Author: Akhil Pulotil

Confused about how to open NEF files in Windows 10?

Well, NEF files are very commonly used out there.

If you use Nikon cameras, then you’d have definitely come across files with the NEF extension.

In this article, we’ll explain you about the NEF file extension.

Along with that, we’ll also be sharing an easy method to open NEF format files in Windows 10 machines.

Also Read -> Download Full Windows 11 Version for Free

What is the NEF File Format?

In the introduction, we mentioned that Nikon camera users will usually come across NEF files.

Why is that?

Well, NEF stands for Nikon Electronic Format.

As you may have already guessed, the NEF format is a standard image format from Nikon to store their images.

All the Nikon cameras will have the option to store images in NEF file format.

As the NEF format is developed and used by Nikon in their cameras, it is able to provide the best results in images.

Unlike standard and commonly used image formats such as JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc. NEF files will contain more image data that can be handy while editing the photos.

Thus, with the NEF images, photographers and editors get more flexibility with what they can do with the image file.

How to Open NEF Files in Windows 10 using Official NEF Codec?

Even though Nikon cameras are very popular, the NEF format really isn’t.

So, not all image editors and photo viewer software products can open NEF files by default.

Nikon provides an official codec file for NEF format which allows such files to be open in systems running Windows.

To install the codec, below are the necessary system requirements:

• Either 32-bit or 64-bit Windows OS (Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Enterprise, Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Home).
• 1GHz or better processor in the Intel Pentium 4, Core, or Celerion series.

Now, below are the steps to follow to install official Nikon NEF Codec in Windows 10.

1. Visit the official Nikon NEC Windows Codec download page here.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the web page.
3. Click on the “Accept” check box, select your region, and click on the “Download” button.
4. Now, on your preferred hard drive location, create a folder and name it as you desire. We will store the codec data in this folder.
5. Make sure to move the downloaded codec installer to the new folder you created in step 4 above.
6. Double-click on the codec installer that you just downloaded.
7. A new window will now appear.
8. Follow the instructions displayed on the window to follow through the installation of the codec.

The latest version of the Nikon NEF Codec is 1.31.2.

While installing the latest codec version, make sure to uninstall any previous versions that may already be present on your computer.

Final Words

The NEF Windows Codec does not support all the cameras in Nikon’s lineup.

The codec does provide support for all the popular and newer digital SLR cameras, mirror-less cameras, advanced interchangeable lens cameras, and compact digital cameras.

You can find the complete list of supported Nikon cameras by the NEF codec in the download page.

Nowadays, literally everyone wants to download the full version of Windows 11 for free!

Well, this isn’t a surprise.

Whenever a new Windows version is announced, we all love to update and enjoy the latest available experience.

Windows 11 brings several changes both aesthetically and functionally over Windows 10.

Thus, it only makes sense for Windows users to update to experience the best modern version of Windows.

So, how can you experience Windows 11?

Are you looking to download the full version of Windows 11 for free?

Then you’re at the right place.

Also Read -> Open PNG Files in Windows 10

How to Download the Full Version of Windows 11 for Free?

Today we bring to you different and sure-shot ways to download and install the full version of Windows 11 for free on compatible hardware.

Method 1: Update Existing Windows 10 PC

The easiest way to experience Windows 11 is by updating your Windows 10 PC.

You can search and install Windows 11 on your PC running Windows 10 the same way you’d install any other update.

Here’s how to directly update Windows 10 to Windows 11.

1. Launch “Settings” on your computer.
2. From the left side options pane, click on “Update & Security”.
3. Then click on “Windows Update”.
4. Now, click on the option that says “Check for Updates”.
5. If Windows 11 is available for your PC, then you’ll see the details under the heading “Feature update to Windows 11”.
6. To begin the installation of Windows 11 on your PC, click on “Download and install”.

That’s all. Windows 11 installation will now begin on your PC.

Method 2: Download Windows 11 Officially from Microsoft

Microsoft officially allow people to download and install Windows 11 on compatible hardware.

You can also download the Windows 11 Installation Media software to update existing PC or install on fresh hardware.

