ARW Converter
ARW is Sony's raw format, used across the Alpha range. Like every raw format it keeps the full sensor reading and the editing latitude that comes with it, and like every raw format it needs converting before anyone without a raw editor can see it.
ARW at a glance
| Full name | Sony Alpha RAW |
|---|---|
| Extension | .arw |
| MIME type | image/x-sony-arw |
| Compression | Lossless |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| Colours | 16.7M+ (12/14-bit per channel) |
| Browser support | No browser support (requires RAW software) |
| Typical use | Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras (a7, a9 series) |
| Introduced | 2006 |
Convert ARW to another format
ARW questions
How do I open an ARW file?
On Windows 10 and 11, install the Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store and File Explorer will preview ARW. macOS opens Sony raw in Preview and Photos without anything extra. Everything else — browsers, Office, most web uploads — needs the file converted to JPG or PNG first.
What is the difference between ARW and JPG from the same camera?
The ARW holds the sensor reading at 12 or 14 bits per channel with white balance and picture profile stored as instructions. The JPG is that same frame already developed to 8 bits with those decisions baked in. Recovering a blown sky or a wrong white balance is possible from the ARW and largely not from the JPG.
Does converting ARW to JPG lose the original?
No. Conversion reads the ARW and writes a new file; the raw is untouched and stays on your disk. KoalaPic deletes both the upload and the result an hour later, so the copy on your own machine is the only one that persists.
Which Sony cameras produce ARW files?
The whole Alpha line: the a7 and a7R full-frame bodies, the a9 and a1 sports and flagship models, the APS-C a6000 series, and the RX100 and RX1 compacts. Sony has used the ARW extension across every generation, though the internal encoding has changed several times.