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File conversion

Convert YAML to YML

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 8, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert YAML to YML?
Yes - YAML converts to YML.

Because the two extensions point to identical YAML content, 'converting' is just a rename - no tool reprocesses the bytes. The file is preserved exactly as-is; nothing is lost or changed.

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert YAML to YML?

Some tools hard-code which extension they look for. Docker Compose traditionally expects docker-compose.yml, many CI systems require .yml pipeline files, and the 3-character form survives in projects with older conventions. Rename your .yaml file to .YML whenever a framework or team convention demands it.

How to convert YAML to YML

File Explorer - Windows BUILT-IN

Right-click the file, choose Rename, and change the extension from .yaml to .yml.

Finder - macOS BUILT-IN

Click the file name once to select it, press Return to rename, then change .yaml to .yml.

Command line - mv / ren CLI

On macOS or Linux run mv myfile.yaml myfile.yml; on Windows Command Prompt run ren myfile.yaml myfile.yml.

PowerShell - Rename-Item BUILT-IN

Run Rename-Item myfile.yaml myfile.yml to rename a single file.

About these formats

.YAML YAML Ain't Markup Language file

A .yaml (or .yml) file is plain-text structured data or configuration written in YAML, used for CI/CD pipelines, Docker Compose, Kubernetes manifests, and app config. Open it in any code…

Open .YAML details →
.YML YAML Ain't Markup Language file

A .yml file is a plain-text configuration or data file written in YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language). Open it with any code editor - VS Code with the YAML extension is the best choice on any…

Open .YML details →

Quality & what to watch

  • .yaml and .yml are byte-for-byte identical - all major YAML parsers (PyYAML, Go yaml.v3, Ruby Psych) accept both extensions without distinction.
  • After renaming, update any scripts or config files that reference the old file name.
  • Tools like yq can read .yaml and output .yml, but only reach for them when you also need to transform the data - a plain rename is enough otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any actual difference between .yaml and .yml?
No - same format, same parser support. .yml is the older 3-character DOS-era form; .yaml is what the YAML specification recommends, but both work everywhere.
Will renaming the file break anything?
Only if something specifically searches for the old file name or extension. Update any scripts or configs that reference the file by name.
Which extension should I use?
Follow your project's existing convention. If there is none, .yaml is the spec-recommended form; .yml is common in Docker and CI ecosystems.
Can I open a .yml file the same way as a .yaml file?
Yes - editors such as VS Code, Notepad++, and Sublime Text treat both extensions identically.