You open an old backup folder, or copy photos from a Canon DSLR, and the files end in .cr2. Windows shows a blank icon, an older copy of Photoshop says the camera is not supported, and an upload form refuses the files. The photos themselves are usually fine. They are stored in Canon's RAW format, and not every app can read it.
What is a CR2 file?
A CR2 file is a Canon RAW image. It holds the data recorded by the camera's sensor before the camera turns it into a finished picture. Settings such as white balance and picture style are not baked into that data, which is why RAW photos leave much more room for editing than JPEGs.
CR2 replaced Canon's older CRW format. In Adobe's camera support table, the EOS 10D and EOS 300D record CRW, while the EOS-1D Mark II and EOS 20D record CR2. Canon later moved to CR3.
What is inside a CR2 file
A CR2 file carries three kinds of data:
- The RAW sensor data. This is what a RAW editor works with. It gives the editor more to work with than a JPEG, so you usually have more room to recover bright skies and dark shadows.
- A JPEG preview. The camera usually embeds one, made with your picture style. Some viewers show this preview instead of processing the RAW data.
- Shooting details (EXIF metadata). These include the camera model, lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and date.
Which Canon cameras shoot CR2?
Most Canon cameras with RAW support from the EOS-1D Mark II and EOS 20D onward record CR2 until the move to CR3. Adobe's camera table lists CR2 for these models, among others:
| Camera line | Examples that record CR2 |
|---|---|
| Full-frame DSLRs | EOS 5D, 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark IV, 6D, 6D Mark II, 1D X, 1D X Mark II |
| APS-C DSLRs | EOS 7D, 7D Mark II, 80D, 77D, Rebel T6i, Rebel T7i, Rebel SL2, Rebel T7, Rebel T100 |
| Early mirrorless | EOS M, M3, M5, M6, M100 |
| PowerShot compacts | G1 X, G5 X, G7 X, G7 X Mark II, G9 X |
The switch to CR3 did not happen in a neat order. The EOS M50 records CR3, yet the Rebel T7 and Rebel T100, which Adobe added in the same Camera Raw release, still record CR2. Newer versions of some CR2 models moved to CR3: the EOS M6 Mark II, PowerShot G5 X Mark II and G7 X Mark III all record CR3. The reliable check is the file extension on your memory card.
If your files end in .cr3, see our guide to CR3 files, which also compares the two formats. Files ending in .crw come from older Canon cameras such as the EOS 10D and EOS 300D. Our Canon RAW to JPG converter page explains which Canon RAW extension your camera uses.
How to open CR2 files
Current versions of major photo apps and operating systems can read CR2 files from most Canon cameras. A common cause of trouble is software that is older than the camera that took the photo.
On Windows 10 and 11
Raw Image Extension requires Windows 10 version 1903 (the May 2019 Update) or later.
- Open the Microsoft Store and install Raw Image Extension. It is free and published by Microsoft.
- Open File Explorer. Supported RAW files, including CR2, now show thumbnails and metadata.
- Double-click a CR2 file to open it in the Photos app.
On Mac
macOS has built-in RAW support for the cameras on Apple's supported list, so apps such as Photos and Preview can open those files. That list was last updated for macOS Sonoma and iOS 17, and Apple adds support for more cameras over time. It names camera models, not file extensions, so search it for your camera if a file does not open. Most CR2 models are on it, including the EOS 20D, 5D Mark IV, 6D Mark II, 80D, Rebel T7 and Rebel T7i.
In Photoshop and Lightroom
Photoshop opens CR2 files through its Camera Raw plug-in, and Lightroom reads them directly. Support for each camera arrives in a specific Camera Raw version, so an old copy may not recognize a newer camera.
Photoshop CS6 is one example. Adobe stopped updating Camera Raw for CS6 after version 9.1.1, so CR2 files from cameras that need a later version, such as the 5D Mark IV, 6D Mark II or Rebel T7, will not open in it.
To fix this, Adobe recommends installing the latest updates. For older software, use Adobe's free DNG Converter. It turns CR2 files into DNG, a more universal RAW format that older Adobe software can open. Keep the original CR2 files as well.
If you shoot Dual Pixel RAW on an EOS 5D Mark IV, check the note in Adobe's camera table: Camera Raw and Lightroom have limitations with those files.
In other RAW editors
Canon's own RAW software, Digital Photo Professional, runs on Windows and macOS. Its compatible cameras include CR2 models such as the EOS 20D, 5D Mark IV and Rebel T7.
The open-source darktable runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its camera support list includes CR2 models such as the EOS 20D and 5D Mark IV. RawTherapee is another free RAW processor for the same three systems. As with Adobe software, a newer camera may need a recent version of the editor.
On iPhone, iPad and Android
iPhone and iPad use the same supported-camera list as the Mac, so apps such as Photos can open CR2 files from those cameras. On Android, some gallery apps do not show RAW files, so you may need a RAW-capable editing app.
On any phone, a simple way to look at a CR2 photo or send it on is to make a JPG copy in the browser. Our CR2 to JPG converter works on phones and computers, does not upload your files, and saves the JPEG preview stored inside the CR2, when the file has one. Because it uses that preview rather than the RAW data, use a RAW editor when you need to adjust exposure or colors.
Why a CR2 file will not open
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Blank icon in File Explorer | Windows has no RAW support installed | Install Raw Image Extension |
| "Unsupported camera" in Photoshop or Lightroom | Camera Raw is older than the camera | Update, or convert to DNG with Adobe DNG Converter |
| Mac or iPhone will not open the file | The camera may not be supported by your OS version | Use a RAW editor or make a JPG copy |
| Android gallery shows nothing | The app has no RAW support | Use a RAW-capable app or a browser converter |
| Website or form rejects the file | Upload forms usually accept JPG and PNG, not RAW | Make a JPG copy |
| File opens but looks flatter than on the camera | The app processes the RAW data without the camera's picture style (normal for RAW) | Edit it, or view the camera's JPEG preview |
Should you keep your CR2 files?
For most people, yes. A CR2 works like the negative of your photo. A JPG is more like a finished print: smaller and easier to share, but with much less room to fix exposure or colors later.
A simple routine covers both needs:
- Keep the CR2 originals in a backup folder or on an external drive.
- Make JPG copies for sharing, posting and printing.
- If you edit, export the JPG from your RAW editor. For quick copies that look like the camera's own shot, use our CR2 to JPG converter.
For editing options without a subscription, see our guide to converting RAW to JPG without Lightroom.