diff --git a/src/core/loader/loader.cpp b/src/core/loader/loader.cpp
index 74eb6e871..b1902dcca 100644
--- a/src/core/loader/loader.cpp
+++ b/src/core/loader/loader.cpp
@@ -26,12 +26,7 @@ const std::initializer_list<Kernel::AddressMapping> default_address_mappings = {
     { 0x1F000000, 0x600000, false }, // entire VRAM
 };
 
-/**
- * Identifies the type of a bootable file
- * @param file open file
- * @return FileType of file
- */
-static FileType IdentifyFile(FileUtil::IOFile& file) {
+FileType IdentifyFile(FileUtil::IOFile& file) {
     FileType type;
 
 #define CHECK_TYPE(loader) \
@@ -48,12 +43,17 @@ static FileType IdentifyFile(FileUtil::IOFile& file) {
     return FileType::Unknown;
 }
 
-/**
- * Guess the type of a bootable file from its extension
- * @param extension_ String extension of bootable file
- * @return FileType of file
- */
-static FileType GuessFromExtension(const std::string& extension_) {
+FileType IdentifyFile(const std::string& file_name) {
+    FileUtil::IOFile file(file_name, "rb");
+    if (!file.IsOpen()) {
+        LOG_ERROR(Loader, "Failed to load file %s", file_name.c_str());
+        return FileType::Unknown;
+    }
+
+    return IdentifyFile(file);
+}
+
+FileType GuessFromExtension(const std::string& extension_) {
     std::string extension = Common::ToLower(extension_);
 
     if (extension == ".elf" || extension == ".axf")
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ static FileType GuessFromExtension(const std::string& extension_) {
     return FileType::Unknown;
 }
 
-static const char* GetFileTypeString(FileType type) {
+const char* GetFileTypeString(FileType type) {
     switch (type) {
     case FileType::CCI:
         return "NCSD";
diff --git a/src/core/loader/loader.h b/src/core/loader/loader.h
index a37d3348c..8de95dacf 100644
--- a/src/core/loader/loader.h
+++ b/src/core/loader/loader.h
@@ -33,6 +33,34 @@ enum class FileType {
     THREEDSX, //3DSX
 };
 
+/**
+ * Identifies the type of a bootable file based on the magic value in its header.
+ * @param file open file
+ * @return FileType of file
+ */
+FileType IdentifyFile(FileUtil::IOFile& file);
+
+/**
+ * Identifies the type of a bootable file based on the magic value in its header.
+ * @param file_name path to file
+ * @return FileType of file. Note: this will return FileType::Unknown if it is unable to determine
+ * a filetype, and will never return FileType::Error.
+ */
+FileType IdentifyFile(const std::string& file_name);
+
+/**
+ * Guess the type of a bootable file from its extension
+ * @param extension String extension of bootable file
+ * @return FileType of file. Note: this will return FileType::Unknown if it is unable to determine
+ * a filetype, and will never return FileType::Error.
+ */
+FileType GuessFromExtension(const std::string& extension_);
+
+/**
+ * Convert a FileType into a string which can be displayed to the user.
+ */
+const char* GetFileTypeString(FileType type);
+
 /// Return type for functions in Loader namespace
 enum class ResultStatus {
     Success,