All about DDS Files

The DDS file type is primarily associated with DirectX.

DDS	File extension: DDS
	File type:	texture

What is a DDS file

DDS files mostly belong to DirectX by Microsoft. DDS is the filename extension of compressed or uncompressed images saved in DirectDraw Surface container file format. These files are compressed using S3 Texture Compression algorithm thereby allowing DDS files to store textures, texture arrays, cube maps, mipmaps, and volume maps as data. DDS file format is mainly used to store DXTn textures used in video game unit models or Windows wallpapers. Some graphics processing software that support DDS file format include DirectX SDK, Windows Texture Viewer, Photoshop, GIMP, XnView, and Paint.NET.

How do you open DDS files?

You need a suitable software like DirectX to open a DDS file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your DDS file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a DDS file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online DDS File Viewer

Choose your .dds file to view this image

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How do you convert DDS files to JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, ...

You can convert DDS files using our online DDS file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do so, click the "Choose your .dds file to view this image" button above.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then choose the image format (e.g. JPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert DDS files:

DirectX by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. DDS files are often referred to as DirectX raster images because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Battlefield 1942 (unit/object texture) by Electronic
Battlefield 1942 is a first-person shooter, military video game set around the events of World War II. The game allows players to either assume the role of a scout, medic, infantryman, or an engineer. Unit and object textures used in Battlefield 1942 are stored in DDS files. This file format is classified as Game.
FPS Creator (texture) by The Game Creators
FPS Creator was a scalable game engine for creating first-person shooter video games. It features an easy-to-use, flexible editing environment. This program saves textures in DDS files. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
GIMP (texture) by GIMP Team
GIMP is a cross-platform image manipulation software used for photo editing, graphics design, and illustration. You can open and edit DDS texture files with GIMP. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
IMS D7007 (compiler descriptor) by INMOS
IMS D7007 is an obsolete software that was used to write and compile Occam programs that run on transputer hardware devices. It's Occam programming language compiler's descriptor was stored in a DDS file. This file format is classified as Data.
Orbiter (texture) by Martin Schweiger
Orbiter was a space flight simulator with realistic physics, planetary motion, and gravitational field simulations. It also allowed users to build their own stations in orbit or rendezvous with the International Space Station. This program stored textures in DDS files. Note that Orbiter has been discontinued. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Photoshop (compressed textures) by Adobe
Photoshop is a raster graphics editor for editing, enhancing, and converting images stored in various file formats. Compressed textures used by Photoshop are stored in DDS files. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
XMap (XData dataset) by Delorme
XMap was a suite of modular GIS software packages for creating digital maps that can be printed. It's XData utility stored datasets in DDS files. This program has been discontinued. This file format is classified as GIS.
XnView (texture) by XnSoft
XnView is a free, cross-platform image manipulation, editing, and conversion software available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Textures stored in DDS format can be opened and edited with XnView. This file format is classified as Raster Image.

DDS file format:

The file format determines how the data is stored in the file. Each file format has a unique extension and almost always a unique signature. For example, Microsoft Word documents have the extension .docx and the signature (usually the first 3 characters in this file) PK. If the file extension or signature does not match the file format, errors will occur when opening or editing the file. When there is a problem with a file, the first step to solving it is to determine the file format. In the following you will find our evaluation of the DDS files:

The DDS file extension is quite widespread and is mainly used by one program with a specific format. The two most common formats are as follows:

85% of all DDS files are DirectX DirectDraw Surface files. They consist of unreadable binary data. The files are on average 340 KB in size and range from 8 KB to 4 MB. The file type was developed 10 years ago and is still in use today. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. DDS !. Files like these have the following tags: masks, diffuse, silk, portrait, male, infantry, brocade and secular.
5% of all DDS files use the same file format, which have the signature TIM2. If you open these files in a text editor, you will see only illegible characters. The average file size is 17 KB with most files being between 2 KB and 66 KB in size. The following keywords are characteristic: TIM2. Files like these are sometimes connected to mune, body, kami, kubi, kutu and kata.

The remaining 10% of all DDS files are files with no common format, frequently e.g. PNG, uPYD, JNG and WESYS. Tagged as mask, female, femalebody, icon, nobility or clothes. You can get all the details of your DDS file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .dds file to view this image" above.

Technical Data for DDS File Extension

File classification:

Raster Image

Related files:

texture, dss, webp, png, gfx, ddc, edds, mask, tga, zip, msn, nif, mesh, c3, xac, rip, ddsz, otx, ecosia, mu, fx, x, vso

Mime type:

application/octet-stream, image/vnd-ms.dds

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~1.0SD\UTILIT~1\DxTex.exe %1

ProgramID: DDSTexture
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Video\THECOM~1\THECOM~1.EXE /dde

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ahead\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: XnView.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\XnView\xnview.exe %1

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\nero\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX 9.0 SDK (October 2005)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe %1

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files7.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero\Nero 7\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX 9.0 SDK (October 2004)\Utilities\DxTex.exe %1

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ahead\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (February 2006)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ahead3\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: ft000006
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2006)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DxTex.exe

ProgramID: IrfanView.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IrfanView\i_view32.exe

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2006)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (August 2006)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (October 2006)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (December 2006)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe

ProgramID: IrfanView.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\IRFANV~1\i_view32.exe

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files7.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero 7\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: DirectX.DDS.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft DirectX SDK (February 2007)\Utilities\Bin\x86\DXTex.exe

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files7.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero\Nero8\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: NeroPhotoSnapViewer.Files8.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nero\Nero8\Nero PhotoSnap\PhotoSnapViewer.exe

ProgramID: MyViewPad.dds
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\My ViewPad\MyViewPad.exe

Show all 23 listings To Top

a dds texture is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with DDS files

Associate the DDS file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open textures. Because only the current version supports the latest DDS file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Microsoft manufacturer website after an available DirectX update.
To make sure that your DDS file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .DDS file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.