How do I open camera raw files for free?

darktable and RawTherapee are both free, open source and support essentially every camera raw format on Windows, macOS and Linux. For viewing only, the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store adds previews to Windows.

Why will my new camera raw files not open?

Each camera model needs explicit support added to the software. A very recent camera may not be supported yet by your version, so updating usually fixes it.

File extensions

How to open a .raw file

Camera raw image · Image

A raw file is unprocessed sensor data from a camera, and every manufacturer uses its own extension: .cr2 and .cr3 for Canon, .nef for Nikon, .arw for Sony. Darktable and RawTherapee open all of them for free.

What a .raw file actually is

Raw is what the sensor recorded before the camera turned it into a JPEG. No sharpening, no white balance baked in, no compression loss, and far more tonal range to work with.

The generic word "raw" covers dozens of incompatible formats. That is why support depends on your specific camera model, and why a brand-new camera sometimes will not open in software that handled last year's.

Why it will not open

Windows and macOS have improved at previewing common raw formats but still miss newer cameras, because each model needs explicit support added. A file that shows a thumbnail but will not open is usually this.

Renaming it to an extension you can open will not help: changing the extension does not convert the file, it only changes what Windows tries to open it with.

Step by step

Windows

01For free editing: install darktable or RawTherapee. Both handle essentially every raw format and are designed for exactly this.
02For simple viewing, install the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store, which adds preview support to File Explorer and Photos.
03IrfanView and XnView MP also display raw files quickly when you only need to look.
04If a brand-new camera is unsupported, update your software. Support for each new model is added over time.

macOS

01Preview and Photos handle many raw formats natively, and Apple adds new cameras through system updates.
02darktable and RawTherapee both run on macOS for full editing.

What usually goes wrong

Editing raw never changes the original

Raw editors work non-destructively: adjustments are stored in a sidecar file and the raw itself is untouched. You always export a JPEG or TIFF to get a shareable image, and the original stays as the negative.

Programs that open .raw

Our pick, in order. Every one links to the publisher's official download URL and the SHA-256 hash of the installer. Once you have downloaded it, you can check the file against our index before you run it.

If you end up downloading one of these from somewhere other than the publisher, what you can and cannot verify about that is worth two minutes.

Also registers .raw in its manifest

Taken straight from publisher manifests. Some of these handle the format for a narrow purpose rather than as their main job.

Common questions

How do I open camera raw files for free?: darktable and RawTherapee are both free, open source and support essentially every camera raw format on Windows, macOS and Linux. For viewing only, the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store adds previews to Windows.
Why will my new camera raw files not open?: Each camera model needs explicit support added to the software. A very recent camera may not be supported yet by your version, so updating usually fixes it.