Someone sends you a .tiff (or .tif) file, you double-click it, and your browser shrugs. TIFF is common in professional workflows but awkward for everyday use. Here is what it is and how to open it.
What TIFF is
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a high-quality, usually lossless image format built for scanning, printing and professional photography. It preserves maximum detail — and can even hold multiple pages — but the files are large, and most web browsers and chat apps cannot display it at all.
Why convert it
If you just need to view, share or upload a TIFF, converting to a common format solves the compatibility problem:
- JPG — much smaller, opens everywhere. Best for photos and sharing.
- PNG — lossless, keeps sharp edges and transparency. Best for scanned documents, diagrams or when quality matters.
Convert TIFF without uploading
Scans and photo masters are often sensitive or valuable. This tool decodes the TIFF on your device — nothing is uploaded:
- TIFF to JPG — smallest and most compatible.
- TIFF to PNG — lossless.
Multi-page TIFFs convert the first page. For a deeper look at how formats compare, see Image formats explained.
TIFF vs the alternatives
Keep the TIFF as your archive master if you do professional print work; convert a copy to JPG or PNG for everything else. You lose nothing by keeping both.