What is a .tga file?
A .tga file is a TGA image. Its registered MIME type is image/x-tga, which places it in the image family of formats.
TGA stands for Truevision Graphics Adapter.
TGA 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 extensions .icb, .tpic, .vda, .vst.
TGA file format details
| Extension | .tga |
|---|---|
| Format | TGA image |
| MIME type | image/x-tga, application/tga, application/x-targa |
| Category | Image |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | None fixed |
| Registered with IANA | No |
| Other extensions | .icb, .tpic, .vda, .vst |
How to open TGA files
| Windows | The Photos app handles common image formats; for this one you may need an image editor. GIMP is free and opens many formats. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats. If it cannot, a dedicated image editor usually can. |
| iPhone and iPad | Photos and the Files app show common image types. Less common ones may need an app, or conversion to JPG or PNG. |
| Android | Google Photos and gallery apps show common images. Other formats may need a viewer app. |
Convert TGA files
TapToConvert converts TGA files in your browser, without uploading them. Open the TGA converter, or go straight to a conversion:
TGA file FAQ
What is a .tga file?
A .tga file is a TGA image, with the MIME type image/x-tga.
How do I open a .tga file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .tga file safe to open?
TGA 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 .tga?
image/x-tga, and it is also seen as application/tga or application/x-targa. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is TGA 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.