---
title: ".sketch file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .sketch file is a Sketch Design Document. The UI design format from Sketch, a Mac-only app — but not Mac-only to open. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/sketch/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .sketch files

**.sketch file: Sketch Design Document**

The UI design format from Sketch, a Mac-only app — but not Mac-only to open.

## What opens a .sketch file

- **Windows:** Lunacy, Figma (import)
- **macOS:** Sketch, Lunacy, Figma (import)
- **Linux:** Lunacy, Figma (import, in a browser)
- **In a browser:** Figma, Sketch web viewer

## What a .sketch file is

Sketch files are zipped JSON describing artboards, layers and symbols, produced by the Sketch app on macOS. On Windows and Linux the free Lunacy opens and edits them natively, and Figma imports them with good fidelity. Sketch also has a browser viewer for documents shared from its cloud workspace.

## Converting it

A .sketch file is commonly converted to .fig, .svg, .png or .pdf. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .sketch
- **Full name:** Sketch Design Document
- **Category:** Documents
- **Created by:** Sketch B.V.
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

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

On Windows use Lunacy; on macOS use Sketch; on Linux use Lunacy. The UI design format from Sketch, a Mac-only app — but not Mac-only to open.

### What is a .sketch file?

Sketch Design Document. Sketch files are zipped JSON describing artboards, layers and symbols, produced by the Sketch app on macOS. On Windows and Linux the free Lunacy opens and edits them natively, and Figma imports them with good fidelity.

### Can I convert a .sketch file?

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

## Related pages

- [.pdf — Portable Document Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/pdf/)
- [.docx — Word Document (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/docx/)
- [.xlsx — Excel Workbook (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xlsx/)
- [.pptx — PowerPoint Presentation (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/pptx/)
- [.txt — Plain Text File](https://atoneplace.net/file/txt/)
- [.doc — Word Document (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/doc/)
- [.xls — Excel Workbook (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xls/)
- [.ppt — PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/ppt/)
- [.md — Markdown Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/md/)
- [.rtf — Rich Text Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/rtf/)
- [.pages — Apple Pages Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/pages/)
- [.odt — OpenDocument Text](https://atoneplace.net/file/odt/)

## Sources

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