How to Open a Dicom File on iPhone or iPad

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

This wikiHow teaches you how to open a DICOM file on iPhone and iPad. DICOM (or .dcm files) contain digital images from a medical scan, such as an MRI, or ultrasound. ^{[1]
X
Research source} You can view DICOM files using the DICOM Viewer App.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Downloading and Installing DICOM Viewer App

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-1.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Open the App Store

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/5\/55\/Iphoneappstoreicon.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Iphoneappstoreicon.png\/30px-Iphoneappstoreicon.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":30,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an iOS icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

. The App Store is where you download and install new apps on your iPhone or iPad. It has a blue icon with a white capital "A". Tap the icon on your homescreen to open the App Store.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-2.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The Search tab is in the lower-right corner of the App Store. It has an icon that resembles a magnifying glass. This displays a page with a search bar.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-3.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The search bar is the grey bar in the center of the screen. Typing in the search bar displays a list of search results that match your text.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b8\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b8\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-4.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

As soon as DICOM Viewer App appears in the list of search results, tap it to display the DICOM Viewer App and similar apps in the App Store.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-5.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

This downloads and installs the DICOM Viewer App. The DICOM Viewer app has a blue icon with an image that resembles a stethoscope.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Opening Files in DICOM Viewer App

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-6.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Open the Files app

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/6\/62\/Iphonefilesapp01.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Iphonefilesapp01.png\/30px-Iphonefilesapp01.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":30,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an iOS icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

. The Files app has an icon that resembles a blue folder. It's in the Dock at the bottom of your homescreen. This opens the File app, which you can use to browse and open files on your iPhone or iPad, as well as other storage locations.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c3\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c3\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-7.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The Browse tab is the second tab at the bottom of the Files app. This displays the Locations menu in a bar to the left.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-8.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

3
Tap the Location the file is saved to. If the file is saved to your iPhone or iPad storage, tap On my iPhone/iPad . If it is saved to your iCloud drive, tap iCloud Drive . If the file is saved to a different cloud storage location, such as Google Drive, or Dropbox, you can tap that location as well.
- If the file is saved to a cloud-based storage service, such as Dropbox, or Google Drive, and it is not showing up in the Locations menu. Make sure you have the cloud-service app downloaded from the App Store and you are signed in to the app. Then tap Edit above the Locations menu, and tap the toggle switch next to the cloud-based service you want to display in the Locations menu.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-9.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

If the file is saved to a specific folder, tap that folder to display all the contents of the folder. Otherwise, scroll up and down to view all the files in your storage drive.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-10.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The Select button is in the upper-right corner of the Files app. This displays a radial button to the left of all items in the Files app.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-11.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6
Tap the radial button next to the left of a DICOM image. This selects the file. Selected files display a blue checkmark icon next to the file.
- You can select more than one item in the Files app, but DICOM Viewer App can only open one image at a time.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-12.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The Share button appears in the lower-left corner when you select an item in the Files menu. This button opens the Share menu, which lists apps you can use to open the file.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c8\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c8\/Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-13.jpg\/aid10698242-v4-728px-Open-a-Dicom-File-on-iPhone-or-iPad-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The second bar from the bottom of the Share menu lists apps you can use to open the file. If you do not see the DICOM Viewer App icon, swipe left in this bar to view more apps. Tap the icon to open the DICOM image file in DICOM Viewer App.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

Log in

How to Open a Dicom File on iPhone or iPad

Steps

Downloading and Installing DICOM Viewer App

Opening Files in DICOM Viewer App

Expert Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories