What is a TIFF file?
TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format. It was created by Aldus Corporation and first released in 1986. TIFF is the format printers and archives trust because it can store uncompressed or losslessly compressed pixels, CMYK colour and several pages in one file. It is also why a single scan can run to 100 MB.
TIF 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 | print production, scanning, archiving and medical imaging |
| MIME type | image/tiff |
Which format should you convert TIFF to?
- TIFF to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- TIFF to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- TIFF to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- TIFF to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
TIFF is lossy or lossless depending on how it was saved, so check what a program needs before converting.
How to open a TIFF file
Whether a TIFF 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 TIFF 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 | Safari shows TIFF; Chrome, Edge and Firefox download it instead of displaying it. |
Want the technical details? See what a .tiff file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
TIFF compared with other image formats
How TIFF stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIFF | Either | Yes | 1986 | print production, scanning, archiving and medical imaging |
| 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 TIFF converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your TIFF files on the box, or press Choose TIFF 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 HEIC, HEIF, PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting TIFF files without losing quality
TIFF 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 TIFF files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common TIFF conversion, to JPG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.tiff 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.
TIFF converter FAQ
What is a TIFF file?
TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format, an image format created by Aldus Corporation in 1986. TIFF is the format printers and archives trust because it can store uncompressed or losslessly compressed pixels, CMYK colour and several pages in one file. It is also why a single scan can run to 100 MB.
How do I open a TIFF file?
Safari shows TIFF; 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 TIFF conversion?
TIFF 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 TIFF files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to HEIC, HEIF, 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 TIFF 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 TIFF files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your TIFF files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several TIFF files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.