How to view a .PVR file online
No app, no account, no upload.
Open your .PVR
Drag a .PVR file straight from your game folder or 3D project onto the viewer, or choose it from your device.
View and inspect
Switch between mipmap levels and view each color channel on its own, including the alpha mask.
Export a PNG
Save the level and channel you're looking at as PNG, JPG or WEBP for editing anywhere.
What is a .PVR file?
Everything worth knowing about PowerVR Texture File.
A .pvr file is a PowerVR texture, a GPU-ready image used in games and 3D apps, including the native texture format of the SEGA Dreamcast. It is not a normal photo. To view or convert one, use Imagination's free PVRTexTool; for Dreamcast files, PuyoTools also works. A separate, unrelated .pvr file type is a DVR or TiVo TV recording.
Programs that open .PVR files
- Windows
- Adobe Photoshop (with NVIDIA/texture plugin), PuyoTools (Dreamcast PVRT), PVRTexTool (Imagination)
- macOS
- PVRTexTool (Imagination)
- Linux
- ImageMagick (some PVR variants), PVRTexTool (Imagination)
| Full name | PowerVR Texture File |
|---|---|
| Developer | Imagination Technologies (PowerVR); the Dreamcast variant originated with NEC/VideoLogic PowerVR hardware used in the SEGA Dreamcast |
| First released | Late 1990s (PowerVR/Dreamcast PVRT); modern PVR3 container specified by Imagination Technologies (PVR File Format v3.0.0) |
| Category | Images |
| MIME type | image/x-pvr |
| Signature | 50 56 52 03 ("PVR\\x03" - PVR v3 header version field (0x03525650 little-endian); Dreamcast-era files start with "PVRT", some with a "GBIX" block first) |
Related viewers
More free tools for images and graphics.
Frequently asked questions
Is my .PVR file uploaded anywhere?
No. The decoder runs in JavaScript in the page. Your .PVR file is only available while this tab is open.
Why does my normal map look blue and purple?
That's normal. Normal maps store surface directions as colors. For BC5/ATI2 textures, which keep only X and Y, we rebuild the blue (Z) channel so the map looks the way your engine sees it.
What are mipmaps?
Pre-shrunk copies of the texture, each half the size of the previous one. GPUs pick the right level based on distance, which keeps far-away surfaces smooth and fast. Use the level selector or the thumbnails to inspect each one.
Why can't I open a BC7 or ASTC texture?
These codecs need a much larger decoder. We read their header and tell you what's inside; full decoding is coming soon.
Is the exported PNG lossless?
Yes. PNG export contains exactly the decoded pixels of the level and channel you're viewing. Block-compressed textures are lossy at the source, so the PNG matches what the GPU would show.
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