1. Visit the official Microsoft Windows 11 free download page here.
2. Click on “Download Now” button beneath the “Create Windows 11 Installation Media” option.
3. After downloading, run the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool.
4. Accept the terms & conditions displayed on screen.
5. Select the Windows 11 version of your choice and then click on “Next”.
6. Insert a USB flash drive to your PC.
7. On the next screen, select “USB Flash Drive”.
8. Click on “Next”.
9. Wait for the procedures to complete.
10. Once successfully completed, the USB drive you inserted will become a bootable installation media for Windows 11.
11. Remove the USB drive.
12. Now, insert the USB drive into the PC on which you wish to install Windows 11.
13. Reboot the PC. If the data from USB drive isn’t read automatically, change the boot order of your computer to read from USB.
14. When the data from the USB drive boots up, the Windows 11 installer will start automatically.
15. Follow on-screen instructions to install Windows 11 on your computer.
16. Once the installation is completed, your system will reboot.
17. The Windows 11 startup screen will appear.
18. As it’s a new installation, you will need to setup your Windows 11 computer.
19. After the initial setup is completed, you get to experience Windows 11 in all its glory.

Once everything is done and set, you can remove the USB drive from the computer.

Viola! You have now installed full version of Windows 11 for free.

You can now format the USB drive to remove the bootable Windows 11 installer.

Final Words

We’ve mentioned the official methods to install Windows 11 in this article.

Have other simpler and interesting methods?

Feel free to share them as comments below.

How to open PNG files in Windows 10 is a very common question asked by lots of people out there.

Are you too wondering about how to open files with the PNG file format?

Then here we are with various methods to open PNG files on systems powered by the Windows 10 operating system.

Also Read —> How to Switch to a Windows 11 Local Account from Microsoft Account?

What is PNG File Format?

The Portable Graphics Format or PNG as it is called is a very popular image file format.

PNG is an open-source format that replaces the GIF file format as it contains image data with lossless data compression.

The PNG format can also display backgrounds that are transparent. Moreover, such files can also hold grayscale images and 24-bit RGB palettes.

How to Open PNG Files in Windows 10?

Below are some of the methods to open PNG files easily on systems running the Windows 10 OS.

Method 1: Launch PNG Files using the Photos App

Photos app is present in Windows 10 by default and can open all major file formats.

1. Navigate to the PNG file you wish to open.
2. Right-mouse-click on the file and then click on “Open With”.
3. In the side menu that appears, click on “Photos”.

Now, the selected image file will launch using the Photos app.

Method 2: Open PNG With Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a very popular software tool for image editing.

Photoshop can open all the popular image file formats including PNG.

If you wish to open PNG files using Adobe Photoshop, below are the steps to follow.

1. Launch Adobe Photoshop on your computer.
2. Click on the “File” option at the top left corner of the menu bar.
3. From the drop-down menu, click on “Open”.
4. Search and navigate the PNG file that you wish to open.

That’s it. Once you select the PNG file, the same file will be opened within the Photoshop window.

Method 3: Use the FileViewer Plus 4 Software to Open PNG in Windows 10

FileViewer Plus 4 is another popular software solution to open PNG format files in Windows-powered systems.

Not just PNG, but FileViewer can also open files with other popular formats such as TIFF, JPEG, TIF, RAW, ICO BMP, etc.

Apart from images, the FileViewer Plus 4 software can also be used to open and edit video files as well.

Method 4: Open PNG in Windows 10 using XnView Software

XnView is also quite commonly used by people who wish to open PNG format files in Windows.

Apart from letting you open & edit PNG files, the software also lets you convert PNG format files to other popular file formats as well.

As the software supports over 500 file formats, you can easily convert PNG files to any other format of your choice.

When it comes to editing features, XnView also supports all common functionalities such as the ability to resize, crop, rotate, etc.

You can also combine images to form slideshows, create web page designs, and more using this software.

Final Words

Do you have better software suggestions to open PNG files?

Then feel free to mention them in comments below.

Are you wondering about how to switch to a Windows 11 local account from a Microsoft one?

Then here’s the article that explains you in detail about the same.

Also Read —> How to Open HEIC Files in Windows 11?

Why You Have to Use a Microsoft Account in Windows 11?

During the setup and installation of Windows 11, you are asked to login to your Microsoft account, or to create one.

This is to give you access to Microsoft services such as Outlook, One Drive, etc. out of the box.

By providing you access to these services, Microsoft aims to provide you a complete user experience across all your devices.

However, this is something not all users really like.

Especially if the same Windows PC is used by different people.

No one would want their personal Microsoft account logged into a PC that’s used by others.

Thus, most people prefer to use a local PC account to login to their computer instead of the Microsoft account.

If you too want to switch to a Windows 11 local account from a Microsoft one, then we will help you to do so.

How to Switch to a Windows 11 Local Account from a Microsoft One?

Here’s how to switch from a Microsoft online account to a local account on any Windows 11 PC.

