.cdr
CDR file: what it is and how to open it
A CDR file is usually a CorelDRAW drawing. Use CorelDRAW to open the artwork. Our Android and Windows apps show the small thumbnail saved in CorelDRAW X4 and later files; they do not draw the full design.
Check your CDR file here
Nothing is uploaded. This page names the type and shows its details; to view it, use an app below.
What is a CDR file?
CorelDRAW uses CDR for vector illustrations and page layouts, including text, shapes and placed pictures. The extension spans several generations of the format, so a tool’s CDR support can depend on which CorelDRAW version saved the file.
A saved thumbnail is a quick reference picture, not a copy of all the drawing’s pages or editable objects. A PNG made from that thumbnail remains small. Ask for a PDF export when you need to read a complete design without CorelDRAW.
What is inside
CorelDRAW X4 and later use a ZIP package with drawing data and preview images. Earlier versions use a different structure. Our apps read the saved package thumbnail, rather than interpreting CorelDRAW’s drawing instructions.
Not every .cdr is CorelDRAW artwork: a Mac can also use this extension for a disc image. If the source is Disk Utility or a disc backup, treat it as a disk image rather than a graphics project.
How to open a CDR file
Windows
- CorelDRAWPaid. Opens the original drawing for editing and export; check compatibility with the version that saved it.
- InkscapeFree. Imports compatible CDR artwork; some CorelDRAW features may change or be missing.
- Universal File Opener for WindowsOursShows the X4 or later package thumbnail offline and converts the preview to PNG or JPG. The drawing itself is not shown.
Mac
- CorelDRAWPaid. Opens compatible CorelDRAW drawings for editing.
- InkscapeFree. Imports compatible CDR artwork; check layout and text after import.
Android
- Universal File OpenerOursShows the thumbnail in X4 or later files offline. The drawing itself is not shown, and individual objects cannot be edited.
In a browser
- Ask for a PDFOur browser opener does not draw CDR artwork. A PDF exported from CorelDRAW is a better way to read the complete design.
Won’t open?
The app says the file has no thumbnail it can show
CorelDRAW X3 and earlier files do not have the package thumbnail our apps read. Ask the author to export PDF or PNG, or resave in a compatible newer CorelDRAW format.
The picture is too small to read
Our apps display the thumbnail, not the drawing. Converting it cannot recover text or detail. Ask for a PDF exported from CorelDRAW.
The drawing looks different in another editor
Import support varies by file version and feature. Use CorelDRAW to check the original, especially fonts, effects and linked pictures.
It is a disc backup from a Mac
CDR can also name a disk image. Open that image with the Mac’s disk-image tools; it is not a CorelDRAW project.
Convert a CDR file
- To PNG or JPG thumbnailUse Convert in our apps if the thumbnail opens. The result is only the small preview.
- To PDF of the full drawingOpen the original in CorelDRAW and export or publish a PDF. Check page selection and fonts before sending it.
CDR files in our apps
View the small thumbnail saved in CorelDRAW X4 and later files offline on Android and Windows. Convert the preview to PNG or JPG. The drawing itself is not shown.
All Android tools and limits for CDR files
- Shows the thumbnail in X4 or later files offline. The drawing itself is not shown, and individual objects cannot be edited.
Limits
- CorelDRAW X3 and earlier thumbnails are not read. Files without a supported thumbnail explain the limit.
- Individual objects, pages and text in the drawing are not rendered or edited. Converting the thumbnail cannot restore the full drawing.