Files with ecw extension can be often found as pictures in Enhanced Compressed Wavelet image file format used for aerial and satellite imagery.

There are 4 other file types using
the ECW file extension!

empty icon.ecw - System dll library

empty icon.ecw - Ensoniq waveset format

empty icon.ecw - EclipseCrossword word list

empty icon.ecw - EasyCAD drawing

ECW file extension - Enhanced Compressed Wavelet image format

What is ecw file? How to open ecw files?

File type specification:

Bitmap image file type icon Bitmap image file type

ecw file icon: ecw filetype icon

File extension ecw is used for Enhanced Compressed Wavelet image format. It is a proprietary lossy compression format, used mainly for aerial and satellite imagery. It was originally developed by Earth Resource Mapping, and is now owned by ERDAS, subsidiary of Integraph.

Many GIS programs support this format and it might also be viewed in couple of image viewers such as XnView.

Updated: November 20, 2023

The default software associated to open ecw file:

ArcGIS icon

Esri logoArcGIS  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Esri

ArcGIS is a group of GIS (Geographic Information System) applications developed by ESRI. rcGIS for Desktop is available in three license level Basic, Standard, and Advanced (formerly ArcView, ArcEditor and ArcInfo).

Help how to open:

Can be opened in several GIS programs such as ESRI ArcGIS, or viewed in applications like XnView or IrfanView.

How to convert:

It should be quite possible to convert ECW graphics to any other bitmap graphics format or even some GIS files.

Find conversions from ecw file:

ecw to bmp

ecw to jpeg

ecw to jpg

ecw to mxd

ecw to pdf

ecw to png

ecw to sid

Find converter to ecw file type:

bmp to ecw

jpg to ecw

kmz to ecw

png to ecw

sid to ecw

tif to ecw

tiff to ecw

File identification strings:

HEX code: 65 02 01
ASCII code: e

List of software applications associated to the .ecw file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open ecw file, edit ecw file, convert ecw file, view ecw file, play ecw file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting ecw files.

Software that open ecw file - Enhanced Compressed Wavelet image format

Programs supporting the exension ecw on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open ecw file action.

Microsoft Windows:

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