Windows 11's redesigned Photos viewer can open SVG files, the logo and icon format used all over the web.
Microsoft listed SVG support in its announcement of the new Photos app on 15 October.
Until it reaches your PC, you can already open SVG files for free - here's how.
What Changes, and When
SVG images are made of shapes rather than pixels, so they stay perfectly sharp at any size.
Windows has never been able to show them in its own photo viewer, so double-clicking one usually opened a browser or nothing at all.
The new viewer, called Photo Viewer in early builds, opens SVG files like any other picture. It's rolling out to Windows Insiders now, and Microsoft says every Windows 11 PC gets it later this year.
Viewing only, for now.
As far as Microsoft has said, you can look at SVG files in the new viewer but not edit them. File Explorer may still show blank icons for them too.
How to Open SVG Files Today
- In your browser. Right-click the file, choose Open with and pick Edge, Chrome or Firefox - free, with nothing extra to install.
- In a proper image viewer. ImageGlass opens SVG alongside about ninety other formats, so you can flick through a folder of logos with the arrow keys.
See SVG Thumbnails in File Explorer
A folder full of identical blank icons is the bigger annoyance, and the new Photos viewer doesn't change that. Two free add-ons do.
- SVG See. Adds real thumbnails to SVG files in File Explorer, and does nothing else.
- PowerToys. Microsoft's free toolkit adds SVG thumbnails and a large preview pane, along with many other utilities.
Our guide on how to preview SVG files in File Explorer walks through both in about two minutes.
Need to Edit an SVG?
For changing colours, text or shapes, you need a vector editor rather than a photo viewer. VectorCraft is a free Illustrator-style app that opens and saves SVG, though it's still an early version.
Quick questions
Can Windows 11 Photos open SVG files?
The redesigned Photos viewer can. It's with Windows Insiders now and reaches all Windows 11 users later this year, according to Microsoft.
How do I open an SVG file on Windows right now?
Right-click it, choose Open with and pick your web browser. For a dedicated viewer, ImageGlass opens SVG for free.
Why are my SVG files showing blank icons?
File Explorer can't draw SVG thumbnails on its own. A free add-on such as SVG See or PowerToys fixes that.
Can I edit SVG files in the new Photos app?
Microsoft has only mentioned viewing them. To edit an SVG, use a vector editor such as VectorCraft.
Will Windows 10 get SVG support in Photos?
Microsoft has only announced the new Photos app for Windows 11. On Windows 10, a browser or ImageGlass is the easiest way to open SVG files.
SVG is finally coming to the Windows 11 photo viewer - and free tools already open, preview and edit these files today.
Get SVG thumbnails with SVG See, or tell us how you open SVG files.
Latest news comments
AllInteresting development with the Fire TV Stick 4K — losing Kodi sideloading is a big deal for a lot of users. For those ...
News: The New Fire TV Stick 4K Can't Run Kodi - Here's Which Fire Stick Still Can 3 commentsBrave just enabled it by default for stable users yesterday (1.97). Not specified is chromeOS will be passively gaining decode capability too, and ...
Team replied News: JPEG XL Is Back in Chrome: What It Means and How to Open JXL Files 1 commentI didn't know it was EU, AND france. That doesn't sound like a good idea. Related to coding or privacy.
News: Meet Qwant: The Private, EU-Built Alternative to Google 1 comment