What is a TIF file?
TIF stands for Tagged Image File Format. It was created by Aldus Corporation and first released in 1986. TIF and TIFF are the same format; scanners and fax software tend to write the three-letter extension. Many TIF files hold several pages, which is common with faxes and multi-page scans.
TIFF is the same format under another extension.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless |
| Colour | up to 32 bits per channel, including CMYK |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | Safari shows it; Chrome, Edge and Firefox download it instead of displaying it |
| Common uses | scanners, fax software and print shops |
| MIME type | image/tiff |
Which format should you convert TIF to?
- TIF to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- TIF to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- TIF to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
TIF is lossy or lossless depending on how it was saved, so check what a program needs before converting.
How to open a TIF file
Whether a TIF file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If TIF is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | TIF Safari shows it; Chrome, Edge and Firefox download it instead of displaying it. |
Want the technical details? See what a .tif file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
TIF compared with other image formats
How TIF stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIF | Either | Yes | 1986 | scanners, fax software and print shops |
| 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 TIF converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your TIF files on the box, or press Choose TIF 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. Converting to PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting TIF files without losing quality
TIF 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.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert TIF files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common TIF conversion, to JPG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.tif output.jpgChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
TIF converter FAQ
What is a TIF file?
TIF stands for Tagged Image File Format, an alternative extension for a image format created by Aldus Corporation in 1986. TIF and TIFF are the same format; scanners and fax software tend to write the three-letter extension. Many TIF files hold several pages, which is common with faxes and multi-page scans.
How do I open a TIF file?
TIF Safari shows it; Chrome, Edge and Firefox download it instead of displaying it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common TIF conversion?
TIF to JPG is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a baseline JPEG at 90 percent quality.
Does converting TIF files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to PSD uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the TIF 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 TIF files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your TIF files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several TIF files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.