1. To begin, launch the “Settings” app on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Within the Settings window, click on “Accounts” from the left option pane.
3. After you click Accounts, on the right side of the window, find and click on an option named as “Your info”.

   

4. Inside the Your info window, scroll down to find the heading “Account settings”.
5. Within Account settings, tap on the option that says “Sign in with a local account instead”.

   

6. You may be prompted to stick with the Microsoft account instead of a local account in your Windows 11 PC, skip the prompt.
7. On the next blue-colored popup window that appears, click on the “Next” button.
8. You may now be asked to enter the PIN associated with your PC account. In case a PIN wasn’t already set, you will be asked to enter your Microsoft account’s password instead.
9. Now, you need to enter details for a new local Windows 11 account. The details you need to enter include a username, password, and a hint for your password. If you leave the password fields empty, then your account can be accessed by anyone without entering a password during login.
10. Click on the “Next” button.
11. After you create a local account, in the next screen, you’ll see the “Sign out and finish” option in the bottom right corner of the blue pop up window. Click on this option.
12. Now you will be signed out of the Microsoft account linked to your Windows 11 PC.

And Viola!

Your Windows 11 PC now only have the local account linked with it.

Final Words

If you again go to the Settings app and click on “Accounts”, you will now be able to see your local account details on top.

At anytime you can choose to go back to a Microsoft account instead of a local account as well.

 

Looking to open HEIC Files in Windows 10?

Well, search no more!

Here we are today with a detailed article describing various methods to open HEIC files.

Also Read —> Windows 11 Doesn’t Require a Product Key to Install and Use

What Are HEIC Files?

HEIC stands for High-Efficiency Image Container.

Apple introduced the HEIC format in their iOS 11 version and it has stuck since then.

HEIC is an upgraded version of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) file type.

The concept behind HEIC is to offer high-quality images by consuming the least amount of space possible.

HEIC images only take up to half the storage space in comparison to other formats such as JPEG.

You can also find image-specific metadata inside HEIC files, such as its size, location, resolution, etc.

HEIC files are very useful in the following scenarios.

• Live/Action Photos:
  Apple products are now capable of taking live action photos and burst shots.
  With HEIC format, the devices can capture high-quality moving images instantly without consuming too much space.
• Animation:
  Another area that require lots of high-quality images is animation.
  You can use multiple HEIC files while creating an animation file without worrying too much about the storage consumption.
• Photoshoots:
  As a professional photographer capturing important moments, you need to store as many high-quality images as possible.
  With the HEIC file format, you are able to do just that.

How to Open HEIC Files in Windows 10?

Now you know about the HEIC file format and its use cases.

Let’s now take you through the various methods to open HEIC files in Windows OS.

Method 1: Open HEIC using Adobe Photoshop

The Adobe Photoshop software is a popular tool for image editing.

Thus, it makes complete sense for the software to support a format such as HEIC.

Here’s how to open HEIC files using Adobe Photoshop in Windows 10.

1. Download Photoshop and install it in your PC from here.
2. Also, download & install the HEIF Image Extension Windows app from here.
3. You also need to install the HEVC Video Extension for Windows from here.
4. Launch the Adobe Photoshop software on your PC.
5. Click on the “File” option in the top menu bar.
6. Now, click on “Open”.
7. Select the HEIC file that you wish to open using Photoshop.

Congratulations!

You now opened a HEIC file using Adobe Photoshop in Windows 10.

Method 2: Use Windows Photos App to Open HEIC Files

The default Photos app that’s present in Windows 10 is also capable of opening HEIC files.

You can also perform basic editing activities such as crop, rotate, etc. using the Photos app as well.

However, you’ll need to install the HEIF Image Extension for Windows 10 to do so.

Below are the steps to open HEIC files using Photos app.

1. Download and install HEIF Image Extension app for Windows 10 from here.
2. Once that’s done, right-mouse-click on the HEIF image file that you wish to open.
3. From the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Open With”.
4. Now, select the “Photos” app.

Viola! The HEIC image will now be opened using the Photos app.

Final Words

Have any better ideas/tools to open HEIC files on systems running Windows?

Feel free to share them as comments below.

 

Is Windows 11 product key necessary to install and use the OS?

This is a question that most people have in their minds right now.

Nowadays, most people are trying to update their systems to Windows 11.

Windows 11 features several functionalities that make it a worthy upgrade from Windows 10.

Moreover, this time Microsoft has given Windows 11 a fresh look that looks modern and interesting.

