How to open a .sketch file
Quick, free ways to open Sketch on any system.
A .sketch file is a Sketch Design Document. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads Sketch yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .sketch file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .sketch. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Lunacy or Figma (import).
- On Mac, use Sketch or Lunacy.
- On Linux, try Lunacy or Figma (web).
- Still stuck? Convert the .sketch to fig, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .sketch files
Windows
- Lunacy
- Figma (import)
- 7-Zip (to inspect)
macOS
- Sketch
- Lunacy
- Figma (import)
Linux
- Lunacy
- Figma (web)
Web
- Sketch web viewer
- Figma
!
Before you open it: Safe. A Sketch file is design data in a ZIP package; it does not execute.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .sketch file?
Almost always because no installed app understands Sketch. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a .sketch file on Windows?
Use Lunacy, a free Windows app that opens Sketch files, or import it into Figma. To just peek inside, rename it to .zip.
Is a .sketch file a ZIP?
Modern Sketch files are, yes: a ZIP of JSON and images. That is why they start with the ZIP signature and can be unzipped.