How To View RAW Files on Windows 10

If you’ve got a ton of raw images lying around and hate the idea of converting or using separate software just to peek at them, there’s some good news. Especially if your Windows 10 version isn’t super old — version 1903 (which is old enough to be a problem) now officially supports raw images in a pretty decent way. A lot of people, myself included, found that after installing the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store, everything suddenly became a lot easier. Thumbnails show up in File Explorer, and you can open RAW files directly with the Photos app without fuss. Which is kinda surprising, because Windows has been ignoring raw formats for years — so this extension solves a big headache.

But hey, it’s not perfect. Sometimes, even after installing the extension, thumbnail previews won’t show up right away, or the full-resolution images don’t open. Usually, a quick restart of File Explorer or a reboot will fix things. If not, maybe check your Windows version — it really needs to be 1903 or newer (build 18323+).Older versions just don’t support it, because of course Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Also, the list of supported camera raw formats is pretty solid — you can check the current supported cameras on the supported cameras page.

How to Enable Raw Image Support in Windows 10

Get the Raw Image Extension from Microsoft Store

Initially, you’ll want to navigate to the extension page inside the Store. The easiest way to do that is by clicking this this link. It takes you directly to the Raw Image Extension page in the Microsoft Store.

Install the Extension

Once you’re on the page, just click the Get button. Windows will proceed to download and install the update. After that, the raw format support should kick in pretty much immediately.

On some setups, you’ll need to restart Windows Explorer (or your PC) to see all the thumbnail previews refresh properly. To restart Explorer, you can right-click on your taskbar and select Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and choose Restart. Or just reboot if that’s easier — either way, it helps to refresh the thumbnail cache and ensure everything loads correctly.

Once installed, the raw images should start popping up with thumbnails in File Explorer, and you’ll be able to open them with the Photos app in full resolution. The added support covers most popular raw formats, but if you’re curious whether your camera’s raw files are supported, definitely check the supported cameras list. Sometimes, they add new supported formats, so keeping an eye on that is smart.

And yeah, if you’re still struggling with preview thumbnails not showing or images not opening at full quality, just do a quick restart of Explorer or the PC. Usually, that sorts things out. If not, then maybe look at tweaks like clearing thumbnail caches or updating your graphics drivers — all those little details matter.

Because honestly, supporting raw images can be whole saga, but Microsoft finally made some progress here, so it’s worth trying this simple install first before resorting to third-party viewers every time.