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Snapseed RAW Photo Not Opening or Stuck Loading

Workaround available iOS, iPadOS, Android Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

RAW files that spin forever or fail with 'Couldn't load photo' usually mean an older Snapseed build or an unsupported RAW format. Update to Snapseed 4.1 or later, open the DNG through a file manager, and restart the phone before retrying.

Most likely fix: Update to Snapseed 4.1 or newer.

Symptoms

A RAW/DNG photo stays on the loading circle, shows 'Couldn't load photo', opens the JPEG version instead, or the app freezes as soon as the RAW opens.

Why it happens

  • Snapseed version older than 4.1, which only handled DNG on Android
  • A camera RAW format the new engine doesn't fully support yet
  • The file picker shows the JPEG, not the DNG, when the phone saves RAW+JPEG
  • Large RAW file on a phone low on memory
  • Phone camera firmware writing a RAW variant Snapseed can't read (e.g. some Samsung Expert RAW files, fixed by a phone update)

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

  1. 1. Update to Snapseed 4.1 or newer

    1. Update Snapseed in Google Play or the App Store
    2. Snapseed 4.1 adds ARW, CR3, NEF, RAF, ORF, PEF and DNG on Android; the rollout is staged, so check again after a few days

  2. 2. Pick the DNG file directly

    1. In Snapseed tap Add Photo / Open
    2. Switch from the default picker to a file manager (Files) and browse to the DNG
    3. If your camera saves RAW+JPEG, make sure you select the .dng, not the .jpg

  3. 3. Restart the phone before opening the RAW

    1. Restart to free memory
    2. Open only Snapseed and load the RAW file

  4. 4. Update the phone's software

    1. Install the latest system and camera updates; one Samsung Expert RAW load error was fixed by a monthly update

  5. 5. Convert unsupported RAW files to DNG

    1. If your camera's format still fails, convert it to DNG on a computer and open the DNG in Snapseed
    2. Report the camera model to the Snapseed team, who asked for RAW bug reports

This guide also covers

  • snapseed raw not opening
  • snapseed raw stuck loading
  • snapseed couldn't load photo
  • snapseed dng not working
  • snapseed raw freeze

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