What is a .emf file?
Enhanced Metafile · Image · Microsoft · 1993
EMF is the 32-bit successor to WMF, a Windows vector image format that stores drawing commands. It scales cleanly and is the format Windows uses when you copy vector graphics between applications.
What is a .emf file used for?
An Enhanced Metafile records GDI drawing operations. Its header holds the signature bytes for ' EMF' at offset 40, and the file replays as scalable vector art. EMF+ is a later variant that adds GDI+ features.
EMF is common when pasting charts or diagrams from Office, and as a spooler format for printing. Inkscape and LibreOffice can open and convert it.
What opens a .emf file?
The .emf format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- Microsoft Office
- LibreOffice
- Inkscape
- IrfanView
macOS
- LibreOffice
- Inkscape
Linux
- LibreOffice
- Inkscape
Open a .emf file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .emf. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Microsoft Office or LibreOffice.
- On Mac, use LibreOffice or Inkscape.
- On Linux, try LibreOffice or Inkscape.
- Still stuck? Convert the .emf to svg, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .emf file?
Almost always because no installed app understands EMF. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .emf at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .emf file
You can convert a .emf file to svg, png, pdf using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .emf file signature (magic bytes)?
A .emf file carries the hex bytes 20 45 4D 46 at offset 40, which read as EMF in ASCII. Programs identify EMF by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for EMF. For a full breakdown, see the Enhanced Metafile file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 45 4D 46 | 40 | EMF | ' EMF' record signature at offset 40 |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .emf file?
EMF is the 32-bit successor to WMF, a Windows vector image format that stores drawing commands. It scales cleanly and is the format Windows uses when you copy vector graphics between applications.
How do I open an EMF file?
Office and LibreOffice open EMF, and Inkscape can open and convert it to SVG. IrfanView views it as an image.
What is the difference between EMF and WMF?
EMF is the newer 32-bit format with more drawing commands and better fidelity; WMF is the older 16-bit one. Both are Windows vector formats.
How do I convert EMF to PNG?
Open it in Inkscape or IrfanView and export as PNG, or use LibreOffice Draw to import and re-export.
Related formats
Sources
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