"I can't open a CR2 file, how can I view Canon RAW images?"

Sometimes you might not be able to open a CR2 raw image because you don't have the right application to open the CR2 photo file. You can install Digital Photo Professional, Canon EOS Utility, Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, iPhoto, or Aperture, among others.

CR2 is Canon's proprietary raw image format. When you take a picture with a Canon camera, it saves an original image in the CR2 format. So, what exactly are CR2 photos, and how do you open them on your computer, camera, or in Photoshop? What can you do if your CR2 file won't open?

Aside from being a RAW image format, CR2 files are also extensively used by a 3D modeling program called Poser. Poser 2R2 files contain information about human details, such as the position and bend of joints and bones.

It's okay if you don't know why your computer, camera, or Photoshop can't open a CR2 file – just work through these solutions one by one, and you'll be able to open your CR2 photos in no time.

Solution 1: Fix the Unopenable CR2 File with Repair Software

More often than not, CR2 files won't open properly simply because they're corrupted. To fix a damaged CR2 photo, you'll need to resort to a professional image repair tool. Changing the file extension of an image or converting the photo to another format won't do the trick.

Here is where the Fixo Photo Repair tool and its photo repair feature comes in handy.

It can recover and fix Canon RAW images at original quality. See what else you can do with it:

• ✅ Fixes common issues like unavailable image.
• ✅ Repairs corrupted JPEG, BMP, and PNG files.
• ✅ Fixes photos with an invalid image file header.
• ✅ Repairs RAW images in RAF, CR2, CRW, and other formats.

Let's start fixing your CR2 photos that won't open now:

✨Step 1: Download, install, and launch the Fixo Photo Repair tool

Download and install Fixo from official sources, then run it. Choose "Photo Repair" > "Add Photos," and fix corrupted images from your local drive or an external hard disk.

Step 2. Start the photo repair process right away

If you uploaded multiple photos, it's best to click “Repair All” so that the program fixes every image in the list. Of course, you can also fix individual photos by finding the picture you want to repair and clicking “Repair.”

Step 3: Preview and save the image.

Click the eye icon to preview the repaired pictures. Click “Save All” to save the photos, then select “View Repaired” in the pop-up window that appears to quickly locate the fixed files.

Note: If you are unable to open photos from your camera's SD card, save the repaired CR2 image to another secure location. Do the same with the image on your computer.

Don't forget to share this handy CR2 repair tool on social media to help more Canon camera users!

Solution 2: Open the CR2 File in Photoshop or Another Viewer

Sometimes, you might not be able to open CR2 raw image because you don't have the right application to open the CR2 photo file.

Here is what needs to be done:

Step 1: Use an image viewer or editor that supports the CR2 format:

• Digital photo software and Canon EOS Utility tools
• Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, iPhoto, or Aperture

Note that you will need to download the latest Camera Raw plugin update from the Adobe website in order to open CR2, CR3, and other raw image files.

< strong > Step 2. < /strong> Export the raw CR2 image to your computer.

Step 3 Open the CR2 file with a photo or image viewer or editor. You can also right-click on the CR2 image and select the appropriate viewer from the drop-down menu to open it.

Solution 3: Convert Unopened CR2 Files to JPG, JPEG

Note: If you don't have Adobe Photoshop or Canon Image Viewer installed, or if the image viewer/editor in Fix 1 above doesn't open CR2 files, try this fix: Convert CR2 to JPG.

Here are the steps to perform this operation:

Step 1: Create a copy of the target CR2 photo.

Step 2: Move the copied CR2 image to another location, such as your desktop.

Step 3: Convert CR2 to JPG

You have two options.

• Option 1: Right-click the CR2 image > Rename its file extension to .jpg > Save the changes.
• Option 2: Use a CR2 to JPG converter, such as Zamzar or File Converter > Convert the CR2 to JPG.

Step 4. Open the converted JPG file with your computer's default image viewer or photo editor.

If, unfortunately, you find that the CR2 image itself is corrupted, you can go back to the first solution and use the Fixo Photo Repair Tool to fix the corrupted CR2 photo so it can be opened.

Why can't CR2 files be opened?

Some Canon users have been experiencing problems when trying to open CR2 image files. Here are some of the symptoms:

• Original image not opening - CR2 format unreadable on computer
• Unable to open CR2 file in Photoshop or camera
• Can't open CR2 raw image
• CR2 raw file not opening

So, why can't you open a CR2 file? Here are some possible reasons:

• The Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, or another image editing program hasn't updated the RAW image file.
• The CR2 file wasn't opened with its image editing and viewing software (Digital Photo Professional and Canon EOS File Viewer Utility).
• The image editing or viewing program on your computer doesn't support CR2 files.
• The CR2 photo is corrupted.

You can share these possible reasons on social media to raise awareness among more users!

Now CR2 files can be opened

On this page, we explain what a CR2 file is, why your CR2 photo might not open, and three reliable ways to fix your CR2 image and get it back in working order.

It doesn't really matter why you're getting the CR2 image won't open error. What's important is that you know how to fix it. Here's the right way to deal with the problem when your photo or image won't open:

1. Open the image using a compatible image or photo viewer/editor. 2. Create a copy of the source image and convert the duplicated image to a standard format like .jpg, .png, or others. 3. If both of the above methods fail, resort to a reliable image or photo repair tool.

You can use an online or desktop image repair application. As recommended, using a tool like Fixo, with image repair capabilities, can be helpful.

Lastly, if your CR2 files are important, regular backups or copies to an external hard drive will ensure their safety and allow you to view your images in high quality.