DDS file: How can I open a .DDS file?
The table below provides useful information about the .dds file extension. It answers questions such as:
- What is the .dds file?
- What program do I need to open a .dds file?
- How can the .dds file be opened, edited or printed?
- How can I convert .dds files to another format?
We hope you find this page helpful and a valuable resource.
✅ Microsoft DirectX DirectDraw Surface
The DDS file is a Microsoft DirectX DirectDraw Surface. The file format supports mipmaps, cube maps, and volume maps. The DDS file format is supported by D3DX and other DirectX tools such as the DirectX Texture Editor (Dxtex.exe) and the Texture Conversion Tool (Texconv.exe).
✅ MAP Service Document
The DDS file is a MAP Service Document. The Landis+Gyr MAP Service Tool was developed to support the dialog meters. It is able to communicate with all modern electronic meters from Landis+Gyr and also with many units from other manufacturers, which comply with the standards according to dlms or IEC 62056-21 (formerly IEC 1107).
✅ Amazon Lumberyard DirectDraw Surface Data
The DDS file is an Amazon Lumberyard DirectDraw Surface Data. Amazon Lumberyard is a free, cross-platform, 3D game engine that allows you to create high-quality games, connect your games to the compute and storage of the AWS Cloud.
✅ XMap XData Dataset
The DDS file is an XMap XData Dataset. XMap is a three-tiered GIS and GPS platform that addresses key functional levels within an organization’s GIS infrastructure.
⚠ Be careful with .dds files.
It's important to know that the .dds file extension can be used by various programs, not just the ones you expect. This includes potentially harmful software or malware that might create .dds files. Be cautious when dealing with .dds files from unknown sources.
🔄 .dds converters
The following softwares are capable of converting .dds files to other formats:
For example, using the softwares above, a .dds file can be converted into one of the following formats:
🚫 The .dds file extension is often given incorrectly!
According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:
Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?
We found the following similar file extensions in our database:
🔴 Can't open a .dds file?
When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:
Select an app to open this .dds file
It means that the operating system does not have a default app associated with the .dds file type. To resolve this issue and open the file, you can take the following steps:
- Right-click on the .dds file. A context menu will appear.
- From the context menu, select Open with. Windows will display a list of recommended apps.
- If the desired app is listed, select it from the provided options.
- If you cannot find the appropriate app, you may need to install software that supports the specific file type.
If you don't know how to change the default app for the .dds file, check the FAQ.
🔴 Can I change the extension of files?
Changing the filename extension of a file is not a good idea. The extension of a file serves as a hint to the operating system and various software programs about the type of data contained within the file. When you alter a file's extension, you essentially modify how software applications interpret and handle that file. Every file has a specific format, also known as its file type or file format. The problem is, changing the file extension does not change the file format.
If you have helpful information about the .dds file extension, write to us.