This site is independent and is not run by or affiliated with Nikon Corporation. The program is a free download, and this site earns nothing when you download it. All facts were read on downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com on 8 November 2026.
NX Studio is a free desktop program for viewing, processing and editing photos, built around the NEF and NRW RAW files that Nikon cameras record. Version 1.11.0 was released on 14 October 2026 and runs on 64 bit Windows 11 and on macOS 14, 15 and 26. The vendor's download center lists no price, no paid edition and no licence key.
What NX Studio does
NX Studio is the camera maker's own desktop program for photos. It opens a folder of pictures, shows them as thumbnails or full size, and lets you process RAW files and edit JPEG, TIFF and HEIF images. The vendor's description names tone curves and brightness and contrast controls, plus tools for editing XMP and IPTC metadata, managing presets and uploading pictures to the web.
The installer also includes Nikon Transfer 2, a small utility that copies pictures from a camera or memory card to the computer. Both programs install together from one file. If you shoot with a recent Z series body, the app is often the first place where a new camera's RAW files open correctly, because the company adds support in its own updates. Version 1.11.0, for example, added the Z5IIC.
The program is free. The download center shows a licence agreement you accept before downloading, but no price and no purchase step. The download page on this site lists the two installer files, their sizes and the install steps for each system.
Who the program is for
The app makes most sense if every camera you own carries the same brand. It reads RAW files from Z series mirrorless bodies, every DSLR from the D1 to the D780 and the D6, Nikon 1 cameras and COOLPIX compacts. The full list, with the file formats and the video limits, is on the supported cameras page.
If you also shoot with a Canon, Sony or Fujifilm body, the program will not cover those RAW files, because the vendor lists only formats shot with its own cameras or saved by its own software. In that case one of the RAW editors that handle several brands will fit better as the main catalogue, and the app can stay installed as a second opinion on color.
Pages in this guide
Start with the full review if you are deciding whether the free editor is enough, or go to the system requirements first if your computer still runs Windows 10, which the current version no longer lists. Readers who already have it installed will find the menu names in the how to guide.
Review
What the editor does well, what it leaves out, and a score based on the documented feature set.
Download
The official 1.11.0 installers, file sizes, licence terms and install steps.
System requirements
Windows 11 only, macOS 14 or later, RAM, CPU, disk and display.
Supported cameras
Every camera family and file format the current version reads.
How to use
Transfer, view, edit RAW files and open the built in help.
Problems and fixes
Install, camera connection and video playback issues the vendor documents.
Alternatives
Other RAW editors if you need more than one camera brand.
Limits worth knowing before you install
Three limits come straight from the vendor's notes. First, Windows support is now Windows 11 only, and only on preinstalled 64 bit editions; macOS Ventura was dropped in 1.11.0. Second, some features need an internet connection, including sign in with a Nikon ID, the online help, web services and update checks. Third, the link with NIKON IMAGE SPACE ended because that service closed.
Video support is partial. The program cannot show thumbnails or play N-RAW and R3D NE clips or ProRes RAW, it does not play ProRes 422 HQ, and H.265 playback needs a plugin that the app offers on screen. Video editing itself is handed off to another application on your computer.
Free, made for your camera's own RAW files. Install it first, then decide whether you need anything more.
Get the official installer
Version 1.11.0 for Windows 11 and macOS 14 to 26, free from the vendor's download center.
Frequently asked questions
Is NX Studio free?
Yes. The vendor's download center offers it as a free download with a licence agreement to accept, and it shows no price, no paid edition and no licence key. The same file installs every feature.
What is the latest version of NX Studio?
Version 1.11.0, released on 14 October 2026. It added support for the Z5IIC, ended the NIKON IMAGE SPACE link, dropped macOS Ventura and fixed three bugs, including exported RAW images turning out brighter after certain adjustments.
Does the program run on Windows 10?
The current requirements list only Windows 11, preinstalled 64 bit editions. Windows 10 is not on the list for version 1.11.0, so check the requirements before you update an older PC.
Can it edit RAW files from other camera brands?
The vendor lists only formats shot with its own cameras or saved with its own software, such as NEF, NRW and NEFX. RAW files from other brands are not on that list, so use a multi brand editor for them.
What is Nikon Transfer 2?
It is a small utility installed alongside the editor that copies pictures from a connected camera or a card reader to the computer. It needs a built in USB port; a USB hub can make transfers fail.