OpenAnyFile
What is a .dgn file?
MicroStation Design File is a 3D/CAD format developed by Bentley Systems, first released in 1980. It is usually created by Bentley MicroStation.
Common in civil infrastructure and transport agencies; V8 files are OLE2 containers.
File details
| Full name | MicroStation Design File |
|---|---|
| Category | 3D & CAD |
| MIME type | image/vnd.dgn |
| Developer | Bentley Systems |
| Introduced | 1980 |
| Opens with | Compound file browser |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .dgn file
OpenAnyFile routes .dgn files to its compound file browser, which shows every internal stream, with previews and text where present.
- Drop your .dgn file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the compound file browser.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: every internal stream, with previews and text where present. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .dgn file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .dgn files
Can I open a .dgn file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .dgn files in your browser using its compound file browser. You get every internal stream, with previews and text where present, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .dgn file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. This format has no fixed signature, so the detected type and the readable content are the best clues. OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .dgn file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.