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Home → Photography Techniques

How to View DNG Thumbnails in Windows

By Nasim Mansurov 26 Comments
Last Updated On April 12, 2018

If you convert RAW files to DNG as a part of your workflow in Lightroom, you probably get frustrated with the fact that Windows does not display DNG image thumbnails or let you view files in Windows Photo Viewer. Windows by default does now know how to read DNG files and the only operating system today that has some support from Adobe, is Windows Vista. Adobe officially released a 32-bit DNG codec for Windows Vista, but it does not work with the 64-bit version of Windows Vista, Windows XP or Windows 7, making it pretty worthless. Gladly, there are a couple of workarounds to get all Windows operating systems to display DNG thumbnails and open them in Windows Photo Viewer and I will show you how to do that in this quick article.

DNG support in Windows XP

Interestingly, Windows XP (32-bit) comes with full DNG support, but it needs to be activated from the Windows registry. If you are running Windows XP, here is what you need to do:

  1. Download this registry file and save it on your desktop
  2. Double-click the file, which will ask you to confirm if you want to add entries to your registry. Click “Yes”, which then will modify the registry as needed.
  3. Reboot the computer.
  4. Go to a folder with DNG files and switch to thumbnail view. Verify that you can see the thumbnails, as you can see with JPEG files.
  5. Delete the downloaded registry file from your desktop.

DNG support in Windows Vista and Windows 7

If you are running the 32-bit version of Windows Vista, you can certainly try the 32-bit version of Adobe DNG codec, which can be downloaded from Adobe Labs. However, I personally recommend using the third party FastPictureViewer WIC RAW Codec Pack, which is 100% free (as of 06/17/2010, the product is no longer free, as explained here. The codec pack is now $9.99. If you want to get the older version that is still free, Google “Fastpictureviewer codec 1.70”, includes full DNG support for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows Vista / Windows 7 and covers over 20 RAW image formats from 300 different camera models (all current Nikon cameras, including D3s are supported). Once you download and install the codec, the program will ask you to reboot your PC.

FastPictureViewer Installer

After the machine is rebooted, go to a folder with DNG files in it and you will see that the image thumbnails are now visible:

Screenshot #1

You can also open the DNG files in Windows Photo Viewer:

Screenshot #2

Now you don’t need to open each DNG file in Lightroom or Photoshop just to see its contents, thanks to the FastPictureViewer codec pack!

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Filed Under: Photography Techniques Tagged With: DNG Files, Howto, Photography Tips, RAW Files

About Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life, based out of Denver, Colorado. He is recognized as one of the leading educators in the photography industry, conducting workshops, producing educational videos and frequently writing content for Photography Life. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. Read more about Nasim here.

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Lisa May
Lisa May
July 5, 2017 8:30 am

Nicely explained! I had trouble with this, since I do not use the windows default software, I actually use this: www.aftershotpro.com/en/pa…/dng-file/ but I found a trick to make it as a default software for photos and editing, and now it shows, and I just double click and open it in the software I use :D

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Foxtrod89
Foxtrod89
June 29, 2017 6:35 pm

You can download this www.adobe.com/downl…undID=null) , but it is sooooo slow nevertheless i’m using gaming laptop.

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Peter Dorr
Peter Dorr
December 10, 2013 5:30 pm

Olli, you rock!

Great stuff. A flawless installation and a very helpful tool.
Much appreciated by an enthusiast photographer from Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Greetz

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Richard C
Richard C
February 1, 2013 3:11 am

Thanks heaps mate

Worked a charm on my old XP, now I can see the thumbnails.

Big thanks from Aussie
Richard C

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Smilia Marvosh
Smilia Marvosh
January 22, 2013 5:38 pm

Dear Hasim,

I am so very grateful for your instruction of how to see DNG files as thumbnails. Your information was a godsend. I’ve been so very frustrated purchasing a new camera and discovering my older programs, which still function fine for my current needs, can’t open the files and I couldn’t even view them as thumbnails after downloading the converter program. It’s been one frustration after another. I was so surprised to find this, and so lucky!

I wonder if you could be so kind as to answer another question – yes, I’m pushing my luck! I’m experimenting with whether or not to convert my files after downloading or as they are transferred from my camera. The Adobe DNG Converter program will find the cartridge but will not recognize the files if I use the USB cable. Would you have any idea why?

Even if you don’t respond, I remain truly thankful to you.

Smilia

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Thomas
Thomas
January 16, 2013 1:38 pm

Hello Nasim,

thanks a lot for your registry information from Germany! It works perfect and made another photographer happy.

Thomas

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rtvkeith
rtvkeith
June 20, 2012 5:41 am

Your reg file did the trick for my Windows XP Pro setup. Now I have thumbnails for DNG files! Much appreciated, Amigo!

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Tom Dee
Tom Dee
May 17, 2012 2:43 pm

Totally frustrated with LR 3.6 for windows 7 64bit. Can’t export full size JPEG images from the application rendering it USELESS for what i do. My only option is to convert to DNG or downsize to small 624 pixel image for email! Unbelievable! Is it possible to bulk convert from DNG to JPEG without losing image quality. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Dennis Jaffe
Dennis Jaffe
May 4, 2012 9:32 am

Nasim,

Thank you very much for sharing your expertise on these issues. I easily followed your instructions for XP and it worked “like that.”

Dennis

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Tridib
Tridib
April 12, 2012 4:08 am

Hi Naseem,

I wanted to download the DNG codec for VISTA view the dng files in Windows Live Photo Gallery.
However when I click on the link provided on your site I am taken to Adobe site which only gives dng codec for Windows 7. I tried looking for the free Adobe DNG codec for Vista but could not find the same.

It would be nice if you could help.

0
Reply

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