Why does one PSD open blank?

Because «Maximize Compatibility» was switched off when it was saved. That Photoshop option decides whether a flattened copy goes into the file; turning it off saves space, at the cost of every program other than Photoshop being unable to tell what the artwork looks like. For such a file this page says plainly that the PSD contains no composite preview, rather than handing you a black rectangle to puzzle over. The fix is to ask for a re-save with that box ticked.

Can I see the text inside the layers?

You can see what the text looks like, because it's in the composite. What this page doesn't do is turn text layers back into editable boxes — that's the editor's job. To copy the copy, or fix a typo, open the file in the online PSD editor, where text layers really are text.

How is this different from «PSD to PNG»?

The goal differs. Converting exists to produce a new file — to send, to attach, to drop into a document; that page ends at a download button. This page ends with you understanding the file and closing the tab, producing nothing. If it turns out you do need an image, go there afterwards; the two don't compete.

How large a file can it handle?

There's no limit we impose — memory is what stops you. A few hundred megabytes and a hundred layers is usually fine on a computer; on a phone it may crawl, or the tab may be reclaimed by the system. If a file genuinely won't open, asking for a flattened copy beats waiting it out here.

PSD viewer: open one without Photoshop, layer names and all

Someone sent you a .psd and you just want to know what's in it. That's all this page does — no editing, no export, no account.

or start a blank document

When a .psd lands in your inbox, the usual question isn't «how do I edit this» but «what is this, exactly» — is it the right version, are the layers tidy, is the canvas the size you asked for. Installing Photoshop for that is absurd, and uploading the file somewhere to get a preview back means it now sits on someone else's server. This page reduces the whole thing to one step: open it, look, close it.

The file never leaves your browser — parsing is plain JavaScript running on your machine, and you can check that yourself: open the Network panel in developer tools, drop the file in, and no request carrying its contents ever appears. Which is also why this page is safe for confidential artwork: there is no upload step to worry about.

Key features

The composite and the layer list, together

Not just a flat preview. Once it opens, every layer's name, nesting and visibility is listed in the layers panel — which is exactly what you need to judge whether the file was organised, and whether the layer you're after is even in there.

Missing fonts don't spoil it

This is the real advantage of looking over editing: viewing reads the composite the designer saved, where the text is already pixels, so whether you own the font makes no difference. The moment you start editing that text, a missing font becomes a problem.

Works on a phone

Parsing runs in the browser, and a phone browser can do it too. Look at the file on the way somewhere and reply before you get back to a desk. Large files are slower on a phone — that's memory, not a missing feature.

What comes after looking

There usually is a next step. If you need an image you can send on, go to PSD to PNG; if you do want to change something, just stay in the editor — the file is already open, no need to drop it again.

How to use

1
Drop the .psd into the box above

Clicking to pick a file works, so does Ctrl+V. .psb (the large-document format) opens too.
2
Look at the composite

What appears is what the designer saw when they saved: every visible layer, stacked.
3
Go through the layers panel

Each layer's name and visibility is listed on the right. Click an eye to hide one and see what sits underneath.
4
Close it — the original is untouched

There is no save step, so the .psd on your desktop is byte-for-byte what it was. Exporting is a separate thing you do only when you actually want a new file.

FAQ

Why does one PSD open blank?: Because «Maximize Compatibility» was switched off when it was saved. That Photoshop option decides whether a flattened copy goes into the file; turning it off saves space, at the cost of every program other than Photoshop being unable to tell what the artwork looks like. For such a file this page says plainly that the PSD contains no composite preview, rather than handing you a black rectangle to puzzle over. The fix is to ask for a re-save with that box ticked.
Can I see the text inside the layers?: You can see what the text looks like, because it's in the composite. What this page doesn't do is turn text layers back into editable boxes — that's the editor's job. To copy the copy, or fix a typo, open the file in the online PSD editor, where text layers really are text.
How is this different from «PSD to PNG»?: The goal differs. Converting exists to produce a new file — to send, to attach, to drop into a document; that page ends at a download button. This page ends with you understanding the file and closing the tab, producing nothing. If it turns out you do need an image, go there afterwards; the two don't compete.
How large a file can it handle?: There's no limit we impose — memory is what stops you. A few hundred megabytes and a hundred layers is usually fine on a computer; on a phone it may crawl, or the tab may be reclaimed by the system. If a file genuinely won't open, asking for a flattened copy beats waiting it out here.

Try PSD viewer: open one without Photoshop, layer names and all now

Runs fully in your browser · no install · no signup · images never uploaded