How to Open a JPEG File: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

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  • Computers and Electronics
  • Software
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Open JPEG files on any device and troubleshoot files that won't open.

Written byTravis Boylls

Last Updated: August 16, 2024Fact Checked

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  • Using Android
  • |
  • Using iPhone and iPad
  • |
  • Using Windows
  • |
  • Using a Mac
  • |
  • Third-Party Apps on Mobile
  • |
  • Third-Party App on Computer
  • |
  • Troubleshooting
  • |
  • Video

Opening a JPEG file is simple, but the right way to do it depends on what kind of device you're using. You can also open JPEG files in third-party apps and photo editors. This wikiHow will teach you how to open and troubleshoot JPEG files that won't open.

Opening a JPEG Image: Quick Instructions

  • On a PC or Mac, double-click the JPEG to open it. Or, right-click the file, select Open with, and choose an image viewer.
  • On a phone or tablet, open the Gallery (Android) Photos (iPhone/iPad) app, select an album, and tap an image.
  • In most third-party applications like Photoshop, you can open a JPEG file by dragging and dropping or by clicking File > Open and selecting a file.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Using Android

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  1. 1

    Open the Gallery. On most Android devices, the Gallery has an icon resembling a photograph or photograph stack. Tap the Gallery icon on your Home screen to open the Gallery.

    • If you don't have the Gallery on your phone, open Google Photos instead. It has an icon that resembles a colorful pinwheel.
  2. 2

    Tap an album. Images on Android devices are sorted by albums. Open the Camera album to view images you have taken with your camera. The Downloads album contains images you downloaded from the internet. You may also have albums that correspond to different apps like Facebook, Instagram, etc.

    • Tap Pictures at the bottom to view a list of all pictures by date.

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  3. 3

    Tap an image. This displays the image in fullscreen mode. Tap the arrow icon in the upper-left corner to exit full-screen mode.

    • Swipe left and right to switch from one image to the next.
    • You can zoom in and out on an image by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them apart to zoom in or pinching them together to zoom out.
    • Tap the icon that resembles a heart at the bottom of the screen to add the image to your favorites.
    • Tap the icon that resembles a pencil to edit and markup the image.
    • Tap the icon that resembles three dots connected to share the image or open it in a different app.
    • Tap the icon that resembles a trashcan to delete the image.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Using iPhone and iPad

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  1. 1

    Tap the Photos app. Images you take with your camera or saved from the internet are stored in the Photos app. The Photos app has an icon that resembles a colorful flower. Tap the icon on your Home screen to open the Photos app.

  2. 2

    Tap Photos. It's in the upper-left corner. This displays the menu. The menu allows you to filter images by category and type.

  3. 3

    Tap one of the options in the menu. You can view images by people, places, favorites, or recent. You can also tap Search to search for an image by name. You can also view images by media type (Panoramas, Time-lapse, slow-mo, Screenshots, etc). Scroll down to view the different albums. Tap one of the albums to view the images in the album.

    • You may have albums that correspond to different apps like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
  4. 4

    Tap an image. This displays the image in fullscreen mode. Tap the arrow icon in the upper-left corner to exit full-screen mode.

    • Swipe left and right to switch from one image to the next.
    • You can zoom in and out on an image by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them apart to zoom in or pinching them together to zoom out.
    • Tap the icon that resembles a heart to add the image to your favorites.
    • Tap Edit to edit and markup the image.
    • Tap the icon that resembles a box with an arrow pointing up to share the image or open it in a different app.
    • Tap the icon that resembles a trashcan to delete the image.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Using Windows

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  1. 1

    Press Win+E to open File Explorer

    . It has an icon that resembles a folder with a blue clip. Click the icon in the taskbar, Windows Start menu, or press "Windows key + E" to open File Explorer.

  2. 2

    Navigate the folder that contains the JPEG file. You can click one of the Quick Access folders in the panel to the left to access different folders. "Desktop" contains images stored on your desktop. "Downloads" contains images downloaded from the internet. "Pictures" is a general folder Windows provides to store your images.

