Guide
How to Open an IPYNB File on Windows
Choose a local Jupyter environment, VS Code, Google Colab, or a browser-only viewer when opening an IPYNB file on Windows.
Choose read-only viewing or a runnable notebook
Use a local viewer when you only need to read the saved Markdown, code, tables, plots, and output in an `.ipynb` file. The viewer on this site reads the selected file in your browser and does not execute its cells.
Use Jupyter or VS Code when you need to edit cells or run code. That requires a suitable Python environment, the packages used by the notebook, and any files or credentials the notebook expects. Opening a notebook and running it are different actions.
Open locally with Jupyter
Install Jupyter through a Python environment you control, then open the notebook from Jupyter's file browser. This is the most appropriate route when the notebook depends on local data, packages, or a project environment that you already have.
If Windows cannot find the `jupyter` command, check that you opened the terminal for the same Python or Conda environment where Jupyter was installed. Avoid adding broad system paths until you know which environment should own the command.
Open with VS Code or Google Colab
VS Code can open Jupyter notebooks with its Jupyter support and lets you select the Python interpreter or kernel before execution. It is a good choice when the notebook belongs to a code workspace or repository.
Google Colab can upload an existing notebook, but uploading sends it to Google's service. Use it only when that handling is appropriate for the notebook. A browser-only local viewer is the better option for private read-only review.
Inspect unfamiliar notebooks before running
Review code, saved output, and notebook metadata before choosing Run All or connecting a kernel. A downloaded notebook can contain shell commands, network calls, file operations, and output that exposes data you did not expect to share.
If the goal is simply to submit, archive, or review a notebook, inspect it locally and create a PDF only after you have checked the saved results.
Last reviewed against official documentation: 2026-08-09. Source: Jupyter installation documentation