear below the address bar. Click on the "Load unpacked" button.
    4. A file explorer window will open. Locate and select the ".CRX backup" file you want to restore.
    5. Click on the "Open" button to load the extension.
    6. The extension will now be restored to its original state and appear in the list of installed extensions on the "chrome://extensions" page.

    Note: If the ".CRX backup" file is corrupted or incompatible with your current version of the browser, the restoration process may not work. In that case, you may need to find an alternative backup file or reinstall the extension from the Chrome Web Store.

  • Are there any specific software or tools required to open and access the contents of a ".CRX backup" file?

    Yes, to open and access the contents of a ".CRX backup" file, you will need to use a file extraction tool. The ".CRX" file format is associated with Google Chrome extensions. Here's how you can proceed:

    1. Change the file extension: Rename the ".CRX backup" file to ".ZIP" by simply changing the file extension. This will allow you to treat it as a regular ZIP archive.
    2. Extract the contents: Use any standard file extraction tool like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or WinZip to extract the contents of the ZIP file.
    3. Access the files: Once the extraction is complete, you will have access to the files and folders contained within the ".CRX backup" file. These files usually include the extension's code, assets, and other related resources.

    By following these steps, you can explore the contents of a ".CRX backup" file without any specialized software.

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