    • You can search for the file by typing its name into the search bar at the top-right corner of the File Explorer.
  3. 3

    Press and hold Ctrl or Shift to select multiple images. If you want to select multiple images, press and hold the Ctrl or Shift key and click the images you want to view. On Windows, JPEG images are usually displayed as tiny thumbnail images.

    • To select multiple images in a sequence, hold Shift and click the first and then the last image you want to open. Windows will select all images between those two images.
    • To select multiple images in any order, hold Ctrl and click each image you want to open to select multiple images.
    • To change how images are displayed in File Explorer, click View in the menu bar, and select "Small Icons", "Medium Icons", "Large Icons", "Extra Large Icons", or "Tiles" to display the images as thumbnails.
  4. 4

    Double-click a file to open it. This opens the image in the default image viewer. Photos is the default image viewer for Windows. If you are opening multiple files, continue holding Ctrl or Shift when you double-click an image.

    • If you open multiple images, you can switch from one image to the next by clicking the arrows to the left and right.
  5. 5

    Click the icon that resembles a double-ended arrow to view full-screen mode. It's in the lower-right corner. This displays the image in fullscreen mode. Press Esc to exit full-screen mode.

    • To view a slideshow of your selected images, right-click the center of the opened image in Photos and click Slideshow. This displays the images in full-screen mode and will change the images automatically every few seconds. Press Esc to exit the slideshow.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Using a Mac

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  1. 1

    Open Finder on your Mac

    . You can do this by clicking the Finder icon (a blue and gray smiling face) on the leftmost edge of the Dock.

  2. 2

    Open the folder that contains the JPEG file. There are a variety of common folders listed below "Favorites" in Finder. "Desktop" contains your desktop images. "Downloads" contains images you download from the internet. "Pictures" is a general folder you can save images to. "iCloud Drive" contains images saved to your iCloud service.

  3. 3

    Hold Shift or Command to select multiple files. Holding Shift or Command while clicking images allows you to select multiple images.

    • You can also click and drag a selection box over multiple images to select multiple images at once.
  4. 4

    Double-click the file. The image will appear in the default image viewer, which is usually Preview. If you are selecting multiple images, continue to hold Shift or Command when you double-click.

    • To switch from one image to the next, press the Left or Right arrow keys on the keyboard or scroll up and down with the mouse. You can also browse images in the panel to the left.
    • To view the images as a slide show, click View in the menu bar at the top, then click Slideshow.
  5. 5

    Press Shift+ Command to enter fullscreen mode. Click the left and right double-arrow icons to switch from one image to the next. Press Esc to exit fullscreen mode.

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Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Using a Third-Party App on Mobile

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  1. 1

    Open the Gallery on Android of the Photos app on iPhone and iPad. The Gallery has an icon that resembles a stack of photos. The Photos app has an icon that resembles a colorful flower.

  2. 2

    Tap an album. If you need to select an album, tap the one containing the JPEG file you want to open.

  3. 3

    Tap and hold a JPEG image. This displays a context menu.

  4. 4

    Tap the Share icon

    .
    On Android, it's an icon that resembles 3 connected lines. On iPhone and iPad, it resembles a box with an arrow pointing up.

  5. 5

    Tap More. It's at the bottom of the Share menu at the end of the list of apps. This displays all apps on your phone.

  6. 6

    Tap an app you want to open the image in. This opens the JPEG image in the app you selected.

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Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Using a Third-Party App on a Computer

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  1. 1

    Open File Explorer on Windows or the Finder on Mac. On Windows, File Explorer has an icon that resembles a yellow folder with a blue clip. On Mac, the Finder has an icon that resembles a blue and white smiley face.

    • On Windows, you can open File Explorer by pressing Windows Key + E.
  2. 2

    Navigate to the folder that contains the JPEG image you want to open. Your photos can be found in your "Pictures" or "Photos" folder by default.

  3. 3

    Press and hold Ctrl, Command or Shift to select multiple images. If you want to select multiple images, press and hold the "Ctrl" on Windows, "Command" on Mac, or the "Shift" key and click the images you want to view.

