# Open ASiC-E without software: three no-install methods

> You can open ASiC-E without software beyond what your device already has. Here are three methods, ordered from most to least informative.

Source: https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/open-asice-without-software/
Published: 2026-11-10 · Digixy

## In short

- Browser viewer: full picture, nothing installed.
- Rename to `.zip`: documents only, no signature information.
- Phone browser: same as the first, in your pocket.

## Method 1: the browser you already have

1. Go to [asiceviewer.com](https://asiceviewer.com/en/#tool).
2. Drop the file onto the page.

You get the documents, the signers, signing times and an integrity check. The browser is the only program involved, and every computer has one.

## Method 2: the ZIP trick

An `.asice` container is a ZIP archive, and every operating system can open ZIP files.

1. Copy the file.
2. Rename the copy so it ends in `.zip`.
3. Double-click it and extract.

You will find the documents next to a `META-INF` folder. This method reveals content, but the signatures appear as raw XML that says little to a human reader.

## Method 3: your phone

Forward the file to yourself or open the mail on your phone, save the attachment and open the same web address in the mobile browser. On Android you can alternatively install the [ASiC-E Viewer app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dasiceviewer.com%26utm_medium%3Dblog-md), though that is, strictly speaking, software.

## What each method gives you

| | Browser viewer | ZIP trick | Phone browser |
| Read documents | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| See signers and times | Yes | No | Yes |
| Integrity check | Yes | No | Yes |
| Works offline | After the page loaded | Yes | After the page loaded |
| Works with `.ddoc` | Yes | No | Yes |
| Risk of confusion | Low | Medium | Low |

## When "no software" is not enough

Two tasks always need installed software:

- **Signing** requires DigiDoc4 and your electronic identity.
- **Official validation** requires a validator with trust lists.

If your task is to read and to see who signed, you do not need either.

## A note for IT departments

A browser-based viewer needs no deployment, no licence and no update process. The page works under a strict content security policy and makes no third-party requests, which makes it easy to allow on managed networks. The documents stay on the endpoint.

## Which to choose

Start with method 1. Keep method 2 as a fallback for damaged containers or computers without internet. Use method 3 when you are away from your desk. Other situations are covered in [view ASiC-E files online](https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/view-asice-files-online/).

## Frequently asked questions

**Can Windows open .asice files by itself?**

Not directly. Windows can open the renamed .zip copy, or you can use a browser-based viewer.

**Is a browser viewer really not software?**

The browser is already installed; the viewer is a web page running in it. Nothing is added to your computer.

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Open your .asice file now: https://asiceviewer.com/en/
ASiC-E Viewer on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer