How to open a .raw file
Quick, free ways to open RAW on any system.
A .raw file is a Camera RAW image. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads RAW yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .raw file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .raw. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Lightroom or darktable.
- On Mac, use Photos or Lightroom.
- On Linux, try darktable or RawTherapee.
- Still stuck? Convert the .raw to JPG, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .raw files
Windows
- Lightroom
- darktable
- RawTherapee
- Photos (with codec)
macOS
- Photos
- Lightroom
- Preview
- Capture One
Linux
- darktable
- RawTherapee
- GIMP
Web
- Convert to JPG or TIFF first
!
Before you open it: Safe. RAW files are image data with no executable content.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .raw file?
Almost always because no installed app understands RAW. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
Why can't I open my camera RAW file?
Your viewer may not have the codec for that camera model. Use Lightroom, RawTherapee or darktable, or convert the file to DNG or JPG.