What is Will My File Open?
Will My File Open? is an independent file compatibility reference designed to help people understand what may happen when they open a file format in a particular application.
Instead of providing only a simple yes-or-no answer, our compatibility reports examine practical details such as whether the file can be opened, how editable it remains, and what may happen to layers, fonts, transparency and visual quality.
The goal is simple: help you understand compatibility before you spend time converting, importing, rebuilding or troubleshooting a file.
Why We Built It
File compatibility is often more complicated than it appears. A program may recognize a file extension while still changing important parts of the content during import.
A layered design can become flattened. Editable text can be converted or substituted. Vector artwork can become rasterized. A video container may be accepted while one of the codecs inside it is unsupported.
Traditional lists of “supported formats” do not always explain those practical differences. Will My File Open? was created to make that information easier to understand in one place.
What You Can Check
Our database connects file formats with applications and provides individual compatibility reports for tested combinations.
Depending on the format and application, a report may evaluate:
- Can Open: whether the application can recognize and load the file in a practical workflow.
- Can Edit: whether meaningful content remains editable after opening or importing.
- Layers: whether layered structure is preserved when relevant.
- Fonts: whether text and font information are likely to remain usable.
- Transparency: whether transparency information is supported or preserved.
- Quality: whether the workflow is likely to preserve the original visual or media quality.
- Recommended Method: the practical workflow suggested by the available technical evidence.
Compatibility Scores
Each published report may include a Compatibility Score from 0 to 100. This is an internal rating created by Will My File Open? to summarize practical compatibility between a format and an application.
The score is not an official rating from Adobe, Canva, Microsoft, Google, Figma, Blackmagic Design or any other software company.
A high score does not mean that every possible file will behave perfectly. Users should always read the individual compatibility fields and notes together with the score.
How We Research Compatibility
We research technical documentation and give preference to official documentation from the software developer or file-format owner whenever suitable information is available.
Other technical sources may be considered when official documentation does not fully address a particular compatibility question.
Published reports may include a supporting source so users can review the underlying documentation themselves.
You can learn more about this process on our Methodology page.
Use of Automated Tools and AI
Will My File Open? may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence, to assist with technical research, organization and the creation of draft compatibility reports.
Automated output is not automatically treated as verified information. Reports can remain in draft status while their compatibility conclusions, sources and practical recommendations are reviewed before publication.
AI assistance is used as part of the research workflow, not as a replacement for evidence.
Software Changes Over Time
File compatibility can change as applications are updated. New versions may add support for formats, remove older functionality, change import behavior or depend on different codecs and operating-system components.
Because of this, compatibility information should be treated as practical guidance based on the information available when a report was reviewed.
We may update reports when new documentation or meaningful software changes become available.
Independent Resource
Will My File Open? is an independent informational website.
We are not owned by, operated by or officially affiliated with Adobe, Canva, Microsoft, Google, Figma, GIMP, VideoLAN, CapCut, Blackmagic Design or other software companies referenced on the site unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Product names, application names, company names and trademarks belong to their respective owners and are referenced only to identify the software involved in compatibility testing.
Our Approach
We aim to make compatibility information useful rather than unnecessarily complicated. When reliable evidence is insufficient, our preferred approach is to indicate uncertainty instead of presenting unsupported assumptions as facts.
We also distinguish between opening and editing because these are not the same thing. A file that opens successfully may still lose important editable structure.
Help Us Improve the Database
Software behavior can vary between versions, operating systems and individual files. If you find a compatibility result that appears incorrect or outdated, we welcome corrections.
When reporting a compatibility issue, including the file format, application name, application version and operating system can help us review the result more effectively.
You can send a correction, technical question or suggestion through our Contact page.
Explore Will My File Open?
You can start with the File Compatibility Checker, browse the File Format Library, or explore compatibility by Application.