How To Add MIME Types In IIS7

Many times we used IIS7 (Internet Information Service) as a server for our web projects also while working with a audio, video, text files etc for web application, sometimes it will happened that our browser showing some errors that comes from server side. And audio/video files may not work (just like video not playing) and server gives error. If that error is understandable by us then its good but what to do if it is not understandable?

First of all I want to tell you, many times it is happened because file format/extension of audio/video file which we want to play on browser is not known to IIS. So video will not play and error will be shown like video/mp4 MIME type is not supported. Now, then what to do so that IIS knows file format ? or how we can see whether file format is configured on server or not? And if file format is not configured then how will you add that type to IIS?

That file format type is called as MIME type.

What is a MIME type?

MIME stands for "Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions". It's a way of identifying files on the Internet according to their extension or file format. For example, using the "Content-type" header value defined in a HTTP response, the browser can open the file with the proper extension/plugin.

What is an Internet Media Type?

"Internet Media Type" is the same as a MIME type. MIME types were originally created for emails sent using the SMTP protocol. Nowadays, this standard is used in a lot of other protocols, hence the new naming convention "Internet Media Type".

Adding MIME types - at the Global Level i.e. to IIS

Suppose you have to add .mp4 in IIS7 as MIME type.

Steps to follow:

Step 1 :- Start IIS.

OR

Go to Start ( windows button ) and search “iis”.

Step 2 :- Select Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

Step 3 :- Now find Button of MIME Types and double click on it.

List of MIME type will be opened.

Step 4 :- Make sure that the .mp4 MIME doesn't exists in list.

Step 5 :- If .mp4 MIME type already exists then there is no need to add it. If it is not present then right click on that window and click on Add…

Step 6 :- Enter the following information:

File name extension: .mp4

MIME type: video/mp4

Step 7 :- And clicked on OK.

Step 8 :- Just Restart IIS after this procedure.

If you want to know about other file extensions and MIME types then please visit : List of MIME Types and Internet Media Types