How to view a .VTF file online
No app, no account, no upload.
Open your .VTF
Drag a .VTF 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 .VTF file?
Everything worth knowing about Valve Texture Format.
A VTF file is a Valve Texture Format texture used by Source engine games such as Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source, and Portal. Open it with VTFEdit (free, Windows) or VTFLib on Linux and macOS. VTF files contain no executable code and are safe to open from trusted mod sources.
Programs that open .VTF files
- Windows
- Half-Life 2, VTFEdit, GIMP (with VTF plugin)
- macOS
- VTFLib (CLI)
- Linux
- VTFLib (CLI)
| Full name | Valve Texture Format |
|---|---|
| Developer | Valve Corporation |
| First released | 2004 (Half-Life 2 and Source engine launch) |
| Category | Images |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Signature | 56 54 46 00 ("VTF\0") |
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Frequently asked questions
Is my .VTF file uploaded anywhere?
No. The decoder runs in JavaScript in the page. Your .VTF 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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