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ECW TIF
File conversion

Convert ECW to TIF

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 23, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert ECW to TIF?
Yes - ECW converts to TIF.

Open the .ecw in XnView MP and use File > Export > TIFF for a quick image-only result. For a GeoTIFF that keeps map coordinates, use QGIS: right-click the ECW layer > Export > Save As > GeoTIFF. The output TIF will be much larger than the ECW due to decompression.

1 programs
Also to TIF: RWL · ARW · PCT

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert ECW to TIF?

ECW is proprietary and requires a specific codec to open. GeoTIFF is universally supported by ArcGIS, QGIS, and most GIS tools without extra plugins, making the imagery portable and shareable. Converting to .tif is the standard way to move ECW imagery into a generic workflow.

How to convert ECW to TIF

XnView MP FREE

Open the .ecw in XnView MP, then File > Export and choose TIFF; note that this produces an image-only TIFF without georeferencing data.

QGIS FREE

In QGIS, add the .ecw as a raster layer, right-click > Export > Save As, set format to GeoTIFF and click OK - all coordinate data is preserved in the output.

Programs that convert ECW

XnView MP

About these formats

.ECW Enhanced Compression Wavelet (ECW) image

An ECW file is a wavelet-compressed aerial or satellite image used in GIS software. To view one for free on Windows, use IrfanView (with plugin pack) or QGIS; QGIS also works on macOS and…

Open .ECW details →
.TIF Tagged Image File Format

A TIF (or TIFF) file is a Tagged Image File Format image, the standard for scanned documents, faxes, and archival photos. It opens without installing anything on Windows (Photos app) or…

Open .TIF details →

Quality & what to watch

  • File size: ECW compresses at roughly 15:1 to 20:1; a 200 MB ECW can expand to 2-4 GB as an uncompressed TIFF - use LZW or DEFLATE compression when exporting to reduce size while keeping it lossless.
  • XnView MP does not preserve georeferencing; use QGIS or a GIS tool if the output must retain projection and coordinate data.
  • The GeoTIFF output from a GIS tool includes the datum, EPSG code, cell size, and origin coordinates from the ECW source.

Frequently asked questions

Will the TIF keep the map coordinates?
Only if you export via QGIS or a GIS tool; XnView MP produces a plain image TIFF with no coordinate data.
Why is the TIF so much larger than the ECW?
ECW uses aggressive wavelet compression; the TIFF stores uncompressed (or lightly compressed) pixel data, which is much larger.
How do I reduce the GeoTIFF file size?
Add LZW or DEFLATE compression when exporting - this keeps the file lossless while significantly reducing size.