You're here because you have a file that has a file extension ending in .ipmeta. Files with the file extension .ipmeta can only be launched by certain applications. It's possible that .ipmeta files are data files rather than documents or media, which means they're not meant to be viewed at all.

The metadata files used by Apple iPhoto are known as IPMETA files. They are categorized as data files containing information about the library of images users have. These files serve as storage for the metadata schema as well as all the information about search, organization, browsing and previewing used by iphoto. IPMETA files can be found in the [user]/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Metadata Backup/ directory wherein the common IPMETA files usually include BackupStatus.ipmeta, Keywords.ipmeta, Globals.ipmeta, Schema.ipmeta and AlbumX.ipmeta. The X in the AlbumX.ipmeta represents a number. IPMETA files should not be mistaken as files containing images because even if they are used by iPhoto, they do not directly deal with the images the application use. They only contain the information about these images. IPMETA files can also be deleted but the next time that iPhoto is opened; they will once again be generated by the application. The Apple Iphoto application using IPMETA files runs only on MAC OS.

Launch a .ipmeta file, or any other file on your PC, by double-clicking it. If your file associations are set up correctly, the application that's meant to open your .ipmeta file will open it. It's possible you may need to download or purchase the correct application. It's also possible that you have the correct application on your PC, but .ipmeta files aren't yet associated with it. In this case, when you try to open a .ipmeta file, you can tell Windows which application is the correct one for that file. From then on, opening a  .ipmeta file will open the correct application. Click here to fix .ipmeta file association errors

Be careful not to rename the extension on .ipmeta files, or any other files. This will not change the file type. Only special conversion software can change a file from one file type to another.

A file extension is the set of three or four characters at the end of a filename; in this case, .ipmeta. File extensions tell you what type of file it is, and tell Windows what programs can open it. Windows often associates a default program to each file extension, so that when you double-click the file, the program launches automatically. When that program is no longer on your PC, you can sometimes get an error when you try to open the associated file.