Convert fingerprint images (WSQ) online for free
The converter easily converts your WSQ fingerprints to various formats - free and online. No Cognaxon WSQ Viewer or or other Raster Image software needed.
To convert other file formats to the "Biometric Image File" file type, you need software like Cognaxon WSQ Viewer or a similar tool.
The .wsq file extension stands for Wavelet Scalar Quantization, a specialized grayscale raster image format developed by the FBI and NIST. It is strictly used for storing high-resolution, 500 dpi fingerprint images. The algorithm was built to compress fingerprint records efficiently while preserving critical ridge details and minutiae that standard JPEG compression would destroy. These files are typically managed using biometric SDKs and viewers from specialized companies like Cognaxon.
The primary disadvantage of the .wsq format is its proprietary, niche nature. It is completely unsupported by standard operating systems, web browsers, and mainstream image editors like Adobe Photoshop. Users often encounter .wsq files during background checks or forensic data dumps and find themselves unable to view the contents without purchasing or installing expensive biometric software.
To view or share these images, conversion is mandatory. For quick web viewing or emailing, convert to JPG or PNG. For forensic archiving or high-quality printing where detail retention is crucial, convert to TIFF. Drop your file here to view and convert it securely right in your browser - free, online, and without installing software.
Use Convert.Guru to open and convert your WSQ file.
Users also converted WSG, TXT, BMP, JPG, PNG, ZIP, BIN, JPEG, SOR, TSX, INP, INDD and PDF files.
If you want to convert WSQ file to JPG, BMP, IMAGE or PNG, you can use Cognaxon WSQ Viewer or similar software from the "Fingerprint Image Compression" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to WSQ, try Cognaxon WSQ Viewer or another comparable tool in the "Fingerprint Image Compression" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our WSQ converter.