How to Open RAW Files
Method 1 of 3:
Using Windows 10 and macOS
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Open File Exploreror Finder
. You can find these in either the Start menu or Dock.
-
Navigate to the folder where the RAW file is saved. RAW files usually end with .RW2, .DNG, .CR2, or .NEF. -
Double-click the file to open it in your default photo viewer. If you have a specific application in mind, you can right-click the file instead, select Open With, and then choose the right app.- You can click Edit or Tools in most apps to access editing tools.
Method 2 of 3:
Using Windows 8.1 and Earlier
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Go to https://www.microsoft.com in a web browser. If you're using an older version of Windows, you'll need to download some extra software to open RAW files on your computer. -
Click the magnifying glass and search for 'Camera Codec Pack." The magnifying glass is near the top-right corner of the page. -
Click the first option in the search results. It'll be called Download Microsoft Camera Codec Pack with a version number. -
Click the red Download button. A new page will open for you to pick a version to download. -
Click either the .x64 or .x86 file. If your computer is running the 64-bit version of Windows, you'll want to pick the .x64 download.- To check this, you can open your Settings, click About, and read under the 'Device specifications' header.
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Click Next. You'll see this in the lower right corner of the web page. Your file browser will open and you can change the download location and name.- Choose Save instead of Run when the initial download completes.
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Double-click the downloaded codec pack file. You'll usually find this in your 'Downloads' folder. The codec pack file will install without requiring further input from you. -
Navigate to and double-click on your RAW image file. After the camera codec pack is downloaded and installed, RAW camera files will open in Photo Viewer.[1]
Method 3 of 3:
Using Snapseed Mobile
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Download and install Snapseed. You can get Snapseed free from the Google Play Storeor App store
. Snapseed makes it easy to open and edit most types of RAW files on your iPhone, iPad, or Android.
- The app developer is Google LLC.
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Open Snapseed. This app icon looks like a multi-shaded green leaf. You can find this on either the home screen, in the app drawer, or by searching. -
Tap anywhere on the screen to open a picture. A file browser will open. -
Navigate to and tap your RAW file. The RAW picture file should open in Snapseed for you to edit.- You can find tools to edit your image along the bottom of your screen, including Tools, Looks, and Export.
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