    • Holding "Shift" allows you to select a sequence of images. Hold "Shift" and click the first and then the last image you want to open. Windows will select all images in between those two images.
    • Holding "Ctrl" or Command (on Mac) allows you to select multiple nonsequential images. Hold "Ctrl" or "Command" and click each image you want to open to select multiple images.
    • To change how images are displayed in File Explorer, click View in the menu bar at the top. Click one of the options to change how files and images are displayed. Clicking "Small Icons", "Medium Icons", "Large Icons", "Extra Large Icons", or "Tiles" will display the images as thumbnail images. "List" or "Details" displays the JPEG images in a list by file name.
  4. 4

    Right-click an image. This displays a context menu.

  5. 5

    Click Open with…. This displays a list of programs you can open the file with.

  6. 6

    Click the program you want to open the file in. You can open it in a web browser, or an image editor, such as Photoshop, GIMP, or MS Paint.

    • Alternatively, you can open a JPEG in most programs by dragging and dropping the image, or click File followed by Open. Then select an image and click Open.
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Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Troubleshooting

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  1. 1

    Restart your device. Restarting your device can fix many software issues. If you cannot open a JPEG file or get an error message, restart your computer or mobile device and try again.[1]

  2. 2

    Make sure your device is up to date. If you cannot open JPEG files on your device, make sure your device has the latest updates. Update Window, your Mac, your Android device, or your iPhone or iPad.

  3. 3

    The wrong default program is set to open JPEG files. If a JPEG won't open or you get an error message when trying to open a JPEG image, it could be that your computer is set to open JPEG images in a program that doesn't support JPEG images. Use the following steps to change the default program for JPEG images:

    • Windows:
      • Right-click a JPEG image on your computer.
      • Click Open with...
      • Click Choose another app
      • Select the Photos app.
      • Check "Always use this app to open JPEG Files" and click Ok (Windows 10) to click Always (Windows 11).
    • Mac:[2]
      • Right-click (or Control-click) a JPEG image in the Finder.
      • Click Get Info.
      • Select the Preview app in the drop-down menu.
      • Click Change All.
  4. 4

    The file extension is wrong. If the file extension isn't ".jpg" or ".jpeg", the file will not open properly. Make sure file extensions are visible in File Explorer or Finder on Mac. Click the filename of the JPEG image and make sure the file says ".jpg" or ".jpeg" at the end of the filename.

    • On mobile devices, locate the file in the My Files or Files app. Long press the file and tap Rename. Add ".jpeg" or ".jpg" at the end of the filename.[3]
  5. 5

    Repair the Photos app. If you cannot open JPEG files on Windows, the app may be corrupt. Use the following steps to repair or reset it:

    • Click the Windows Start menu.
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Click Apps.
    • Search for the Photos app.
    • Click the icon with three dots () next to Photos (Windows 11 only).
    • Click Advanced Options.
    • Scroll down and click Repair.
    • Click Reset.
  6. 6

    The file may be corrupt or broken. If a JPEG file won't open, the file may be broken or corrupted. If the image file has an "x" over it instead of a thumbnail image, there's a good chance the file is no good.

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      About This Article

      How to Open a JPEG File: Everything You Need to Know (63)

      Written by:

      Travis Boylls

      wikiHow Technology Writer

      This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College. This article has been viewed 149,367 times.

      How helpful is this?

      Co-authors: 7

      Updated: August 16, 2024

      Views:149,367

      Categories: File Manipulation

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 149,367 times.

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      How to Open a JPEG File: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

      FAQs

      How to Open a JPEG File: Everything You Need to Know? ›

      Right-click on the image on your desktop or file explorer window. Scroll down to Open With, then move right to see the list of programs that are preset to open your JPEG.

      How do I open a JPEG file? ›

      You can open it in a web browser, or an image editor, such as Photoshop, GIMP, or MS Paint. Alternatively, you can open a JPEG in most programs by dragging and dropping the image, or click File followed by Open. Then select an image and click Open.

      Why can't I open JPG files on my computer? ›

      If the Windows Photo Viewer says that we cannot open JPG files, the possible reasons are as follows: Windows Photo Viewer doesn't support the file format. The Photo Viewer is not the latest version. The JPG file is too large.

