How to open a .tiff file
Quick, free ways to open TIFF on any system.
A .tiff file is a Tagged Image File Format. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads TIFF yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .tiff file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .tiff. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with Photos or IrfanView.
- On Mac, use Preview or Photos.
- On Linux, try GIMP or Image Viewer.
- Still stuck? Convert the .tiff to PNG, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .tiff files
Windows
- Photos
- IrfanView
- Photoshop
- Windows Photo Viewer
macOS
- Preview
- Photos
- Photoshop
Linux
- GIMP
- Image Viewer
- ImageMagick
Web
- Not natively in most browsers, convert first
!
Before you open it: Safe. TIFF is an image container without scripting.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .tiff file?
Almost always because no installed app understands TIFF. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
Why won't my TIFF open in the browser?
Most browsers do not display TIFF. Open it in Preview, Photos or an editor, or convert it to PNG or JPG.