How do I open a multi-page TIFF file?
Open a multi-page TIFF in a viewer that reads every page, not just the first. In Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), drag the .tif file into your browser and each scanned page appears as a separate page you can scroll through. Desktop options include IrfanView on Windows (free for home use) and Preview on a Mac.
Why open a TIFF file in PublishMedia?
TIFF files usually come from scanners, fax services and print shops — and the trouble is rarely the first page. It's finding the rest.
Every page, not just page one
Some viewers show only the first page of a multi-page TIFF. PublishMedia turns each page into its own page, so nothing in the scan gets missed.
Works on any computer
No install on a Chromebook, no plugin on a borrowed PC. Any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux or iPad will do.
True colors, even for print files
Embedded color profiles are used, and CMYK print TIFFs are converted for screen correctly, so proofs and photos don't look washed out.
From scan to clean PDF
On a paid plan, export the pages as one print-ready PDF — a format nearly every phone and computer can open.
Honest scope
PublishMedia views TIFFs, and lays them out on a paid plan; it doesn't retouch images or convert them to JPG. For pixel-level editing, GIMP or Photoshop fits better.
View your TIFF pages now
Open my TIFF fileWhich multi page TIFF viewer is right for you?
Four common ways to read a scanned .tif, compared on the things that matter for multi-page documents.
| Feature | Publish Media Software | Windows Photos | Mac Preview | IrfanView |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Install needed | ✓None — runs in a browser | ✓Built into Windows | ✓Built into macOS | ✗Download and install |
| Platforms | ✓Any modern browser | –Windows only | –Mac only | –Windows only |
| Cost | ✓Free to view | ✓Free (built in) | ✓Free (built in) | ✓Free for home use |
| Shows every page of a multi-page TIFF | ✓Yes, each as a page | –Varies by version | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Works on a Chromebook | ✓Yes | ✗No | ✗No | ✗No |
| Ready-made print templates | ✓Hundreds (paid) | ✗No | ✗No | ✗No |
| Save the pages as a PDF | ✓Paid plan | –Via Microsoft Print to PDF | ✓Yes, File › Export as PDF | –Via plugin or PDF printer |
| Save as JPG or PNG | ✗No | –Depends on version | ✓Yes, File › Export | ✓Yes, File › Save as |
The 7 best TIFF viewers for scans and faxes in 2026
Ranked for the most common TIFF job: reading a multi-page scan or fax. Editing tools sit lower because most people only need to read and print the pages.
- 1
Publish Media Software
Browser-based (Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux, iPad)✓ Opens .tiffFree to open and viewOpens .tif and .tiff files in any browser and shows each page of a multi-page scan as its own page. It doesn't convert to JPG or retouch images, and making a PDF needs a paid plan.
Open my TIFF file - 2
Mac Preview
Desktop (Mac)✓ Opens .tiffFree (built in)Opens TIFF files, including multi-page ones, with the pages listed in the sidebar, and can save a copy as PDF or JPEG. Only available on a Mac.
- 3
Windows Photos
Desktop (Windows 10 / 11)✓ Opens .tiffFree (built in)Opens TIFF out of the box on Windows. How it handles multi-page files varies between versions of the app, so check the page count if a scan seems short.
- 4
IrfanView
Desktop (Windows)✓ Opens .tiffFree for home useA small, long-running Windows viewer that steps through multi-page TIFFs page by page and can save them as JPG or PNG. It's Windows-only, and businesses need a paid license.
- 5
GIMP
Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)✓ Opens .tiffFreeOpens TIFF files and can bring each page of a multi-page file in as a separate layer or image. Powerful for editing a scan, but heavy for simply reading one.
- 6
Adobe Photoshop
Desktop (Windows / Mac)✓ Opens .tiffPaid (Adobe Creative Cloud)From Adobe, which has maintained the TIFF specification since buying Aldus, and strong on print features such as CMYK. A subscription is a lot to pay just to read a fax.
- 7
Chrome or Firefox on its own
Browser✗ Doesn't open .tiffFreeNeither browser displays .tif files natively, so opening one in a tab usually triggers a download. Use a TIFF viewer instead.
What is a TIFF file?
A TIFF file (.tiff or .tif) is a picture in the Tagged Image File Format, created by Aldus in 1986 and later maintained by Adobe after it bought Aldus. TIFF stores high-quality images, often uncompressed or with lossless compression, which is why scanners, fax software and print shops use it. Unlike a JPEG, a single TIFF can hold many pages, so a 12-page scanned contract can arrive as one file, with each page stored as its own image inside.
