Opening a WMF File

The WMF file type is primarily associated with Office.

WMF	File extension: WMF
	File type:	image

What is a WMF file?

WMF files mostly belong to Office by Microsoft. WMF files are device-independent images saved in the 16-bit Windows Metafile (WMF) image format which was originally used on Windows 3.x. Such a WMF file consists of a list of records including drawing commands (circles, lines, rectangles etc.), object definitions, and properties that are "played back" to display vector and/or raster graphics. WMF was the native format used to store vector graphics in some versions of Office programs and most Windows programs. However, WMF files are not truly device-independent because transferring WMF images to 32-bit systems causes alignment issues. This prompted Aldus to provide a partial solution by adding the "placeable" header to the file format. Microsoft has deprecated WMF format and extended it to EMF (Enhanced Metafile) and EMF+ 32-bit formats. These formats too have been largely replaced by EPS and SVG. WMF is also the filename extension of game map files used by Widelands video game.

How to open a WMF file

You need a suitable software like Office to open a WMF 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 WMF file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a WMF file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online WMF File Viewer

Choose your .wmf file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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Easily convert WMF files to SVG, PDF, JPG, PNG, ...

If you want to convert or edit a WMF file, you can use our free Online WMF File Converter (powered by Convert.Guru):

Just click the "Choose your .wmf file to view" button on this page.
Your WMF file will then be displayed in the browser.
Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
Then choose the image format (e.g. SVG, PDF, JPG, PNG, ...) you want.
Your file will be converted and downloaded.

Programs that open and convert WMF files:

Office by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. WMF files are often referred to as Office vector images because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
PaintShop (image) by Corel
PaintShop is a professional photo editor and graphics design software for Windows desktop. You can import, view, and edit WMF files with PaintShop. This file format is classified as Vector Image. Related links: [MS-WMF]: Windows Metafile Format, Windows Metafile
Widelands (map) by The Widelands Development Team
Widelands is an open-source, cross-platform Real Time Strategy (RTS) game for desktop environments. Players assume control of a clan, which they must grow by acquiring resources and training armies. Maps used in Widelands are saved in WMF format. This file format is classified as Game.
XnView (image) by XnSoft
XnView is a cross-platform image manipulation program featuring a toolkit for editing, converting, and viewing images saved in various formats. XnView can decode and display images saved in WMF format. This file format is classified as Vector Image. Related links: [MS-WMF]: Windows Metafile Format, Windows Metafile

WMF format details:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open 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 does not match the file format, double-clicking on the file will cause an error upon opening. Knowledge is power - this also applies when dealing with unknown or faulty files. Below is our analysis of the WMF files:

The WMF file extension is quite common and is primarily used by a single program. However, the following two file formats are common:

75% of all WMF files are associated with Windows Metafile. These files contain neither text nor words, but only data. The files are often between 2 KB and 270 KB in size. The file type was developed 20 years ago and is still in use today. These files are often associated with image, firlogo, atostoginiai and capt.
2% of all WMF files are using the well-known GZIP file format to store the data. Gzip is a compressed archive file format. Gzip (GNU zip) is only capable of compressing a single file. They consist of illegible, cryptic characters. Most of these files are 2 KB to 19 KB in size.

All the rest of the WMF files (23%) have different formats. Files like these are sometimes linked to archivo or fichier. Just click the "Choose your .wmf file to view" button on this page to find out what your WMF file is.

Technical Data for WMF File Extension

File classification:

Vector Image

Related files:

mwf, wfm, vmf, wmz, flc, image001, wef, check, wmg, emf, mvf, wmp, pcx, wmv, kmf, png, zip, drw, meta, jpg, emz, mpf

Mime type:

image/wmf, image/x-wmf, application/octet-stream

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: ACDC_WMF, FileType: ACDSee WMF Image, AppName: ACDSee 32 for Windows 95/NT

ProgramID: ACDSee.WMF, FileType: ACDSee WMF Image, AppName: ACDSee

ProgramID: ACDSee6.wmf, FileType: ACDSee6 WMF Image, AppName: ACDSee 6.0 Application
EXEFile: ACDSee6.exe

ProgramID: ACDSee6.wmf, FileType: ACDSee6 WMF Image, AppName: ACDSee Application

ProgramID: EZPixFile, FileType: EZ-Pix Image, AppName: Image Viewing Software

ProgramID: FotoCanvas2.WMF, FileType: FotoCanvas WMF Image, AppName: FotoCanvas2
EXEFile: FotoCanvas2.exe

