How to Repair Damaged ARW File Formats? [Solved In 2024]

Entertainment and recreation revolve around our mobile phones and systems now, all because of pandemic situations. This enhances the pressure on file formats that save and previews our images and videos. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to know about different file formats and their uses. For this article, allow us to bring ARW file format on the radar.

The use of such formats often leads to them getting damaged or corrupted. This article makes sure that if you run into this problem ever in your life, the methods never leave your side and help you out of this fix in seconds.

So, without delaying this any further, let us initiate this!

Part 1. What Is An ARW File?

The first question that crosses our mind is "What is an ARW File?" The ARW format is raw imagery that has not undergone any manipulation and processing. Used by Sony Digital Cameras, this file format is saved by TIFF specifications. Their size is comparatively larger, which makes it hard to open them easily, and they need a specialized program to keep up with the editing and processing.

There are several modes to convert ARW file formats into other legible formats. You can make use of file converters and tools to enhance the usage of your imagery.

Part 2. How Does An ARW File Use For?

The next concern that has to be addressed revolves around the use of the ARW file format. The ARW files are used to edit and export into compressed file imagery. These file formats include JPEG, GIF, and PNG, etc. However, as captured by the Sony Digital camera, the imagery is of high and significant quality that means specialized software has to be provided to edit and process it.

These file formats are compatible with Windows 8,9, and 10. Before dealing with this format, the user is advised to keep Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop in the loop. It will lubricate the process, pretty enchanting now, don't you agree?

Part 3. Why ARW File Get Corrupted?

Is your ARW file damaged? Are you looking for the root causes that corrupted your ARW file format? Worry no more. With this section, the user will comprehend all the known and unknown reasons for the occurrence of this problem. Understanding these problems is important to solve and avoid them. So, let us get right into the crux of the section.

Broken Header

In most cases, the header of the ARW file format is broken and damaged. This renders the ARW file completely useless and corrupted.

Outdated Drivers

The drivers of the system in use are outdated that brings damage to your ARW file. It is highly advised to update them to avoid any inconvenience in the future.

Bad Sectors

We often make use of storage media devices like USB drives, SD cards, Memory cards, Pen drives, and hard drives for sharing data. If any of them have bad sectors, it results in ARW file imagery getting infected.

Virus and Malware Attacks

The presence of a virus or malware in the system or in storage media becomes a leading cause of the corruption of ARW files. The user is instructed to ensure virus-free storage devices.

System Crash

Any sudden system crash during the downloading and transfer of these files corrupted them and created inconvenience for the user.

Part 4. 2 Tested Methods Fix Corrupted ARW Files

If you are looking for methods that will repair and fix your damaged ARW files, this is where your questions will be answered. Following are 2 tested methods, so the user is suggested to follow each of them thoroughly to get the best results.

Method 1: Using Wondershare Repairit Photo Repair Tool

Most people prefer a tool and software that works like magic in repairing their corrupted files. Handling problems of the same nature and repairing corrupted files of all sorts, Wondershare Repairit Photo Repair Tool takes the market with a storm. If you are not familiar with the use of this software, just follow the simple set of instructions devised for you.

Wondershare Repairit - Photo Repair

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1,010,994 people have downloaded it.

• Repair damaged photos with all levels of corruption, such as grainy photos, dark photos, pixelated photos, faded photos, etc.

• Repair images of 15+ different formats, such as JPG, JPEG, PNG, CR3, CR2, NEF, NRW, etc.

• The "AI Image Upscaler" feature can enlarge the repaired photos to 2X, 4X, and 8X.

• Intelligently restore old/scatched photo and colorize black and white photos with various AI effects.

• No limit to the damaged photo number, size, and format.

• Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 14.

Step 1 Add damaged or corrupt photos

Simply launch Wondershare Repairit on your Windows PC and go to the “Photo Repair” feature from the sidebar.

Now, click on the "Add" button that would load a browser window. You can now go to the location where your corrupt photos are saved and load them on the application.

Step 2 Repair and preview your photos

Click on the “Repair” button and wait as the application would implement its unique algorithm to fix the loaded photos. When the repairing process would be completed, the application will let you know about the result.

You can also just click on the thumbnail of the image to open its preview window. This will let you view the results, and you can check if the standard repairing process was successful or not.

Here you can also enalrge the repaired photos to 2x, 4x, or 8x by using the "AI Image Upscaler" feature.

Step 3 Save the repaired photos

Lastly, you can simply click on the “Save” button on the preview panel to export your photo. You can also go back, select multiple pictures, and click on the “Save All” button.

Advanced Photo Repair (Optional)

If the corrupt photos failed to be repaired, they must be severely damaged. In the case, you need to choose "Advanced Repair". Adding photo template with the same data structure, it will help to repair severely damaged photos.

Method 2: Using Adobe Photoshop

Allow me to introduce you to another amazing solution to fix ARW corrupted files. You can have them viewed and exported in other software like Adobe Photoshop, File Viewer Plus, and Adobe Lightroom. To open the files in Adobe Photoshop, follow the steps below:

1. Download Adobe Photoshop's updated version.

2. Go to the location where the ARW file is saved.

3. Right-click on the imagery. From the menu bar that appears, click on "Open with Adobe Photoshop."

4. It will open the desired image in the software and get you out of the fix in seconds.

Method 4: Using Sony's Imaging Edge

Another solution at your disposal that works like most of the time. The use of Sony's Imaging Edge allows the user to "View" and "Edit" options that plays an essential role in processing corrupted ARW files. Just follow the steps below for the desired results.

1. From the "Edit" feature, display the targeted ARW file format.

2. Tap on the "Export" button.

3. Moving on, the user is advised to insert the file type, compression, color space, and image size in the input.

4. Hit the "Save" button, and there you go!

Bonus Tip: Convert the ARW to Another Format (for Normal ARW file)

The methods mentioned above has told us how to fix and restore corrupt ARW files. This part will talk about how to convert the ARW format to another one, like JPG, PNG, GIF, etc. To do this, you have to install Wondershare UniConverter in your system. Follow the steps below carefully:

1. Open the software in your system.

2. Tap on 'Toolbox' from the left panel.

3. From there, hit on 'Image Converter.'

4. Now, the user is advised to add the file that needs to be converted into DNG, JPEG file format. Just drag the file or browse it by clicking on the (+) icon in the center of the interface.

5. The file will appear in the thumbnail with options. You can add any effects to your file and edit it according to your wish.

6. In the final step, the user has to choose the desired file format. The option will be located in the top right corner. Save the file in any location of your PC, and then hit the "Convert" button.

Conclusion

The article covered the uses of ARW file format, the background causes of occurrence of corrupted imagery, and the methods to get the user out of this fix. You can make use of Wondershare UniConverter, open in Adobe Photoshop, use Sony's Imaging edge and unique software Wondershare Repairit Photo Repair Tool.