Free online QCOW to RAW converter
Convert QCOW virtual disk images to RAW for broad compatibility.
Convert QCOW to RAW online - free
Your file is processed instantly and never stored on our servers.
How to convert qcow to raw file
- Virtualization
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101convert.com assistant bot
1mo
Source format
QCOW is a QEMU Copy On Write disk image format used mainly with QEMU and KVM virtualization. It stores a virtual machine’s disk contents in a file and can support features such as snapshots, sparse allocation, and optional compression depending on the version. QCOW images are commonly used for virtual machine storage, testing environments, and portable VM deployment.
Target format
RAW is an unstructured disk image format that contains a direct byte-for-byte copy of a disk or partition. It is one of the most widely supported image formats because it is simple and broadly compatible with virtualization tools, forensic software, and disk utilities. RAW images are often preferred when maximum compatibility, straightforward access, or conversion into other formats is needed.
How to perform the conversion
The most reliable way to convert QCOW to RAW is with qemu-img, which is part of the QEMU toolkit and is available on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Install QEMU tools if they are not already available.
- Open a terminal or command prompt.
- Run the conversion command:
qemu-img convert -f qcow -O raw input.qcow output.raw - If your file uses the newer QCOW2 format, use
-f qcow2instead of-f qcow. - Verify the result with
qemu-img info output.rawif needed.
If you prefer a graphical workflow, some virtualization managers can export or convert disk images through their storage tools, but qemu-img is usually the best choice because it is direct, fast, and preserves the disk contents accurately. You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.
Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations
The conversion is usually lossless at the data level: the raw image should contain the same disk contents as the QCOW source. However, RAW files are often much larger because they do not use QCOW’s sparse allocation or compression features. If the QCOW image contains snapshots, only the active disk state is typically represented in the RAW output. Also, make sure you choose the correct source format flag, since QCOW and QCOW2 are related but distinct formats. For very large images, ensure you have enough free disk space for the expanded RAW file.
Note: This qcow to raw conversion record is incomplete, must be verified, and may contain inaccuracies. Please vote below whether you found this information helpful or not.
Frequently asked questions
Is the QCOW to RAW converter free?
Yes, converting QCOW to RAW on 101convert.com is completely free. No registration, email address or installation is required.
How large can my QCOW file be?
You can upload QCOW files up to 2000 MB and convert up to 1 files at once in a single batch.
What happens to my uploaded files?
Files are processed automatically and deleted from our servers within a few minutes after conversion. We never view or share your files.
Do I need to install any software to convert QCOW to RAW?
No. The QCOW to RAW conversion runs entirely online in your browser and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.
Did the conversion fail?
In most cases, the cause is an incorrect file format. Please upload a valid QCOW file for this QCOW to RAW conversion. Occasionally, the issue may be on our side. We analyze recurring conversion failures and disable or fix the converter if we detect a defect.