How to open a .emf file
Quick, free ways to open EMF on any system.
A .emf file is a Enhanced Metafile. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads EMF yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .emf file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .emf. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature 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.
Best apps to open .emf files
Windows
- Microsoft Office
- LibreOffice
- Inkscape
- IrfanView
macOS
- LibreOffice
- Inkscape
Linux
- LibreOffice
- Inkscape
!
Before you open it: Usually safe. As with WMF, metafiles contain drawing records, so open files from unknown sources in a viewer rather than editing them.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.