---
title: ".psd file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .psd file is an Adobe Photoshop Document. Photoshop's working file, keeping layers, masks and text editable. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/psd/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .psd files

**.psd file: Adobe Photoshop Document**

Photoshop's working file, keeping layers, masks and text editable.

## What opens a .psd file

- **Windows:** Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, GIMP, Paint.NET (with plugin)
- **macOS:** Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, GIMP, Preview (built in — flattened preview only)
- **Linux:** GIMP, Krita
- **In a browser:** Photopea

## What a .psd file is

A PSD holds the whole editable state of a Photoshop project — layers, masks, adjustment layers, live text and effects — rather than a flattened picture. Photoshop is the native application, but GIMP, Affinity Photo and the free browser tool Photopea all open PSDs with reasonable fidelity; exotic layer effects are where they drift. Files above 2 GB or 30,000 pixels use the .psb "large document" variant instead.

## Converting it

A .psd file is commonly converted to .jpg, .png, .tiff, .pdf or .webp. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .psd
- **Full name:** Adobe Photoshop Document
- **Category:** Images
- **MIME type:** image/vnd.adobe.photoshop
- **Created by:** Adobe
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .psd file?

On Windows use Adobe Photoshop; on macOS use Adobe Photoshop; on Linux use GIMP. Photoshop's working file, keeping layers, masks and text editable.

### What is a .psd file?

Adobe Photoshop Document. A PSD holds the whole editable state of a Photoshop project — layers, masks, adjustment layers, live text and effects — rather than a flattened picture. Photoshop is the native application, but GIMP, Affinity Photo and the free browser tool Photopea all open PSDs with reasonable fidelity; exotic layer effects are where they drift.

### Can I convert a .psd file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .jpg, .png, .tiff, .pdf or .webp, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.jpg — JPEG Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/jpg/)
- [.png — Portable Network Graphics](https://atoneplace.net/file/png/)
- [.jpeg — JPEG Image (four-letter form)](https://atoneplace.net/file/jpeg/)
- [.heic — High Efficiency Image Container](https://atoneplace.net/file/heic/)
- [.webp — WebP Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/webp/)
- [.gif — Graphics Interchange Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/gif/)
- [.svg — Scalable Vector Graphics](https://atoneplace.net/file/svg/)
- [.ai — Adobe Illustrator Artwork](https://atoneplace.net/file/ai/)
- [.avif — AV1 Image File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/avif/)
- [.tiff — Tagged Image File Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/tiff/)
- [.raw — Camera Raw Image](https://atoneplace.net/file/raw/)
- [.ico — Windows Icon](https://atoneplace.net/file/ico/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)