How to open a PSD file without Photoshop

By PhotoPix Solutions Updated on October 18, 2026

To open a PSD file without Photoshop, use a browser editor such as PhotopixPro or Photopea, or a free desktop app such as GIMP or Krita; on a Mac, Preview shows the image but can't edit it. PhotopixPro opens the file with its layers and nothing to install. Phones need an app or a phone-friendly web editor.

Which option to use

Your device	To view a PSD	To edit its layers	Needs an install?
Windows	A browser editor, such as PhotopixPro	PhotopixPro in the browser, or GIMP, Krita or Affinity	Not for a browser editor; GIMP, Krita and Affinity are installed
Mac	Preview, built into macOS	PhotopixPro in the browser, or GIMP, Krita or Affinity	Preview is built in; GIMP, Krita and Affinity are installed
Chromebook	A browser editor	A browser editor, or Linux apps if your Chromebook allows them	Linux apps need Linux turned on
iPhone, iPad and Android	Adobe's Photoshop Express app, or a web editor that works on phones	Easier on a computer; Procreate on an iPad imports the layers but turns text into pixels	Photoshop Express and Procreate are apps

Checked on October 17, 2026, from each maker's own pages; the sources are under How we checked this guide.

In your browser with PhotopixPro: layers, nothing to install

This needs a desktop browser with WebGPU or WebGL2. Nothing is installed and the file isn't uploaded.

Go to Open PSD online, or open the editor directly.
Drop the PSD on the page, or in the editor choose File > Open… (Ctrl+O). The first visit downloads the editor, about 11 MB.
Look through the layers in the Layers panel (Window > Layers).
To get an image, choose File > Export > Quick Export as PNG, or File > Export > Export As… for a JPG. To keep the layers, File > Save downloads a PSD.

So far we've tested PhotopixPro in Chromium; we haven't checked Firefox or Safari yet. It's built for a keyboard and a mouse or pen, not for phones.

A PSD poster open in PhotopixPro in the browser, with all its layers visible in the Layers panel — A PSD open in PhotopixPro, with nothing installed: the layers panel lists every layer of the file.

Windows 10 and 11

According to Adobe, you need extra software to open PSD files on Windows. These are your options.

A browser editor: no install, works on locked-down PCs

PhotopixPro, as above, or Photopea, which also runs in the browser. Nothing gets installed, which helps on a work or school PC where you can't add programs.

GIMP, Krita or Affinity: desktop apps you install

GIMP is free software for Linux, macOS and Windows, and its developers list PSD and PSB among the formats it imports and exports. Krita is a free painting program; its documentation says it loads raster layers, blend modes, layer styles, vector shapes, text layers, groups and transparency masks from PSD files. Affinity, from Canva, is free for individuals on Windows and macOS, though you have to sign in with a Canva account, which you can create for free, to download and activate it; its makers say it imports PSD files with their structure and layers.

Mac

Preview: view only, no editing

Adobe says the Preview app in macOS opens and views PSD files, though you can't edit them there. Open the file in Preview to see the picture. You can also try Quick Look: select the file in the Finder and press the Space bar.

To save a copy as JPG or PNG, choose File > Export in Preview and pick the format in the Format menu, as Apple's Preview guide explains.

A browser editor or a desktop app: layers

To work with the layers, use a browser editor such as PhotopixPro, or install GIMP, Krita or Affinity. We haven't tested PhotopixPro in Safari yet; if it doesn't start there, try another desktop browser.

Chromebook

A browser editor: the simplest option

We haven't tested PhotopixPro on a Chromebook yet. It needs a browser with WebGPU or WebGL2; if you try it, tell us how it went. Photopea, which says it runs on any device, is another option.

Linux apps: if your Chromebook allows them

Some Chromebooks can run Linux software. Google's instructions: select the time at the bottom right, open Settings, go to About ChromeOS, then Developers, and next to "Linux development environment" select Set up. Google warns that setup can take 10 minutes or more and that work or school Chromebooks may not allow it. GIMP has a Linux version.

iPhone, iPad and Android: PSD files on mobile

A common case: a PSD arrives by email or in a chat, and your phone won't open it.

Photoshop Express: Adobe's app for phones

Adobe says its Photoshop Express app can open PSD files on an iPhone or an Android phone.

Procreate on an iPad

Procreate's handbook says the app imports PSD files with their layer groups and blend modes, and turns vector and text layers into pixels.

A web editor that works on phones

Photopea says it runs on any device, so you can try opening the PSD in your phone's browser there.

