File extension DDS
| File type | DirectDraw Surface Format |
| Developer | Microsoft |
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What is a DDS file?
File with .DDS extension contains a raster image, usually utilised to store textures, backgrounds or wallpapers. DDS format is used by Microsoft DirectX.
DDS files are used in the process of texturing models of units in some video games or storing wallpapers for MS Windows. An image in this format can be also compressed.
Program(s) that can open the .DDS file
Windows
Mac OS
Linux
How to open DDS files
If you cannot open the DDS file on your computer - there may be several reasons. The first and most important reason (the most common) is the lack of a suitable software that supports DDS among those that are installed on your device.
A very simple way to solve this problem is to find and download the appropriate application. The first part of the task has already been done – the software supporting the DDS file can be found in the table. Now just download and install the appropriate application.
Possible problems with the DDS format files
The inability to open and operate the DDS file does not necessarily mean that you do not have an appropriate software installed on your computer. There may be other problems that also block our ability to operate the DirectDraw Surface Format file. Below is a list of possible problems.
- Corruption of a DDS file which is being opened
- Incorrect links to the DDS file in registry entries.
- Accidental deletion of the description of the DDS from the Windows registry
- Incomplete installation of an application that supports the DDS format
- The DDS file which is being opened is infected with an undesirable malware.
- The computer does not have enough hardware resources to cope with the opening of the DDS file.
- Drivers of equipment used by the computer to open a DDS file are out of date.
If you are sure that all of these reasons do not exist in your case (or have already been eliminated), the DDS file should operate with your programs without any problem. If the problem with the DDS file has not been solved, it may be due to the fact that in this case there is also another rare problem with the DDS file. In this case, the only you can do is to ask for assistance of a professional staff.
This extension
can be converted to:
How to associate the file with an installed software?
If you want to associate a file with a new program (e.g. my-file.DDS) you have two ways to do it. The first and the easiest one is to right-click on the selected DDS file. From the drop-down menu select "Choose default program", then click "Browse" and find the desired program. The whole operation must be confirmed by clicking OK. The second and more difficult to do is associate the DDS file extension to the corresponding software in the Windows Registry.
Is there one way to open unknown files?
Many files contain only simple text data. It is possible that while opening unknown files (e.g. DDS) with a simple text editor like Windows Notepad will allow us to see some of the data encoded in the file. This method allows you to preview the contents of many files, but probably not in such a structure as a program dedicated to support them.