Tips to open ECW file

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

ECW file extension

File Name Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image
File Developer ERDAS
File Category Raster Image Files

The ECW file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ECW files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ECW file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 6
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ECW file?

The file in the ECW format belongs to the Raster Image Files category. It was designed by ERDAS. Raster Image Files consists of 522 similar files. Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. It is recommended to use FME Desktop to handle this file. This is a program created by Safe Software Inc.. There are also 5 alternative programs to handle the ECW file. The XnView, IrfanView, TatukGIS Viewer, Falcon View programs will also handle the file when the FME Desktop program does not fulfill its role.

How to open ECW file?

The most common problem when using Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image is that a specific ECW is not associated with the program. This causes the file ECW to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ECW 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 FME Desktop

The first step is to check if the computer has the FME Desktop program installed. This can be achieved by typing FME Desktop into the operating system search engine. 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 ECW files.

Step 2. Create association of FME Desktop with ECW files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the ECW file to open in the FME Desktop application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. 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. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the ECW file with the FME Desktop program.

Step 3. Update FME Desktop to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the FME Desktop program, it is possible that Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image 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 Safe Software Inc. page and install.

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

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the ECW file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file ECW or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected ECW files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of ECW file may not always be supported by the latest software version. 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.
There can be many reasons for this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular ECW file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting ERDAS, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted ECW 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. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the ECW file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the ECW file again. However, some background programs may block the ECW file while scanning. If nothing helps, please reset the device.