DST file what it is and how to open it

What a DST file is

A DST file is a machine embroidery design saved in the format created by Tajima, the Japanese maker of commercial embroidery machines. It's the most widely read embroidery format there is: Tajima, Barudan, SWF, Happy, Ricoma, ZSK and most other multi-needle machines accept it, which is why designers sell almost every design as a DST alongside other formats.

Inside, a DST file is a list of needle movements. Each one says how far to move the frame, up to 12.1 mm at a time, and whether to stitch, jump without stitching, or stop. A short header holds the design name, the stitch count and the design's extents. That's all.

What a DST file does not store matters just as much:

• Thread colours. It only marks where the machine should stop for the next colour. Whatever colours you see on screen are the program's guess.
• Trims as a separate command. A trim is written as a short run of jumps, which the machine reads as "cut the thread here" if its trim setting allows.
• The original shapes. It's a stitch file, not a working file. The outlines, fill types and lettering the digitiser used are gone, which is why big resizes don't work well.

How to open a DST file

On Windows or Mac

Use the viewer above: drag the file onto it, or click Choose a file. You'll see the design in colour, its size in millimetres and inches, the stitch count, colour changes and an estimated stitch time. Windows and macOS can't preview DST files on their own, so double-clicking one usually does nothing useful.

On an iPad or iPhone

Save the file to the Files app first (from Mail, tap the attachment and choose Save to Files). Then open this page in Safari, tap Choose a file and pick it from Files.

On an Android phone or tablet

Download the file, open this page in Chrome, tap Choose a file and pick it from Downloads.

On your embroidery machine

Copy the DST file to the top level of a USB stick, not inside a folder, and plug it into the machine. If the machine doesn't read DST, convert it to the format it needs first.

Common problems and how to fix them

The machine says it can't read the file, or doesn't show it

• It's still zipped. Designs bought online usually come as a .zip with every format inside. Unzip it on a computer and copy just the DST.
• Wrong format for the machine. Most home machines want their own format: PES for Brother, JEF for Janome, VP3 for Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking. Convert the DST.
• The USB stick. Many machines only read small sticks formatted as FAT32, and some only look in the top folder. Try a stick of 8 to 32 GB with the file in the top level.
• The file is damaged. If the viewer above can't open it either, download it again.

The colours are wrong

That's expected with DST: there are no colours in the file. Follow the colour chart or thread list that came with the design. If you're converting for a home machine, set the colours in the viewer first; they carry over into PES, VP3 and XXX files.

The design is too big for my hoop

Check the size in the viewer, then pick your machine and hoop under Hoop fit. If it doesn't fit, look for a smaller version from the seller; most sell 4×4, 5×7 and 6×10 inch sizes. Shrinking a DST by more than about 10% keeps the same number of stitches in less space, so it stitches stiff and dense. See hoop sizes by brand.

The machine doesn't trim between letters

Because DST writes trims as a run of jumps, the machine has to be set to trim on them. On commercial machines look for a setting like "jump code" or "trim after N jumps". Turn on Jump stitches in the viewer to see where the jumps are.

Machines and the files they need

DST works on the commercial machines in the last row. Home machines usually need their own format:

Last updated October 31, 2026