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TIFF file: what it is and how to open it

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

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

What the viewer shows

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

What is a .tiff file?

A .tiff file is a TIFF image. Its registered MIME type is image/tiff, which places it in the image family of formats.

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format.

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

Files of this type usually begin with the bytes 4D 4D 00 2A. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.

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

TIFF file format details

Extension.tiff
FormatTIFF image
MIME typeimage/tiff
CategoryImage
Text or binaryBinary
File signature4D 4D 00 2A
Registered with IANAYes
Other extensions.tif

How to open TIFF 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.

Convert TIFF files

TapToConvert converts TIFF files in your browser, without uploading them. Open the TIFF converter, or go straight to a conversion:

TIFF file FAQ

What is a .tiff file?

A .tiff file is a TIFF image, with the MIME type image/tiff.

How do I open a .tiff file?

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

Is a .tiff file safe to open?

TIFF 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 .tiff?

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

Is TIFF 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.