Camera RAW
What is an NRW file?
Updated Jul 2026
NRW is the RAW image format Nikon uses on some of its compact cameras, capturing everything the sensor recorded before the camera processes it into a JPG. It preserves full detail for editing, at the cost of a large file that most photo apps and websites can't open without converting it first.
- Extension
- .nrw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Nikon compacts
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Why NRW exists
Nikon has two RAW formats: NEF for its DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and NRW for select COOLPIX compact models. They store similar kinds of sensor data, but NRW is tuned for the smaller sensors and simpler processing found in point-and-shoot cameras.
Because it's a RAW format, an NRW file holds the unprocessed data straight off the sensor rather than a finished, compressed image. That means far more room to adjust exposure, white balance, and color after the fact, but the file itself is much bigger than a JPG and needs software that understands Nikon's RAW structure to open it.
Most people bump into NRW after pulling photos off a Nikon compact camera and finding they won't open in a browser, a photo-sharing site, or an editing app that only expects JPG or PNG. Converting to a common format is usually the fastest way to actually view or share the shot.
The trade-offs
Strengths
- Captures full sensor detail with nothing thrown away
- Gives much more room to fix exposure and color later
- Keeps original image data intact for archiving
Watch-outs
- Files are much larger than JPG for the same shot
- Won't open in most browsers, photo apps, or sharing sites
- Needs converting before you can edit or post it most places
- Less common than NEF, so support can be spottier
A note on privacy
An NRW file carries EXIF metadata, including the camera settings and often the GPS location where the photo was taken. Uploading it to an online converter sends that photo and its location data to someone else's server. Converting it on your own computer keeps the image and its metadata on your machine the whole time.
Questions
How do I open an NRW file?
You'll need a photo app that supports Nikon RAW files, or you can convert it to JPG or PNG so it opens in anything, including a regular browser.
Is NRW better than JPG?
For editing flexibility, yes: NRW keeps far more detail to adjust later. For everyday viewing and sharing, JPG is far more practical since almost everything can open it.
Why does my Nikon camera save NRW files?
Some Nikon COOLPIX compact cameras offer RAW capture using NRW so you can edit the shot with more control than a processed JPG allows. Many models let you switch to JPG-only in the settings.
Is NRW the same as NEF?
They're both Nikon RAW formats, but NEF is used on Nikon's DSLR and mirrorless cameras while NRW is specific to certain COOLPIX compacts.
Can I convert NRW without uploading it?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts NRW on your own computer, so the photo and its embedded metadata never leave your machine.
Morphjet opens and converts NRW and 1,800+ other formats, all on your own computer. Launching this July.