ProgramID: Frigate3.view, FileType: HTML Document, AppName: Frigate3

ProgramID: GraphicsConverterPro.wmf, FileType: WMF Image, AppName: GraphicsConverter-reg
EXEFile: GraphicsConverter.exe

ProgramID: iPE.Image

ProgramID: IrfanView.wmf, FileType: IrfanView WMF File, AppName: IrfanView

ProgramID: MetafileCompanion32.WindowsMetafile, FileType: Windows metafile, AppName: Advanced Drawing
EXEFile: advdraw.exe

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.7, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Document, AppName: Picture It! 7.0

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 8 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 8
EXEFile: Paint Shop Pro.exe

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 8
EXEFile: Paint Shop Pro.exe

ProgramID: PEX7.Image, AppName: Ulead Photo Explorer
EXEFile: PEX.EXE

ProgramID: PhotoDeluxeBusiness.WMFFile, FileType: WMF Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition Image, AppName: PhotoDeluxe Business Edition Executable
EXEFile: PBE.exe

ProgramID: PictureIt!.Picture, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Picture, AppName: Microsoft Picture It!

ProgramID: PSP.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro Windows 32 bit Executable

ProgramID: PSP5.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 5 Image

ProgramID: PSP7.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 7 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 7
EXEFile: psp.exe

ProgramID: PV1.Image, AppName: Ulead Instant Viewer

ProgramID: SlowView EMF, AppName: SlowView
EXEFile: SlowView.exe

ProgramID: Winamp3.File, FileType: Winamp media file, AppName: Winamp3
EXEFile: winamp3.exe

ProgramID: WindowsMetafile, FileType: Windows Metafile

ProgramID: wmffile, FileType: WMF Image, AppName: ABC Image Browser 4
EXEFile: IBrowser4.exe

ProgramID: wmffile, FileType: WMF Image, AppName: Image Preview
EXEFile: SHIMGVW.DLL

ProgramID: wmffile, FileType: WMF Image, AppName: Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
EXEFile: shimgvw.dll

ProgramID: ACDSee 6.0.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\6.0\ACDSee6.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\5.0\ACDSee5.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee.WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee.WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACDSYS~1\ACDSEE\ACDSEE.EXE /dde

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.9
EXEFile: C:\Corel\Graphics9\Programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

ProgramID: FastStone.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FastStone Image Viewer\FSViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: FView.wmf
EXEFile: Y:\FreshDevices\FreshView\fview.exe %1

ProgramID: MetafileCompanion32.WindowsMetafile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\COMMON~1\BRODER~1\ADVANC~1\advdraw.exe %1

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

ProgramID: OISwmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\ois.exe /shellOpen %1

ProgramID: OISwmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\ois.exe /shellOpen %1

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 8\Paint Shop Pro.exe /dde

ProgramID: PEX7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 7.0\Pex.exe %1

ProgramID: PhotoDeluxeBusiness.WMFFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PhotoDeluxe BE 1.0\PBE.exe %1

ProgramID: PHOTOFINISH_IMAGE.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Softkey\PHOTOF~1\PFINISH.EXE %1

ProgramID: PictureMall.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PICTUR~1\Photo\cdphoto.exe %1

ProgramID: PSP7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 7\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PV1.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 7.0\eViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: PV8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0

ProgramID: TheGIMP20
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\GIMP-2.2\bin\gimp-win-remote.exe %1

ProgramID: WinPress
EXEFile: C:\arcgis\arcexe9x\bin\WinPress.exe %1

ProgramID: WMF_UV
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Advanced Image Viewer and Converter\ImgViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: C:\PSP\PSP.EXE %1

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

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

ProgramID: ACDSee6.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\6.0\ACDSee6.exe %1

ProgramID: MetafileCompanion32.WindowsMetafile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Broderbund\Advanced Drawing\advdraw.exe %1

ProgramID: FotoCanvas2.WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\FotoCanvas\2.0\FotoCanvas2.exe /dde

ProgramID: MetafileCompanion32.WindowsMetafile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\BRODER~1\ADVANC~1\MetaComp.Exe %1

ProgramID: OISwmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\ois.exe /shellOpen %1

ProgramID: PhotoDeluxeBusiness.WMFFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PhotoDeluxe BE 1.1\PBE.exe %1

