Free MRI Viewer — Open Your Scan in the Browser
View supported MRI DICOM images locally in a current desktop browser. Loading time depends on the study and your device. No scan upload.
- Free forever
- No upload, no install
- Viewer needs a 1200px-wide window
What is an MRI scan?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Unlike a CT or X-ray, an MRI scanner uses a powerful magnet and radio waves (no radiation) to produce highly detailed images of soft tissue: brain, spinal cord, joints, organs.
A typical MRI study isn't a single image. It's a series of “slices”, usually 100 to 1000 of them, each showing a thin cross-section of the body. Multiple sequences (T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI, etc.) capture different tissue properties, and each sequence is its own stack of slices.
That's why opening an MRI on your computer is harder than opening a JPEG. The files are organised as a folder, sometimes with cryptic names like IM-0001-0001, and a normal photo app can't navigate the slice stack. OpenMyScan reads the whole folder at once and lets you scroll through your scan exactly the way a radiologist does.
How to view your MRI on OpenMyScan
Four steps. Loading time varies with study size, file encoding and your device.
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Step 1 — Find the DICOM folder
On your hospital CD or USB, look for a folder named DICOM, IMAGES, or your patient ID. Inside, you'll see hundreds of files with no extension or .dcm extension. That's the one.
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Step 2 — Copy it to your desktop (recommended)
CDs can read slowly. Copy the complete folder to a local drive first so the browser can access the files reliably.
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Step 3 — Drop it into OpenMyScan
The browser reads the study locally. Wait for the series list and first image to appear; larger studies can take longer.
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Step 4 — Navigate
Use the slice slider or left/right arrow keys to move through slices. Adjust brightness and contrast from the sidebar. Switch sequences if your study has multiple.
What MRI sequences mean
Your MRI report often references sequence names like T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI, or STIR. Each is a different way of measuring the same tissue, and each highlights different things.
- T1-weighted: anatomy is clear; fat is bright, water is dark
- T2-weighted: water and inflammation are bright; useful for spotting fluid
- FLAIR: like T2 but with cerebrospinal fluid suppressed; common for brain MRIs
- DWI (Diffusion-Weighted): highlights restricted water movement; sensitive to stroke
- Contrast-enhanced (post-Gadolinium): shows blood flow and certain tumours
OpenMyScan displays each sequence as its own stack. You can switch between them in the sidebar. Don't try to interpret which sequence shows what. That's your radiologist's job. But knowing the names helps you follow your report.
Questions people actually ask
What if my MRI has multiple sequences?
OpenMyScan detects them automatically. You'll see each sequence in the sidebar. Click to switch between them.
Can I view contrast-enhanced MRIs?
Yes. Contrast (Gadolinium) MRIs are stored as standard DICOM and display normally.
My MRI shows up too dark or too bright. What do I do?
Use the brightness and contrast sliders in the sidebar. For a quick fix, click “Easy view”. It auto-adjusts for typical MRI display.
Is the slice ordering correct?
OpenMyScan reads the DICOMDIR or sorts by image position. If slices look out of order, your hospital may have exported the files unusually. Let us know.
Can I export my MRI as images?
Yes. Save-as-image and ZIP export are both included free.
Will OpenMyScan tell me if something is wrong?
No. OpenMyScan shows you the same images your radiologist sees, but it doesn't interpret them. Always read your scan with your doctor's report.