What is a DT2 file?
A .DT2 file can hold several different types of data. It is primarily known as a Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) Level 2 file. This format is used by geographic software and military systems to store 3D terrain elevation information.
However, the .DT2 extension is also used for completely unrelated data. It is sometimes a Windows Live Messenger Emoticon Image File or a wink animation created by Microsoft. In other cases, web browsers like Google Chrome use .DT2 files to store cached thumbnail images, which are often just hidden .PNG or .JPG files. Finally, the extension is also used to store strong motion displacement time series records from the PEER NGA Database.
How to open DT2 files?
You need the right software for your specific file. You can open geographic .DT2 files using specialized GIS software like Global Mapper. If your file is a browser cache image or a legacy messenger emoticon, standard image viewers might open it, but you may need to rename the file extension first.
Because .DT2 has multiple possible meanings, we recommend using viewer.online/dt2 to identify the actual format of your file. viewer.online/dt2 can analyze .DT2 files to identify the exact format and creator software, inspect the file structure, extract readable text, and check whether an online preview is available.
Best practices and file conversion
Do not force a file to open in an unsupported program. Identify the true format first. If you discover that your file is an image, we recommend file conversion to sensible target formats on convert.guru. You can convert cached images to standard .PNG or .JPG formats. If your file contains elevation data, specialized converters can export it to .DEM or .GeoTIFF formats.
Summary
viewer.online/dt2 is useful for identifying, inspecting, and understanding .DT2 files without installing software or dealing with compatibility problems. It provides a safe and easy way to determine exactly what your file is before you decide how to use it.