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! 9\pi.exe %1

ProgramID: VuePrint
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\vuepro32.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDC_WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACDSee32\ACDSee32.exe /v

ProgramID: Firegraphic.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Firegraphic.com\Firegraphic 6\Firegraphic.exe %1

ProgramID: View Station Document
EXEFile: C:\View\Station\Image.exe %1

ProgramID: UltimatePaint
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\UP\upaint.exe %1

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe D:\WINXP\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

ProgramID: PSP5.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\Psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PRMWMF
EXEFile: C:\P3WIN\P3PROGS\P3WMF.EXE -e

ProgramID: OISwmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\ois.exe /shellOpen %1

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe C:\WINXP\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

ProgramID: MetafileCompanion32.WindowsMetafile
EXEFile: \AdvDraw.exe %1

ProgramID: PV8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 SE Basic\eViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopPro9.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\Paint Shop Pro 9.exe /dde

ProgramID: TheGIMP13
EXEFile: C:\GIMP-1.3\bin\gimp-1.3.exe %1

ProgramID: EZPhotoTools2.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\BestOn\EZPhoto Tools 2.1\EZPhotoTools2.exe %1

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

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Graphics9\Programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.wmf
EXEFile: %SystemRoot%\Program Files\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe %1

ProgramID: MGIPS4_WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MGI\MGI PhotoSuite 4\PhotoSuite.exe %1

ProgramID: ACDSee.WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACDSYS~1\ACDSEE~1\ACDSEE.EXE /dde

ProgramID: PaintShopProStudio1.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro Studio\Paint Shop Pro Studio.exe /dde

ProgramID: ACDSee 8.0.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\8.0\ACDSee8.exe %1

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

ProgramID: PV85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5 SE\eViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: SmartDraw.Viewer
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Templates\SDViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%.0\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.10
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\corel\graphics10\programs\coreldrw.exe %1

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

ProgramID: FastStone.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FastStone Image Viewer\FSViewer.exe %1

ProgramID: PHOTOFINISH_IMAGE.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CREATI~1\PHOTOF~1\PFINISH.EXE %1

ProgramID: TheGIMP20
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\GIMP-2.0\bin\gimp-win-remote.exe gimp-2.2.exe %1

ProgramID: Visual Photo++ file
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Visual Photo++\VPhoto.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopProX.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro X\Paint Shop Pro X.exe

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

ProgramID: OISwmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROS~1\OFFICE11\ois.exe /shellOpen

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

ProgramID: ACDSee Pro.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\8.0.Pro\ACDSee8Pro.exe

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%.1\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

ProgramID: PV85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.6\eViewer.exe

ProgramID: PV85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5 SE Basic\eViewer.exe

ProgramID: PictureIt!.Picture
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! Express\PICTURE.EXE /nostartup /nointro

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

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: %systemroot%\system32\mspaint.exe

ProgramID: SnapfireI.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Snapfire Plus\Corel Snapfire.exe

ProgramID: Serif.PhotoPlus
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Serif\PhotoP70\Program\PHOTOP~1.EXE

ProgramID: PhotoDeluxeBusiness.WMFFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Canon Creative\pdeluxe\PBE.exe

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\formZ\formZ RadioZity v4.1.0\formZ RadioZity.exe

ProgramID: PV8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0\eViewer.exe

ProgramID: SmartDraw.Viewer
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SMARTD~1\SDViewer.exe

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

ProgramID: ACDSee.WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD\ACDSee\ACDSee.exe

ProgramID: ALSee.WMF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ESTsoft\ALSee\ALSee.exe

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

ProgramID: ACDSee 9.0.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\9.0\ACDSeeQV.exe

ProgramID: FView.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FreshDevices\FreshView\fview.exe

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%1\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

ProgramID: Firegraphic.FiregraphicXP.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Firegraphic\Firegraphic XP\FiregraphicXP.exe

ProgramID: PV85.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5\eViewer.exe

ProgramID: OISwmffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MI3369~1\Office12\OIS.EXE /shellOpen

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

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%.0\SysWOW64\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

ProgramID: iPE.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Express 2 SE\Ipe20.exe

ProgramID: FastStoneMV.wmf
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FastStone MaxView\MaxView.exe

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

ProgramID: wmffile
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%2\system32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

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

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\corel\Programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

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

How to solve problems with WMF files

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