What is an NRW file?
NRW stands for Nikon Raw (Coolpix). It was created by Nikon and first released in 2008. NRW is the raw format of Nikon's Coolpix compact cameras, the counterpart of the NEF written by Nikon's larger cameras. Fewer programs list NRW support than NEF, which is a common reason to convert it.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless |
| Colour | raw sensor data, usually 12 or 14 bits per pixel |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | does not open in browsers; Lightroom, Nikon NX Studio and darktable open it |
| Common uses | Nikon Coolpix compacts such as the P7000 and P1000 |
| MIME type | image/x-nikon-nrw |
Which format should you convert NRW to?
- NRW to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
NRW is lossy or lossless depending on how it was saved, so check what a program needs before converting.
How to open an NRW file
An NRW file does not open in a web browser, and only some devices have a program for it. Here is what works on each. If none of these is to hand, converting the file to PNG here is the quickest way to see what is inside it.
| Windows | Nikon NX Studio (free), Lightroom and darktable open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Nikon NX Studio (free), Lightroom and darktable open it. |
| iPhone and iPad | iPhone and iPad have no dependable app for NRW. Convert it to JPG here to view it. |
| Android | Few Android apps read NRW. Convert it to JPG here to view it anywhere. |
Want the technical details? See what a .nrw file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
NRW compared with other image formats
How NRW stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRW | Either | No | 2008 | Nikon Coolpix compacts such as the P7000 and P1000 |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
How to use the NRW converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your NRW files on the box, or press Choose NRW files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. The file is converted on our server and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.
Tips for converting NRW files without losing quality
NRW can be lossy or lossless depending on how the file was saved. Either way, converting to a lossless format keeps exactly what is there, and converting to a lossy one trades a little detail for a much smaller file.
- Keep the raw file. It holds the full sensor data, with far more room for adjusting exposure and colour than any JPG or PNG made from it.
- Choose JPG to share or upload a photo, and PNG or TIFF when the picture will be edited further, since they add no compression loss.
- The conversion is a neutral development with the white balance the camera recorded. For an edited look, develop the file in Lightroom, darktable or RawTherapee instead.
- The server accepts files up to 25 MB, which fits the raw files of most cameras; very high-resolution cameras can go past it.
Convert NRW files from the command line
LibRaw and ImageMagick do the same on your own computer:
dcraw_emu -w -o 1 -q 3 -T input.nrw
magick input.nrw.tiff -quality 92 output.jpgConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
NRW converter FAQ
What is an NRW file?
NRW stands for Nikon Raw (Coolpix), an image format created by Nikon in 2008. NRW is the raw format of Nikon's Coolpix compact cameras, the counterpart of the NEF written by Nikon's larger cameras. Fewer programs list NRW support than NEF, which is a common reason to convert it.
How do I open an NRW file?
NRW does not open in browsers; Lightroom, Nikon NX Studio and darktable open it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common NRW conversion?
NRW to JPG is the conversion people search for most. The NRW is developed by LibRaw, the open-source camera RAW decoder, on our conversion server: the sensor data is turned into a full-colour picture with the white balance the camera recorded, AHD demosaicing and standard sRGB colour.
Does converting NRW files here upload them?
Yes. NRW conversions need LibRaw and ImageMagick, open-source programs that cannot run in a browser, so they run on our conversion server. The file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept.
Is the NRW converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert NRW files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your NRW files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several NRW files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.