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LWO file: what it is and how to open it

LightWave object. Here is what a .lwo file contains, how to open one on any device, and a viewer that opens it right in your browser.

Open a .lwo file hereChoose fileRead in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

What the viewer shows

  • Whether the file matches the .lwo signature
  • The first bytes as hex
  • A preview when your browser can display it

What is a .lwo file?

A .lwo file is a lightWave object. Its registered MIME type is image/x-lwo, which places it in the image family of formats.

LWO is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.

The same format is also saved with the extension .lwob.

LWO file format details

Extension.lwo
FormatLightWave object
MIME typeimage/x-lwo
CategoryImage
Text or binaryBinary
File signatureNone fixed
Registered with IANANo
Other extensions.lwob

How to open LWO files

WindowsThe Photos app handles common image formats; for this one you may need an image editor. GIMP is free and opens many formats.
MacPreview opens most image formats. If it cannot, a dedicated image editor usually can.
iPhone and iPadPhotos and the Files app show common image types. Less common ones may need an app, or conversion to JPG or PNG.
AndroidGoogle Photos and gallery apps show common images. Other formats may need a viewer app.

Can you convert a .lwo file?

TapToConvert does not convert LWO files yet. If you can export the file from its program as a common image format, the image converter can turn it into anything else.

LWO file FAQ

What is a .lwo file?

A .lwo file is a lightWave object, with the MIME type image/x-lwo.

How do I open a .lwo file?

With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.

Is a .lwo file safe to open?

LWO files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.

What is the MIME type of .lwo?

image/x-lwo. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.

Is LWO a text or binary format?

Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.

File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.

Similar file types

Try MP4 to MP3, HEIC, merge PDF or compress video.