About the SVG Viewer
SVG is a text-based image format used for logos, icons and illustrations. This SVG viewer lets you paste SVG code or open an .svg file and see the result straight away, on a checkerboard background that shows transparent areas. It reads the width, height and viewBox, reports the file size and warns if the code contains scripts, which are never run in the preview. When you are happy, download the image as a PNG at 1x, 2x or 4x size with a transparent, white or black background, or save the tidied SVG. Everything happens in your browser, so your artwork is never uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the SVG Viewer
- 1Choose an SVG file, or paste SVG code into the box.
- 2Check the preview and the size shown under it.
- 3Edit the code and watch the preview update.
- 4Choose a PNG size and background.
- 5Press Download PNG, or Download SVG to save the code.
What SVG is good for
- Logos and icons that stay sharp at any size
- Simple illustrations and diagrams
- Charts exported from design tools
- Small file sizes compared with large PNGs
- Styling and animation with CSS on a web page
Exporting to PNG well
Pick the size you need on the page and use 2x for sharp images on modern screens. Choose a transparent background for logos you will place on coloured pages, white for documents and slides, and black for dark layouts. Some apps and platforms do not accept SVG at all, so a PNG is the practical choice for social media, email and many upload forms.
Related tools
The SVG to PNG tool converts files in bulk, the PNG to SVG tool traces simple images, the Image Converter handles other formats, the Favicon Generator makes icons for a site and the Code Beautifier tidies messy markup. For text-based formats, the HTML Viewer previews web pages.
Features
- Instant preview of pasted or opened SVG
- Checkerboard background for transparency
- Width, height, viewBox and file size
- Download as PNG at 1x, 2x or 4x
- Transparent, white or black PNG background
- Scripts in SVG never run
- Runs in your browser; files are not uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I open an SVG file?
Press Select SVG file and choose it, or open the file in a text editor, copy the code and paste it into the box. Browsers can also open SVG files directly, but this tool gives you the code, the size and PNG export in one place.
Why does my SVG look blank?
Common causes are a missing viewBox or width and height, shapes drawn outside the visible area, a fill the same colour as the background, or code that is cut off before the closing svg tag. The tool reports the last case. Check the viewBox first, since it sets the visible area.
How do I convert SVG to PNG?
Choose a scale and a background, then press Download PNG. The tool draws the SVG onto a canvas at that size and saves it. Use 2x or 4x for sharper results on high-resolution screens. PNG sizes are limited to 8,000 pixels on the long side.
Is it safe to open an SVG from an unknown source?
SVG files can contain scripts. In this viewer the image is shown as a picture, where scripts do not run, and the tool warns you if it finds script or event code. Still, be careful about using such files elsewhere, for example inline in a web page.
What is the viewBox?
The viewBox defines the coordinate system and the area of the drawing that is shown, as four numbers: minimum x, minimum y, width and height. If an SVG has a viewBox but no width and height, the tool uses the viewBox size to work out the display size.
Does the tool change my SVG?
Only by adding the xmlns attribute when it is missing, because images will not display without it. The downloaded SVG is otherwise your code as written. For optimising or minifying, use a dedicated tool.