Tips to open DDS file

Can't open the DDS file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open DDS files as well as a list of programs that support DDS files.

DDS file extension

File Name DirectDraw Surface
File Developer Microsoft
File Category Raster Image Files

The DDS file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the DDS files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the DDS file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 1
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is DDS file?

A .DDS file is a graphics format container. It can be used to store raster graphics, both in the original and in a compressed version. It is mainly used to store game textures using DirectX or Direct Draw technologies. The graphics are not intended to be viewed or edited by the user. It is also worth mentioning that game developers in the vast majority of cases reserve themselves that accessing the game materials contained in the files is inconsistent with the license conditions.

How to open DDS file?

An often recurring problem with DirectDraw Surface is that DDS is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that DDS files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the DDS 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 XnView

In this case, you should first verify that the XnView application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name XnView into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open DDS files.

Step 2. Create association of XnView with DDS files

If, despite the installed application, the DDS file does not start in the XnView application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the XnView application as the default for handling the DDS file.

Step 3. Update XnView to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the XnView program, it is possible that DirectDraw Surface requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Pierre-Emmanuel Gougelet page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the DDS file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The DDS file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to DDS files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the DDS file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected DDS file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of DDS file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular DDS file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Microsoft
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted DDS files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the DDS file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the DDS file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file DDS to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.