Following Windows 11 launch, people were very confused about upgrading.

For starters, there were hardware limitations for Windows 11.

According to official documents, only certain hardware could upgrade to Windows 11.

A simple online search will give you details about ways to bypass Windows 11 hardware requisites.

If you’re not able to bypass the Windows 11 hardware requirements, then you cannot install the latest Windows version as of now.

Now, let us come to the topic of this article.

Also Read —> How to Open PSD Files in Windows 10?

Is Windows 11 Product Key Necessary?

The short answer is Windows 11 doesn’t require a product key to install and use.

There are two ways you can install Windows 11 on a PC.

Either you can upgrade from an existing Windows 10 machine or freshly install Windows 11.

In either case, Microsoft doesn’t require you to have a product key to install Windows 11.

Method 1: Install Windows 11 on a PC running Windows 10

To install Windows 11 on a PC either running on Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from here.
2. Run the tool once it finishes downloading.
3. It will then check your current Windows 10 system for compatibility.
4. If it finds your system to be compatible, it will ask you to proceed.
5. Click on the “Accept and Install” button.
6. When the installation files are ready, click on “Restart Now”.
7. Your PC will now restart and take you through the installation steps.
8. Wait for the installation to complete.

The installation may take a while. Once it’s done, then you can proceed with the setup of Windows 11.

Method 2: Install Windows 11 on a Fresh PC

To install Windows 11 on a fresh system, you first need to create bootable media for the OS.

Below are the steps to install Windows 11 on a new PC.

1. Download the Windows 11 Installation Media tool from here.
2. Run the tool.
3. Click on “Accept” after you read the license terms.
4. On the next screen, select the “Create installation media for another PC” option and then click on “Next”.
5. Select the Windows 11 version for your new PC.
6. Now, select the media (preferably USB) to create the media file.
7. After the installation media is flashed to the USB, insert it to the new PC to install Windows 11.
8. Restart the PC.
9. The installation setup must automatically begin during restart.
10. Follow the on-screen procedures to finish the installation.

And that’s all.

After installation completes, you can begin the setup of your new Windows 11 PC.

Final Words

Microsoft no longer needs you to enter a product key to use Windows 11.

You can click the “I don’t have a product key” option during installation to install Windows 11 without a product key.

There won’t be any major functional differences even if you don’t activate Windows 11.

Below are a few differences you will see:

1. the “Activate Windows” symbol on the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Personalization features will be disabled.
3. Notifications will be displayed inside the Settings menu asking you to activate Windows.

That’s it.

Got any doubts?

Feel free to ask us by leaving a comment below.

In this article, we will explain to you how to open PSD files in Windows 10.

Apart from opening PSD files, this article also focuses on the ways you can edit and convert PSD format files easily.

Also Read —> How to Open DDS Files in Windows 10?

What is a PSD File?

People who have used the Adobe Photoshop software will have definitely come across the PSD file format.

This is because PSD is the default file format that all Photoshop files are saved in.

PSD stands for Photoshop Document and is the official Adobe Photoshop file format developed by the company itself.

In PSD files, the different aspects of an image are saved as layers. Thus making it quite easy to edit the file.

However, once the image is saved and just opened for viewing, then it will look just like any other image file.

You’ll be able to see the different layers only when you open the PSD file with a compatible PSD editor.

How to Open PSD Files in Windows 10?

Here we will discuss the different methods to open PSD files in Windows 10 without any hassles.

Method 1: Open PSD Files with Adobe Photoshop

PSD is the standard file format by Adobe, it comes as no surprise that the Adobe Photoshop software can open such files.

There are three easy ways to open PSD files using Photoshop.

Open PSD Files from within Photoshop

1. First, launch the Adobe Photoshop software on your PC.
2. On the top menu bar, click on the “File” option.
3. Now, click on the “Open” button.
4. Within the new window that now appears, navigate and select the PSD file that you wish to open.

The PSD file will now open within the Photoshop window.

Open PSD Files by Drag and Drop

Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop a PSD file into the Photoshop window to open it.

Simply open the Adobe Photoshop software on your PC.

Now, explore and navigate to the PSD file you need to open.

Using your mouse, drag the file to the Photoshop window and drop it there.

Viola! The file will open the instant you drop it into the Photoshop window.

Directly PSD Open Files using Photoshop

Here’s how you can directly open PSD files using Adobe Photoshop.

1. Navigate to the file you wish to open.
2. Right-mouse-click on the file and select “Open With”.
3. From the options that appear, select “Adobe Photoshop”.

