IGS File Extension

IGES Drawing Format

File Type igs
Popularity
4.3 (37 votes)
Application CATIA
Category CAD, CAM and CAE Files
Format Text

What is a IGS file?

The IGS extension is related to IGES Drawing Format and is classified in the CAD, CAM and CAE Files category, which contains 148 files.

IGS files are supported by Windows, Mac OS and Linux. If you need to open a IGS file, you can use one of 47 programs, such as CATIA, Autodesk Inventor and Afanche 3D Viewer.

MIME types

model/iges
application/iges

How to open a IGS file?

If you’re having difficulty opening a IGS file, it is often due to not having the correct software. To solve the problem, choose a compatible program from the list. Then follow the link to the official developer site, download the software, and install it on your device.

CATIA, Autodesk Inventor and Afanche 3D Viewer stand out as the preferred programs to manage IGS files effectively. To get the latest version of CATIA, open the Dassault website where a universal installer for all operating systems is available.

When you finish installing CATIA, the system will automatically launch IGS files with it.

Setting CATIA as default IGS viewer

Change the default app for a file type in Mac

Initiate a right click or use Control + left click on the desired IGS file to open a menu where you can select various actions;
Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
At the bottom of the window, you will see the "Enable" menu. It is already set to the default option, "Recommended Programs";
Within this menu, select "All Programs" and then search for CATIA. Check the box next to "Always open in app" to make it the default program.

Set default programs for Windows

Start by right-clicking on your IGS file, then select "Open With" and continue by clicking "Choose another app" from the options provided;
Choose CATIA from the available applications listed in the pop-up window to set it as the default application to open your IGS file;
Be sure to check the "Always use this app" checkbox, and then click "OK" to confirm your selection.

Convert files to and from IGS

If a IGS file is difficult to handle, you might try converting it to formats such as DXF, DWG, JPG, JPEG, OBJ or similar, which may be easier to work with.

Be aware that converting a IGS file may reduce some features, but you can usually revert it to the original format.

Offline software options such as Autoconverter and AnyCAD Exchange3D guarantee lossless conversion of IGS files.

Convert IGS to other file formats

Converting Files to IGS Format

Tips and tricks to solve problems with IGS files

When facing challenges with IGS files, simple adjustments in your software can often solve the problem. Find helpful troubleshooting guidance below.

What are the methods to detect if my IGS file has been corrupted?

IGS cad, cam and cae files that have become corrupted may display one or more of the following symptoms:

Unexplained IGS file size inflation;
CATIA or other programs stop responding or crash when trying to handle the file;
When opening the file, errors occur or the inability to access its contents;
While working with the file, error alerts are encountered;
The file exhibits poor performance during editing operations in CATIA;

Why does CATIA quit or crash unexpectedly?

Insufficient software updates can contribute to CATIA crash. To avoid this, make sure that you have installed the latest updates for Dassault products.

Restarting your computer is an essential troubleshooting step that can resolve many common problems. It is recommended to restart your computer before making any changes to the software settings.

What methods can be used to repair a damaged IGS file?

Open the damaged IGS file in a recovery program and select the "Repair" menu item to start the repair operation. Allow the recovery process to complete, which will automatically repair the damaged cad, cam and cae files.

How to edit a IGS file?

To make changes to IGS files, you need specialized software that allows both opening and editing the cad, cam and cae files. Online IGS editors offer fewer capabilities than applications optimized for IGES Drawing Format.

Best IGS Editor Software in 2026

After analyzing the criteria, we have created a list of IGS editors available for use.

IGS Editor Software	Developer	Platforms	Overall Rating
ZEMAX	ZEMAX Development	Windows	4.9 out of 5 (35 reviews)
CATIA	Dassault	Windows	4.7 out of 5 (41 review)
TopSolid	TopSolid	Windows	4.7 out of 5 (36 reviews)
TurboCAD	IMSI Design	Windows, Mac OS	4.2 out of 5 (37 reviews)
Autodesk Inventor	Autodesk	Windows	4.1 out of 5 (44 reviews)