# FileEncoding [AHK_L 42+]

Sets the default encoding for FileRead, FileReadLine, Loop Read, FileAppend, and FileOpen.

    FileEncoding [, Encoding]

Encoding can be one of the following values:

- `UTF-8`: Unicode UTF-8, equivalent to CP65001.
- `UTF-16`: Unicode UTF-16, little endian byte order. This is equivalent to CP1200.
- `UTF-8-RAW` or `UTF-16-RAW`: As above, but no byte order mark is written when a new file is created.
- `CPnnn`: a code page with numeric identifier nnn. See Code Page Identifiers.
- Empty or omitted: the system default ANSI code page, which is also the default setting.

### Remarks

`A_FileEncoding` contains the current setting.

### Related

FileOpen, StrPut/StrGet, Script Compatibility