What Is a CPI File? How to Open, Use, and Recover One

A .cpi file is most commonly a Code Page Information file used by Windows and MS-DOS to define character encoding tables for different languages and regions. However, the .cpi extension is also used by Sony cameras for video clip metadata and by several other applications. Understanding which type of CPI file you have determines the correct application for opening it.

Part 1. Types of CPI Files Explained

The .cpi extension is shared by multiple unrelated file formats. Here are the main types you are likely to encounter:

Type 1 — Windows Code Page Information (.cpi) These are system files found in C:\Windows\System32\ (or the DOS system folder on older systems). They define character set mappings for the command prompt and legacy MS-DOS applications. Key examples: EGA.CPI, EGA2.CPI, EGA3.CPI.

Type 2 — Sony XDCAM / AVCHD Clip Information (.cpi) When recording video on Sony cameras and camcorders using the AVCHD or XDCAM format, the camera generates .cpi files alongside the video files. These contain metadata about the clip — timecode, recording date, codec information — and are required by video editing software to correctly interpret the footage.

Type 3 — Application-specific CPI files Some applications use .cpi as a proprietary format — for example, certain CRM or inventory management systems store report definitions or configuration in .cpi files. In these cases, only the originating application can open them.

💡 Tip: To identify which type of CPI file you have, right-click the file → Properties and note the file size. Windows Code Page files are typically 6–50 KB. Sony clip files are usually a few KB linked to large MTS/MP4 video files. If the CPI file is in a PRIVATE\AVCHD folder structure, it is a Sony clip file.

Part 2. Windows Code Page CPI Files

Windows Code Page Information files are part of the MS-DOS and Windows NT character encoding infrastructure. They tell the operating system how to map numeric byte values to displayable characters for non-ASCII languages (Eastern European, Cyrillic, Greek, etc.).

Key files stored in C:\Windows\System32\:

• EGA.CPI — Standard code pages (437, 850, 852, 855, 857, 860, 861, 863, 865, 866)
• EGA2.CPI — Additional European code pages
• EGA3.CPI — Further extended code pages

The CHCP (Change Code Page) command in Command Prompt uses these files to switch the active character encoding. For example, CHCP 65001 switches to UTF-8.

🗣️ r/techsupport user: "I got an error saying EGA.CPI was missing when trying to run an old DOS application. Copying it from another Windows PC fixed the issue right away."

Part 3. How to Open Windows Code Page CPI Files

Windows CPI system files are binary format and not intended for direct editing. However, you can interact with them in several ways:

View the active code page: Open Command Prompt and run CHCP. The output shows the current active code page number (e.g., Active code page: 437).

Change the code page: Run CHCP [number] — for example, CHCP 850 or CHCP 65001. This reads from the installed .cpi file.

View raw content (advanced): Open the CPI file in a hex editor such as HxD (free) to inspect the binary structure. This is rarely needed outside of system development contexts.

⚠️ Important: Do not edit or delete Windows system CPI files. Missing or corrupted Code Page Information files can cause the Command Prompt to display garbled characters or fail to run legacy applications that depend on specific code page support.

Part 4. How to Open Sony Camera CPI Files

Sony AVCHD and XDCAM cameras create .cpi files inside a specific folder hierarchy:

PRIVATE\
  AVCHD\
    BDMV\
      CLIPINF\
        00001.cpi    ← Clip information file
      STREAM\
        00001.mts    ← Video file

The CPI file is tied to the corresponding .mts or .mp4 video. To work with these files:

• Sony Catalyst Browse — Free browser from Sony; reads CPI metadata natively
• Adobe Premiere Pro — Import the AVCHD folder structure directly (do not move individual files)
• DaVinci Resolve — Free professional editor; handles AVCHD with CPI files
• Vegas Pro — Full AVCHD support including CPI metadata

💡 Tip: Never copy just the .mts video files without their accompanying .cpi files. Editing software relies on the CPI metadata to correctly read timecode, frame rate, and clip boundaries. Always copy the full PRIVATE/AVCHD folder structure to your editing drive.

🗣️ r/videography user: "Lost timecode and clip metadata in Premiere after only copying the MTS files and leaving the CPI files on the card. Now I always copy the entire AVCHD folder structure without exception."

Part 5. What to Do If CPI Files Are Missing or Corrupt

For Windows Code Page CPI files:

• Copy the missing CPI file from another Windows PC with the same version (they are in C:\Windows\System32\)
• Alternatively, run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt — System File Checker may restore missing system CPI files automatically

For Sony camera CPI files:

• If CPI files were deleted from an SD card, use a file recovery tool immediately — the longer you wait, the lower the chance of recovery
• Never write new data to the card before attempting recovery

For application-specific CPI files:

• Reinstall the originating application — setup processes typically restore default CPI configuration files

Part 6. Recover Deleted CPI Files With Ritridata

If you accidentally deleted .cpi files from an SD card, USB drive, or Windows drive, Ritridata can scan the storage device to locate and recover deleted files, including .cpi metadata files alongside their corresponding video content.

Step 1 — Select the drive/location

Step 2 — Run a safe scan

Step 3 — Preview and recover to another drive

FAQ

Q: Can I delete CPI files from my Windows system folder? Deleting Code Page CPI files from C:\Windows\System32\ is not recommended. While modern Windows applications typically use Unicode, legacy command-line tools and some older software depend on these files. Deleting them may cause character encoding errors or application failures.

Q: What program opens a CPI file? It depends on the type. Windows Code Page CPI files can be viewed in a hex editor like HxD. Sony AVCHD CPI files open with Sony Catalyst Browse, Adobe Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve. Application-specific CPI files require the originating software.

Q: Are Sony CPI files necessary for video editing? Yes, in most professional workflows. Sony AVCHD CPI files carry clip-level metadata that editing software uses to correctly interpret timecode, frame rate, and scene boundaries. Losing them may cause import errors or incorrect clip information.

Q: Can I convert a CPI file to another format? For Windows Code Page CPI files, conversion is not typically needed — they serve a system function rather than storing content. For Sony AVCHD workflows, the CPI metadata is automatically processed during import into editing software; no manual conversion is needed.

Q: Why does my command prompt show garbled text? Garbled characters in Command Prompt often indicate a code page mismatch. Run CHCP to see the active code page and switch it with CHCP 65001 for UTF-8, or CHCP 437 for standard English. If the CPI file for that code page is missing, you may need to restore it.

Q: Where are Windows CPI files stored? Windows Code Page Information files are stored in C:\Windows\System32\ on modern Windows systems. On legacy MS-DOS systems they were in the DOS system directory.

References

• Microsoft: CHCP Command Reference
• Microsoft: Character Sets and Code Pages
• Sony Catalyst Browse — Free Download
• HxD Hex Editor
• r/videography Community