      What is the best program to open JPEG files? ›

      BitRecover JPEG Viewer is one of the Best and Secure Software to View JPEG Files. Able to view JPEG Image Offline Without any Restrictions. Permits to view JPEG Thumbnails Using Several Navigation options.

      Why is my JPG file not readable? ›

      Renaming the file can help to get your unreadable files back to life. Another way you can get back your files is by changing the format of the JPEG file. BMP and some other different file extensions. You can decide to repair the photo through the image editors you have in your system.

      How do I open a JPEG as a PDF? ›

      Convert JPG to PDF in Windows 10
      1. Open the JPG file you want to convert. ...
      2. Click CTRL+P to bring up the Print dialog box.
      3. Click the Printer icon to open a dropdown list.
      4. Select Microsoft Print to PDF.
      5. Click Print. ...
      6. In the new dialog box, your document now has the PDF file extension.

      Can anyone open a JPEG? ›

      Advantages of JPEGs.

      JPEG files are arguably the most universally recognized image file format — compatible with most browsers, software, and apps.

      What is the difference between JPG and JPEG files? ›

      JPG and JPEG are two equivalent file extensions that both refer to the same digital image format, so there are actually no differences between the JPG and JPEG formats. The only difference is the number of characters used.

      Can most computers open JPG files? ›

      Windows: To open JPGs on a Windows PC, all you need to do is double-click the picture. The image will then open in your default photo viewer, usually the Photos app.

      Why can't i open a JPG in Adobe? ›

      jpg' because it is either not a supported file type or because the file has been damaged (for example, it was sent as an email attachment and wasn't correctly decoded). This is happening on all documents, even those which are not email attachments.

      What is the default program to open JPEG files? ›

      On a Windows computer, Microsoft Photos is the default app for opening JPG files.

      What is the JPEG viewer for PC? ›

      JPEGView is an alternative to both built-in image viewer and photo editor. As mentioned, this app allows you to view your pictures and make a few enhancements. It displays the image on the entire interface and even shows you the editing tools by moving the mouse cursor.

      What is the fastest JPG viewer? ›

      FastPictureViewer is, quite simply, the quickest image viewer ever built, engineered to take advantage of modern 64-bit hardware and powerful graphic cards, delivered in a slick content-first user interface.

      What to do if JPG file is not opening? ›

      Best Methods to fix error 'Unable to open JPEG file'
      1. Update to the latest Photo Viewer or Photos App.
      2. Use Stellar Repair for Photo.
      3. Go back to the older version of the Photo Viewer.
      4. Rename your JPEG file.
      5. Open JPEG photo in Paint.
      6. Open JPEG photos in an Image Editor.
      7. Perform Clean Boot on your PC.
      Jun 12, 2024

      How do I open JPG files? ›

      The easiest way to read a JPEG file is using a Default Photo Viewer. Double-click on the picture, and it will typically open in the default photo viewer (such as "Photos" or "Windows Photo Viewer").

      How do I convert a JPEG to readable text? ›

      How to convert JPG to Word with OCR
      1. Go to the JPG to PDF tool.
      2. Upload the JPG you wish to convert, select the formatting settings, and click Convert to PDF.
      3. Download the PDF.
      4. Upload the PDF you just downloaded to PDF to Word.
      5. Select OCR from the settings for the most accurate conversion.
      6. Click Convert to Word.

      How do I convert a JPEG to a document? ›

      How to convert JPG to Word with OCR
      1. Go to the JPG to PDF tool.
      2. Upload the JPG you wish to convert, select the formatting settings, and click Convert to PDF.
      3. Download the PDF.
      4. Upload the PDF you just downloaded to PDF to Word.
      5. Select OCR from the settings for the most accurate conversion.
      6. Click Convert to Word.

      How do I open a JPEG zip file? ›

      How to Open a ZIP File on Windows 10
      1. Locate the ZIP file you want to open. ...
      2. Right-click on the ZIP file and select “Extract All…” Once you select “Extract All,” you will get a new pop-up menu.
      3. In the pop-up menu, select a location to extract the files. ...
      4. Once you've selected a destination folder, click “OK.”
      Feb 2, 2023

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