PhotopixPro: better on a computer

PhotopixPro isn't designed for phones: it needs a keyboard and a mouse or pen, and it has no phone layout. If you open the editor on a phone, it offers to share the link so you can open the PSD later on your computer. On a tablet the editor can load, but touch support is basic.

If you need to edit the layers, not just look at them, a computer makes it much easier.

What you lose when you open a PSD outside Photoshop

PSD is Adobe's own format. GIMP's developers note that its public specification isn't always complete, and Krita's documentation says no program outside Photoshop can support it 100%. In practice, this is what can change:

Viewers don't edit. Preview and similar apps show the picture, but you can't change layers or text.
Fonts. If an app doesn't have the font, text is shown or edited with a substitute. In PhotopixPro on the web, only Inter and JetBrains Mono are available.
Effects and adjustments. Layer styles, smart filters and some adjustment layers can look slightly different. PhotopixPro opens all ten Photoshop layer styles, but some effects may still differ.
Smart objects. Support varies from app to app. PhotopixPro opens embedded and linked smart objects.
Exports are flat. PNG and JPG merge all visible layers into one image.

If you're thinking of leaving Photoshop altogether, our free Photoshop alternative comparison lists what you'd gain and lose.

How we checked this guide

We tested the PhotopixPro steps on October 17, 2026, in Chromium, with 21 real PSD files, six of them made in Photoshop. We didn't test the other apps ourselves: what this guide says about Preview, Quick Look, Photoshop Express, Procreate, GIMP, Krita, Affinity, Photopea and ChromeOS comes from their makers' own pages, which we read on the same date:

Adobe: the PSD file format, for Preview, Windows, Photoshop Express and PSD limits.
Apple: Quick Look and converting files in Preview.
GIMP: home page and supported image formats.
Krita: home page and PSD support.
Affinity: home page and getting Affinity, for the price, the Canva account, the platforms and PSD import.
Photopea: home page.
Procreate: file types it imports.
Google: setting up Linux on a Chromebook.

If something has changed, let us know.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a PSD file without Photoshop?

Yes. A browser editor like PhotopixPro opens PSD files with their layers, masks and text, with nothing to install. On a Mac, Adobe says Preview can open and view a PSD without editing it. Desktop apps such as GIMP and Krita also read PSD files. What you lose depends on the app; fonts and some effects are the usual gaps.

What program opens PSD files?

Photoshop, but not only Photoshop. In a browser, PhotopixPro and Photopea open PSD files and let you edit them. On a Mac, Preview shows them. GIMP, Krita and Affinity are desktop programs that read PSD, and on phones Adobe points to its Photoshop Express app. Choose by what you need: just viewing, or editing the layers.

Can GIMP open PSD files?

Yes. GIMP's developer documentation lists PSD and PSB under import and export. It also notes that the public PSD specification isn't always complete, so some features may not come through exactly as they look in Photoshop. If you only need to view or lightly edit a PSD, a browser editor like PhotopixPro avoids installing anything.

Can Photopea open PSD files?

Yes. Photopea says it fully supports PSD, both opening and saving, and like PhotopixPro it runs in the browser and works on your files on your own device. Its free version shows ads, and it offers more formats and AI tools. See how PhotopixPro compares with Photopea, side by side.

How do I open a PSD file on mobile?

On an iPhone or an Android phone, Adobe says its Photoshop Express app can open PSD files. Photopea says it runs on any device, so you can also try it in your phone's browser. PhotopixPro is built for computers: on a phone, it offers to share the link so you can open the file later on a desktop or laptop.

Can Procreate open PSD files?

Yes, on an iPad. Procreate's handbook says the app imports PSD files with their locked layers, layer groups and blend modes, and turns vector and text layers into pixels. That works for painting over a design, but the text can't be edited afterwards. To keep text layers editable, open the PSD on a computer in an editor such as PhotopixPro.

How do I open a PSD on a Chromebook?

Try a browser editor. We haven't tested PhotopixPro on a Chromebook yet; it needs a browser with WebGPU or WebGL2, and Photopea is another option. If your Chromebook allows Linux, you can turn it on under Settings > About ChromeOS > Developers and install desktop software there. Work and school Chromebooks may not allow that.

How can I preview a PSD without opening Photoshop?

On a Mac, open it in Preview, or try Quick Look by selecting the file in the Finder and pressing the Space bar. On a desktop or laptop, drop it into PhotopixPro in your browser to see the image and its layers. On a phone, Adobe's Photoshop Express app can open it, and Photopea says it runs on any device.