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%Begin What Is an NEF File? (And How to Open One) GA
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REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > File Types 106 106 people found this article helpful
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He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 20, 2021 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by
Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email File Types File Types Apps Windows MS Office Linux Google Drive Backup & Utilities Design Cryptocurrency
What to Know
An NEF file is a Nikon Raw Image file.
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Open one with ViewNX 2, IrfanView, Pics.io, and other photo viewers. Convert to JPG, PNG, DNG, etc. with some of those programs and others like Photoshop.
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This article describes what an NEF file is, how to open one on all your devices, and which programs can convert one to a more common image format like JPG or PNG.
What Is an NEF File
An NEF file is a Nikon Raw Image file. It is an abbreviation for Nikon Electronic Format, and is used solely on Nikon cameras.
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Like other RAW image files, NEF files retain everything captured by the camera before any processing is undergone, including the metadata like the camera and lens model. The NEF file format is based on TIFF.
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This file format is sometimes referred to as Nikon Electronic File. The same acronym is used by other technology terms, too, like network efficiency factor.
How to Open an NEF File
Windows users with the right codec on their computer can display NEF files without any additional software.
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If NEF files don't open in Windows, install the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack which enables the use of NEF, DNG, CR2, CRW, PEF, RW2, and other RAW pictures. NEF files can also be opened with Able RAWer, Adobe Photoshop, IrfanView, GIMP, AfterShot Pro, and probably some other popular photo and graphics tools as well. If you're a Photoshop user but still can't open NEF files, you might need to install the latest version of the Camera Raw plugin that your version of Photoshop supports.
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NEF files can also be opened with Nikon's own Capture NX 2 or ViewNX 2 software. The former is only available by purchase but is free for the first 60 days; the latter can be downloaded and installed by anyone to open and edit NEF files. To open an NEF file online so you don't have to download any of those programs, try Pics.io.
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Mobile devices can open NEF files as well. Google Snapseed (available for Android and for iOS) is one example of an app that supports this format. Another NEF viewer for iOS is Adobe Photoshop Express; you can get this Adobe app for Android, too.
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How to Convert an NEF File
An NEF file can be converted to a number of formats using either a free file converter or by opening the NEF file in an image viewer/editor and saving it to a different format. For example, if you're using Photoshop to view/edit an NEF file, you can save the open file back to your computer in formats like JPG, RAW, PXR, PNG, TIF/TIFF, GIF, PSD, etc. IrfanView converts NEF to similar formats, including PCX, TGA, PXM, PPM, PGM, PBM, JP2, and DCX.
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Adobe's DNG Converter is a free RAW converter that supports RAW conversions like NEF to DNG, and works on both Windows and macOS. A free online NEF converter is also an option.
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In addition to Pics.io is Zamzar, which converts NEF to BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PDF, TGA, and other similar formats. Online RAW Converter is another online REF converter that supports saving the file back to your computer or to Google Drive in the JPG, PNG, or WEBP format; it also serves as a light editor.
More Information on NEF Files
Due to how images are written to a Nikon's memory card, no processing is done to the NEF file itself.
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Instead, changes made to an NEF file alter a set of instructions, meaning any number of edits to the NEF file can be made without ever negatively affecting the image. Nikon has some more specifics about this file format in their Nikon Electronic Format (NEF) page.
Still Can' t Open Your File
The NEF file extension most likely means that you're dealing with a Nikon image file, but you must be careful when reading the file extension to make sure that you're actually dealing with a Nikon file.
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Some files use an extension that's spelled a lot like ".NEF" but really has nothing to do with the format. If you have one of those files, there's a really good chance that none of the NEF openers file above will work to open or edit the file. For example, an NEX file might be easily confused for an NEF file but it's not related to an image format at all but is instead a Navigator Extension file used by web browsers as an add-on file.
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It's a similar case with NET, NES, NEU, and NEXE files. If you have any file other than an NEF file, research the file extension (on Google or here on Lifewire) to learn what applications support opening that specific file or converting it to a different format.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I edit an NEF file in Photoshop? In Photoshop, go to File > Open and select the NEF file on your computer. If you have trouble opening or editing the file, go to Help > Updates to update the Camera Raw plug-in.
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How do I open an NEF file in Windows 7? In Windows 7, you can open NEF files in Windows Explorer or in the Photo Gallery if you have the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack installed.
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Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire ARW File (What It Is & How to Open One) What Is a CR2 File? PSP File (What It Is & How to Open One) PBM File (What It Is & How to Open One) DRF File (What It Is & How to Open One) What Is a GIF?
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DNG File (What It Is & How to Open One) PCT File (What It Is & How to Open One) SVG Files: What They Are and How to Open & Convert Them PCX File (What It Is and How to Open One) PAT File (What It Is and How to Open One) What Is a PDF File? (And How to Open One) PDD File (What It Is and How to Open One) GRD File (What It Is & How to Open One) TGA File (What It Is and How to Open One) WPD File (What It Is & How to Open One) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies
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