Summary: This blog shares DIY methods to repair corrupt CR3 files on Windows and Mac. It also shares the best Canon RAW file repair tool — Stellar Repair for Photo that effectively fixes CR3 photos.
‘I have some CR3 files from Canon EOS that don’t open in any image viewer. It seems the files are corrupt. Can you suggest any method to repair corrupted RAW files?‘
What is a CR3 File?
CR3 is a RAW file format of the Canon EOS range of digital cameras. Canon introduced the CR3 format with its EOS M50 model in 2018, replacing the previous CR2 file. CR3 stores uncompressed image data as captured by the sensors of the camera. Thus it has better quality.
But like any other image file, CR3 files can get corrupted due to some reason. You may not be able to open them in any software; files may show some error; or appear broken or damaged.
So how to recover corrupt CR3 files and get them back to pristine form?
Here we share the best ways to repair corrupt CR3 files on Mac and Windows. Before that, let’s know what could be the possible reasons for the corruption of your high-quality CR3 image files.
Common reasons for corruption in CR3 photos of Canon camera
- Improper handling of Canon camera SD card such as using the camera SD card on multiple devices.
- Virus or malware infection in the system.
- Abrupt interruption during CR3 file transfer from camera to computer
- Bad sectors in the storage drive, SD card, USB drive, etc.
How to repair corrupt CR3 image files?
Usually, when a RAW file is corrupted it affects its data. Only a RAW file repair software can fix unreadable CR3 files even in case of a corrupt header, data, invalid image file structure, unknown or invalid marker, etc. You can repair error-throwing, greyed-out, and broken CR3 files with the help of Stellar Repair for Photo or a Hex Editor.
However, sometimes, CR3 files won’t open due to compatibility issues or outdated image viewer. So also try updating the software in which you are opening the CR3 file or convert CR3 to a different software-compatible format.
Methods to repair corrupt CR3 files
- Repair CR3 files with image repair tool
- Use Hex Editor to repair corrupt CR3 files
- Update the software that opens the CR3 file
- Open CR3 files in a different program
- Convert CR3 to another file format
Method 1: Repair CR3 files with an image repair tool
Photo repair software is the only solution to fix corrupt CR3 files. As CR3 is a RAW file format of Canon, not every file repair tool can work on it. Use Stellar Repair for Photo, which works on common JPEG/JPG, DNG, and TIFF, as well as unique RAW file formats of cameras. It takes just 3 simple steps to quickly repair CR3 image files with the help of the software.
Steps to repair CR3 files using Stellar Repair for Photo
- Download and launch Stellar Repair for Photo software on your PC or Mac computer.
- On the main interface, click Add File to add CR3 files.
- The added images appear in a list. Click Repair.
- Preview the repaired files and click Save Repaired Files to save the repaired photos at a desired location.
The software repairs corrupt CR3 files and saves them in JPEG at a location you chose to save.
Method 2: Use Hex Editor to repair corrupt CR3 files
Hex Editor is a binary file editor. It allows you to view the binary data of a file. The fundamental binary data is in the form of hex code. The software allows you to compare the binary data of a corrupt and healthy file. Using the healthy file information, you can edit the corrupt file. The tool helps to fix corruption in the file header of images.
Unlike Stellar Repair for Photos, you should be technically sound with hex code and binary data to use Hex Editor. Some common Hex Editors are HxD, OxED, Hex Fiend, and others.
Method 3: Update the software that opens the CR3 file
As CR3 is a relatively new format, not every software originally supports it. But some like Photoshop have added support in their updated versions.
So update the image viewing or editing software in which you are trying to open CR3 files, be it Windows Photo Viewer, Photoshop Elements, IrfanView, Affinity Photo or any other software.
Read more: How to open CR3 files in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
Method 4: Open CR3 files in a different program
If CR3 files don’t open in one program, try another. For instance, if you are opening in Adobe Photoshop, change to Lightroom or Canon Raw Image Viewer, Picasa Photo Viewer, etc.
You can also try to open CR3 files in Digital Photo Professional (DPP). It is a proprietary Canon RAW image processing, viewing and editing software for EOS and PowerShot models with RAW capability. Digital Photo Professional comes in the initial software setup for your Canon camera.
Method 5: Convert CR3 to another file format
If you can’t view CR3 on your Windows or Mac, choose to convert the file format by using a secure image converter tool.
You can convert CR3 to JPEG or DNG. Conversion to DNG, which is also a RAW image format, helps to maintain the high quality of CR3 files. You can directly open CR3 files in Affinity Photo or Adobe Photoshop after conversion to DNG format.
Conclusion
Hope the methods in the blog helped you to repair corrupt CR3 photos. A CR3 file repair software such as Stellar Repair for Photo ensures you recover corrupted RAW files. Irrespective of Canon camera model, Stellar Repair for Photo fixes corruption and noise in the CR3 photos on Windows and Mac system. Even when the images are severely corrupt, you get the thumbnails out of it.
Try the free demo and preview your repaired CR3 files now.