That’s all. The file will now open by launching Adobe Photoshop.

Method 2: Alternatives to Open PSD files in Windows 10

Adobe Photoshop isn’t the only software that opens PSD files.

There are several other alternatives to open such files.

File Viewer Plus, ACD Systems Canvas X, GIMP, Paint.NET, XnView, and IrfanView are a few best examples of software to open PSD format files.

All of these software products are compatible with a wide variety of file formats including PSD.

So, you won’t have any problem to open PSD files using any of the suggestions above.

Final Words

Found this article helpful?

Then do consider sharing it with others to help them out.

Moreover, if you know of other software products to open PSD files, do share them in the comments below.

Are you looking for ways to open DDS Files in Windows 10?

In this article, we take you through all the methods to open DDS files in Windows 10.

Also Read —> How to Remove Annoying Ads from Windows 11?

What is the DDS File Format?

Before going through the different methods to open DDS files in Windows 10, let us explain to you a bit about the format itself.

DDS files are basically raster images that are saved within the DirectDraw Surface container format, hence the format named DDS.

The DDS format files are capable of storing both uncompressed as well as compressed pixel data and are widely used by graphic designers, video game developers, animators, etc.

Microsoft first developed the DDS file format to be used along with the DirectX Software Development Kit to help with the development of 3-dimensional games and other rendering applications that process data in real-time.

How to Open DDS Files in Windows 10?

Now that you know about the DDS format, let us take you through methods to open such files.

Method 1: Use XnSoft XnViewMP

The XnSoft XnViewMP software for Windows allows opening files of various formats.

Apart from the commonly used formats such as JPG, PNG, etc., you can also use the software to open DDS files as well.

The software also comes with basic photo editing functionalities such as:

• Resize/crop/rotate images.
• Adjust the brightness/contrast.
• Modify color palette/depth.
• Apply effects/filters, and more.

Not just DDS files, this software supports over 500 common and specific-use file formats.

You can also use this software to convert DDS files to other popular file formats.

If you wish to use the XnSoft XnViewMP software, click here and visit the official site.

A single-user license of the software can be downloaded for free.

However, if you need multi-user licenses, then you need to pay for the same.

Method 2: Use NVIDIA Texture Tools Plugin for Adobe Photoshop

The Adobe Photoshop software is also capable of opening DDS format files without any issues.

However, the software cannot open such files out of the box and needs a separate plugin to do so.

The plugin required to open DDS files in Adobe Photoshop is called the NVIDIA Texture Tools plugin.

Below is how you can open DDS files using Adobe Photoshop and the NVIDIA Texture Tools plugin.

1. Download & Install Adobe Photoshop from here.
2. You also need to download & install the NVIDIA Texture Tools plugin from here.
3. After both the above installations are done, launch the Photoshop app on your computer.
4. Click on the “Filter” option from the top menu.

   

5. Now, click on “NvTool” and then click on “NormalMapFilter”.
6. A new window will now open.
7. Within this window, you can view the various options related to DDS files and open such files.

Final Words

We hope you found this content on how to open DDS files easy and informative.

Both the methods mentioned are simple and do not require effort.

Have you got a better way to open DDS files?

Do share it with us by leaving a comment below.

 

Are you wondering how to remove annoying ads from Windows 11?

Nobody likes advertisements.

Especially when the ads are displayed on products that you paid your hard-earned money on.

Even though ads were not so much of an issue in earlier Windows versions, people are now annoyed with the ads on Windows 11.

Also Read —> How to Open EXR Files on Windows 10?

Why does Windows 11 Shows Ads?

Windows 11 shows ads from first-party installed apps and other pre-installed services.

Also, all the pop-up messages, suggestions, and notifications you see from third-party applications/software installed on your computer as well as websites that you visit, are also advertisements.

How to Remove Annoying Ads from Windows 11?

Now to the best part.

Do you wish to remove the advertisements shown on your Windows 11 system?

Well, here are the various methods to remove all sorts of ads on Windows 11.

Method 1: Disable Ads from Third-Party Software in Windows 11

Below are the steps to disable ads displayed by third-party installed apps on Windows 11.

1. Launch the Settings menu on your computer.
2. Click on “System”, and then click on “Notifications”.
3. Within the list of applications, find the application(s) whose notifications are annoying you. Simply click on the slider next to that particular application and turn the notification OFF.

And that’s it. Now, the notifications from the application(s) you chose will no longer be shown to you.

