Tips to open CR2 file
Can't open the CR2 file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open CR2 files as well as a list of programs that support CR2 files.
CR2 file extension
| File Name |
Canon Raw Image Format |
| File Developer |
Canon |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The CR2 file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the CR2 files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the CR2 file on each system platform.
What is CR2 file?
A .CR2 file is an image file associated with Canon brand devices. This format is of the "RAW" type, which means that the data stored in the file is not formatted, compressed or adapted to any file format. The data used is information read directly from the device's CCD matrix. CR2 files are used by professionals. Due to the fact that no data saved in the file is lost, it can be freely treated as a source for further processing and saved in target formats.
How to open CR2 file?
The main problem with Canon Raw Image Format is that the CR2 file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file CR2 to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the CR2 file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Canon Digital Photo Professional
The first step is to check if the computer has the Canon Digital Photo Professional program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Canon Digital Photo Professional in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support CR2 files.
Programs to open CR2 file
Remember to download programs supporting CR2 files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Canon Digital Photo Professional with CR2 files
If, despite the installed application, the CR2 file does not start in the Canon Digital Photo Professional application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Canon Digital Photo Professional application as the default for handling the CR2 file.
Step 3. Update Canon Digital Photo Professional to the latest version
If, however, after binding Canon Digital Photo Professional with Canon Raw Image Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the CR2 file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The CR2 file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the CR2 file contents when downloading or copying. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the CR2 file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover CR2 files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the CR2 file. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged CR2 files.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted file CR2 except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the CR2 file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file CR2 to close. However, some background programs may block the CR2 file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.
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