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.B16 file extension

To open .B16 files on Windows, if the file came from a PCO camera workflow, install or use Excelitas/PCO software such as pco.camware or pco.fileconversion.

To open a .B16 file, use software that understands the PCO B16 image format, such as Excelitas/PCO tools or XnView. Do not rename the file extension; if you need a standard image, export or convert it to a format such as TIFF using compatible software.

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Last updated: April 29, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .B16 files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .B16 files safely.

Windows

  1. If the file came from a PCO camera workflow, install or use Excelitas/PCO software such as pco.camware or pco.fileconversion.
  2. In File Explorer, right-click the .B16 file, choose Open with, and select the compatible PCO tool or XnView if installed.
  3. If you only need a shareable image, use the PCO conversion/export tool to save the file to a more common image format.
Full Windows guide

Mac

  1. Try opening the file with XnView/XnView MP if it is available on your Mac installation, since XnView lists PCO .b16 among supported formats.
  2. If the file does not open, transfer it to a workstation that has Excelitas/PCO conversion software and export it to a common format.
  3. Avoid using Preview as the only test; standard macOS image preview tools are not expected to understand this proprietary camera format.
Full Mac guide

Linux

  1. Try XnView/XnView MP if available for your Linux system, as XnView lists PCO .b16 as a supported image format.
  2. For technical workflows, use a script or analysis environment only if you have a B16 reader that follows the PCO file structure.
  3. If viewing fails, convert the file on a system with PCO software and then open the exported image in your normal Linux image viewer.
Full Linux guide

iOS

  1. iPhone and iPad do not normally preview PCO B16 files natively; send the file to a desktop system with compatible PCO or image-viewing software.
  2. If you receive the file by email or cloud storage, keep the original file intact and convert it on a desktop rather than renaming it.
Full iOS guide

Android

  1. Android gallery apps are not expected to open PCO B16 files directly; transfer the file to a desktop system with compatible software.
  2. If you need to view it on Android, first convert it on a desktop to a common format such as TIFF, PNG, or JPEG, depending on your workflow needs.
Full Android guide

Security notes

  • B16 is an image data format and is not known from the cited sources as a macro or script-carrying format, but malformed image files can still trigger bugs in vulnerable viewers, so use up-to-date software.
  • Open B16 files from untrusted sources in a non-critical environment first, especially if they will be processed by older camera or analysis software.
  • B16 headers include fields such as a comment field; check or remove embedded comments before sharing if they may contain sensitive experiment, operator, or project information.
  • Keep the original raw file unchanged when converting, so you can return to the source data if a viewer or converter applies scaling or contrast changes.

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Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .B16 files fail to open.

Common reasons

  • The .B16 file does not open in Photos, Preview, or a web browser
  • The image looks black, washed out, or very low contrast
  • Software says the file is not a valid B16 file
  • You need to use the data in MATLAB or another analysis workflow

Fix steps

  1. Open it with PCO-compatible software such as pco.camware, pco.fileconversion, or a viewer that lists PCO .b16 support such as XnView.
  2. If you only need to view or share it, convert or export it to a standard format using compatible software.
  3. Do not rename .b16 to .jpg, .png, or .tif; that does not convert the image data.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .B16 file?

The .B16 extension is registered with IANA as the image/vnd.pco.b16 media type. According to the PCO documentation, B16 is a 16-bit image format with a PCO- identifier, header fields, a comment field, little-endian data, and linear 16-bit pixel data. It is mainly associated with PCO cameras and pco.camware workflows.

Background

B16 files are typically produced by PCO cameras or by Excelitas/PCO camera software. The format is intended for high-bit-depth image capture, so it is common in scientific, industrial, laboratory, and imaging workflows where preserving raw 16-bit pixel values matters more than broad consumer compatibility.

Excelitas describes pco.camware as saving proprietary RAW files such as .b16 and .pcoraw, and the related pco.fileconversion tool as converting B16 files recorded with pco.camware or PCO cameras into other formats. This is often the safest route if you need to share the image with people who do not use PCO software.

Unlike JPEG or PNG, a B16 file may not display correctly in ordinary photo apps because the data is high-bit-depth and camera-specific. A compatible viewer or converter is needed to interpret the header and pixel data correctly.

Common MIME types: image/vnd.pco.b16

Further reading

Authoritative resources for more details on the .B16 format.

Common .B16 issues

The .B16 file does not open in Photos, Preview, or a web browser

B16 is a specialized PCO camera image format, not a common consumer photo format.

  1. Open it with PCO-compatible software such as pco.camware, pco.fileconversion, or a viewer that lists PCO .b16 support such as XnView.
  2. If you only need to view or share it, convert or export it to a standard format using compatible software.
  3. Do not rename .b16 to .jpg, .png, or .tif; that does not convert the image data.

The image looks black, washed out, or very low contrast

B16 files store 16-bit linear image data, so a viewer may need to scale the intensity range before the image looks normal on a screen.

  1. Look for display controls such as auto-levels, brightness/contrast, histogram stretch, or bit-depth scaling in your viewer.
  2. When exporting, choose settings that preserve the data if measurement accuracy matters, such as a high-bit-depth output format.
  3. If the image is for presentation only, export a contrast-adjusted copy rather than overwriting the original raw file.

Software says the file is not a valid B16 file

The file may be incomplete, corrupted, mislabeled, or not actually a PCO B16 image. The registered format uses a PCO- ASCII identifier.

  1. Confirm the file was fully copied or downloaded from the acquisition computer.
  2. Ask the sender whether it came from a PCO camera or pco.camware workflow.
  3. If you have technical tools, check whether the file begins with the expected PCO- identifier before troubleshooting the viewer.

You need to use the data in MATLAB or another analysis workflow

General image libraries may not read B16 automatically, so a format-specific importer may be needed.

  1. Use a B16 reader that follows the PCO manual structure, such as the MATLAB Central readB16 function if appropriate for your workflow.
  2. Validate imported dimensions, bit depth, and pixel values against the acquisition settings.
  3. For long-term exchange, consider converting to a documented scientific image format while preserving the original .B16 file.

FAQ

What program opens a .B16 file?

Use PCO-compatible software. Excelitas documents pco.camware as saving .b16 files and pco.fileconversion as converting B16 files. XnView also lists PCO .b16 among its supported image formats.

What is the MIME type for .B16?

The IANA-registered media type is image/vnd.pco.b16.

Can I convert .B16 to TIFF, PNG, or JPEG by renaming it?

No. Renaming only changes the filename extension. Use pco.fileconversion, pco.camware export features, or another compatible converter so the 16-bit image data is interpreted correctly.

Why is my B16 image not visible in normal photo apps?

Most standard photo apps do not support this proprietary PCO 16-bit raw image format. Use a compatible viewer or convert the file to a common image format.

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