Method 2: Disable Ads on Windows 11 Lock Screen

Another place where advertisements are commonly shown within Windows 11 is within the lock screen.

Here’s how you can easily remove ads from being shown on Windows 11 lock screen.

1. Press the “Windows” key + “I” key to launch the Settings application.
2. Click on “Personalization” from the left-side menu.
3. Now, on the right side of the window, click on “Lock Screen”.
4. Disable the option that says “Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.

And that is it. Now ads will no longer be visible on your Windows 11 lock screen provided that you use static pictures or a slideshow as your lock screen.

If you have the “Windows Spotlight” feature enabled, then the ads will still be visible.

Method 3: Disable First-Party Apps Ads on Windows 11 using Command Prompt

If first-party applications show ads on your Windows 11 computer, then a Windows service controls them.

You can easily disable first-party ads on Windows 11 by using Command Prompt and here’s how to do it.

1. Search for the “Command Prompt” application within your Windows 11 PC.
2. When you find Command Prompt from the search results, right-mouse-click on the search result and click on “Run as Administrator”.

   

3. Within the Command Prompt window, copy & paste the below command and press “Enter”:
   

   reg delete HKEY_CURRENT USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0

Your computer will now restart and once it’s done, all ads will be gone.

Method 4: Completely Turn OFF All Notifications on Windows 11

As a continuation of Method 1 above, if you wish to completely turn OFF notifications from all applications on Windows 11, then follow these steps:

1. Press the “Windows” key +”I” key to launch the Settings app.
2. Click on “System”.
3. Now, click on “Notifications”.
4. Toggle the slider to OFF next to the “Notifications” option.

And that’s it! No more Windows 11 notifications.

Method 5: Disallow Windows 11 to Show You Personalized Ads

Windows 11 shows you personalized advertisements based on your system usage. You can disable personalized ads on Windows 11 by following the below steps.

1. Launch the “Settings” app on your computer.
2. Click on the “Privacy & Security” option and then click on “General”.
3. Disable the option that says “Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID”.

Now, all personalized ads on Windows 11 are on your computer.

Final Words

Found this article helpful?

Then do consider sharing it with other Windows 11 users in your circle to help them stay away from advertisements.

Are you wondering about how to open EXR files in Windows 10?

We’re here to help you out!

The EXR format (.EXR) is a common type of file that people who work with image files usually come across.

Also Read —> How to Open EMZ Files in Windows 10

For those among you worried about opening EXR files in Windows operating system, today we are here with different methods that let you do the same.

What is EXR File Format?

We will take you through the various ways to open EXR files on Windows 10.

However, before we do so, it’s also important that we explain to you what EXR files actually are.

So let’s begin by doing just that.

An EXR file consists of data in the OpenEXR format.

To make the explanation simpler, it is a format used to store high-quality and high-definition image files.

The format was made by the Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) company and is available publicly under the free software license agreement.

As you can probably guess, EXR files are commonly used by people that work in animation, photo editing, digital graphics, visual effects, etc.

How to Open EXR Files in Windows 10?

Now that you have an idea about EXR files and what they’re used for, it’s time to explain how to open such files in Windows.

There are several methods to open EXR format files in Windows 10, such as:

Method 1: Open EXR Files using Adobe Photoshop

Adobe software solutions are commonly used for photo and video editing.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that the company’s software products can also open EXR files.

Following the steps below, you can open EXR files using Adobe Photoshop:

1. Launch the Adobe Photoshop software on your computer.
2. On the top menu bar, click on the “File” option.
3. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Open”.
4. And now, a new window will appear.
5. Within this window, select the EXR file that you wish to open.
6. After the selection is confirmed, the EXR file will be opened within the Photoshop window.

The above steps open EXR files using Photoshop.

However, the same steps can be followed to open EXR files using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Method 2: Open EXR Files using Autodesk 3ds Max

The Autodesk 3ds Max is another great choice to open EXR files.

If you’re into game development and animation, then this software lets you use EXR files in your current project without any hassles.

Below are the steps to open EXR files using Autodesk 3ds Max.

1. Find the file with the “.EXR” file extension you wish to open.
2. Right-mouse-click on the file and then select “Open With”.
3. Now, select “Autodesk 3ds Max” software from the options.

The file will now open with the software.

Initially, you will see a popup as shown below that lets you select parameters related to the EXR files such as the layers to use, color correction, and the ability to preview the image.

The software also lets you write EXR files, so you can create EXR files of your own or edit existing ones as well.

Final Words

Got any queries?

Don’t hesitate to ask us by leaving a comment below.