What is a TIFF file?
TIFF is the workhorse format of scanners, printers, publishers and photo archives. It can store images uncompressed or with lossless compression, several pages in one file, and lots of metadata. TIFF files are huge and most browsers, phones and websites can't display them, so they usually need converting before sharing online.
| Full name | Tagged Image File Format |
|---|---|
| File extensions | .tif, .tiff |
| MIME type | image/tiff |
| Introduced | 1986 |
| Compression | None, LZW, Deflate or JPEG |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No (multi-page) |
| Typical file size | Very large |
| Best for | scanning, professional printing, publishing and archiving |
| Compatibility | Printers, scanners and pro editors; browsers (except Safari), phones and websites can't open it |
How to open a TIFF file
Windows
Opens in Photos (first page only) and Paint; Chrome and Edge can't display TIFF.
Mac
Preview opens TIFF including multi-page files; Safari displays it too.
iPhone and iPad
The Files app previews TIFF; most other apps can't.
Android
Usually not supported; convert to JPG or PDF.
If none of these work, convert the file to a more widely supported format with one of the tools below.
Convert TIFF files
Convert other files to TIFF
TIFF metadata and privacy
TIFF files from cameras and scanners hold extensive metadata: device model, serial numbers, software and sometimes GPS.
Remove metadata from TIFF files · View the metadata
TIFF compared with other formats
- TIFF vs JPG: TIFF is for scanning, printing and archiving at full quality; JPG is for sharing. Convert TIFF to JPG before you email or upload.
- TIFF vs PNG: Both are lossless. PNG is web-friendly and compact; TIFF is for print workflows and multi-page scans.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TIFF file?
TIFF is the workhorse format of scanners, printers, publishers and photo archives. It can store images uncompressed or with lossless compression, several pages in one file, and lots of metadata.
How do I open a TIFF file on Windows?
Opens in Photos (first page only) and Paint; Chrome and Edge can't display TIFF.
How do I open a TIFF file on a Mac?
Preview opens TIFF including multi-page files; Safari displays it too.
Is TIFF lossy or lossless?
TIFF is lossless or uncompressed, so no detail is lost when saving.
Does TIFF support transparency?
Yes: it supports transparent backgrounds.
How do I convert TIFF to another format?
Use one of the free converters on this page, for example TIFF to JPG, TIFF to PNG, TIFF to WebP. Files are converted in your browser without being uploaded.