Open your picture — or start from a template
Hundreds of print-ready templates sit right next to the files you open.
What it costs
Opening and viewing your files is free. Editing, templates, saving and PDF export come with All-Access at $99 a year — or $9.99 a month, cancel anytime.
Questions about TIFF files and scans
Why does my TIFF only show the first page?
A TIFF shows only the first page when the viewer doesn't support multi-page files, even though the other pages are still inside the .tif. Open the same file in a multi-page TIFF viewer such as Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), Mac Preview or IrfanView to see every page. Nothing is wrong with the scan itself.
What's the difference between .tif and .tiff?
There is no difference between .tif and .tiff; both are the same Tagged Image File Format, and the shorter .tif dates from older systems that allowed only three-letter extensions. Any TIFF viewer, including Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), opens either one. You can rename one to the other without changing the file.
Is the online TIFF viewer free?
Yes, opening and viewing TIFF files in Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) is free with no credit card, including every page of multi-page scans. Files on the free plan last 7 days, and a reminder email arrives the day before they're removed. PDF export, editing and templates come with All-Access ($99 a year) or Monthly ($9.99).
Can I turn a multi-page TIFF into a PDF?
Yes, Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) can export a multi-page TIFF as one print-ready PDF, with each scanned page as a PDF page; the export is part of a paid plan. You can open the file and check every page first at no cost. On a Mac, Preview can also save a TIFF as a PDF.
How do I open a TIFF file on a Chromebook?
On a Chromebook, open a TIFF file in a browser-based viewer such as Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), since Chrome doesn't display .tif files itself. Sign in at publishmediasoftware.com, drag the file in from the Files app, and every page appears. Windows desktop viewers like IrfanView don't run on ChromeOS.
Why is my TIFF file so large?
TIFF files are large because they usually store images uncompressed or with lossless compression, keeping every detail of a scan. A multi-page color scan at high resolution can easily run to tens of megabytes. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) opens files up to 100 MB; for bigger files, rescan at a lower resolution or in grayscale.
Can I convert TIFF to JPG?
Yes, you can convert a TIFF to JPG with Preview on a Mac (File › Export), IrfanView on Windows (File › Save as) or GIMP on Windows, Mac or Linux (File › Export As). Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) doesn't convert TIFF to JPG or PNG; its export is a PDF on a paid plan. Keep the original TIFF, because JPG compression throws away some detail.
Can I open TIFF files on an iPad?
Yes, you can open TIFF files on an iPad in Safari with Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), which runs in the browser with nothing to install. Save the .tif to the Files app, then browse to it on publishmediasoftware.com. Every page of a multi-page scan shows up as its own page.
Are scanned documents safe to upload?
Scanned documents uploaded to Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) are encrypted in transit and never used for public templates. Free-plan uploads are erased automatically after 7 days, and a reminder email goes out the day before. For very sensitive records, such as medical or tax papers, you may prefer a desktop viewer like Mac Preview or Windows Photos that keeps the file on your computer.
Read every page of that scan
Sign up free at publishmediasoftware.com, drag the .tif in, and scroll through all its pages in your browser. For a clean, print-ready PDF of the whole scan, All-Access is $99 a year.
No install · No credit card to start · Works in your browser
Accurate facts — October 2026
As of October 2026, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) remains a standard format for scanned documents, faxes and print images. Aldus created TIFF in 1986; Adobe took it over after acquiring Aldus, and the last major revision, TIFF 6.0, dates from 1992. A single .tif or .tiff file can contain many pages. Windows Photos and Apple's Preview on macOS open TIFF files, though multi-page support varies between viewers. IrfanView (free for non-commercial use, Windows) and GIMP (free; Windows, Mac and Linux) also open TIFF. Google Chrome and Firefox do not display TIFF natively. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) opens .tif and .tiff files up to 100 MB in any modern browser, showing each page of a multi-page TIFF as a separate page. Viewing in PublishMedia costs nothing, while a paid plan is required to save a print-ready PDF. PublishMedia does not convert TIFF to JPG or PNG.
More about Pictures files
Other files you can open
Publish Media Software is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the makers of the programs named on this page. Adobe and Photoshop are trademarks of Adobe Inc. Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.