Affinity Photo
Also called affinity photo 2, serif photo
Serif's photo editor. Photo.exe is the process. It is not Photoshop. v2 is the standalone line. Canva later shipped a unified Affinity app.
What you need to know
Affinity Photo is Photo.exe. It is not Photoshop.
Serif's Photo.exe is a raster editor. Photoshop is Adobe. Canva later shipped a unified Affinity app. A .afphoto file belongs to this product family, not a PSD.
- What is it?
- Photo editor
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is Affinity Photo?
Affinity Photo is Serif's photo editor. A .afphoto document is native. The Windows executable for v2 is Photo.exe.
If you have never used it
Affinity Photo is Serif's raster photo editor. Photo.exe is the v2 app. It is not Photoshop. Canva acquired Serif and in 2025 launched a unified free Affinity app at affinity.studio. If Photo.exe is installed, that is still Affinity Photo 2. New downloads may be the unified app.
What is it used for?
Develop and retouch a camera file. Lightroom and Photoshop overlap. This is Photo.exe.
Masks and composites. Photoshop PSD import is compatibility, not Creative Cloud.
JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. The working file is .afphoto.
Who is it for?
- People who bought Affinity Photo 2
- Users avoiding a Photoshop subscription
- Anyone who now sees the unified Affinity app instead
Current status
v2 Photo.exe still runs for existing licenses. Canva's 2025 unified Affinity app is the new download path. This article is Photo.exe.
How old is it?
Serif shipped Affinity Photo in 2015 as a one-time-purchase editor. Photo 2 arrived in 2022. In 2024 Canva bought Serif. In 2025 Canva launched a unified free Affinity app. Existing Photo.exe installs remain the v2 line.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | Windows 10 May 2020 (2004) or later, 64-bit, per Serif v2 |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| Photo.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
Affinity Photo does not need to start with Windows.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\Affinity\Photo 2\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Unified app vs Photo.exe
affinity.studio is the 2025 unified download. Photo.exe is Affinity Photo 2. They are not the same Start tile.
PSD opened with missing smart objects
Compatibility is partial. Keep a PSD in Photoshop if those features matter.
Getting unstuck
Confirm Photo.exe
The v2 folder is Affinity Photo 2. Photoshop.exe is Adobe.
Use the Serif or Canva account that matches the install
A v2 product key does not unlock Photoshop.
MSIX vs MSI
Serif documents both Windows installers. Mixing them can break StudioLink.
Alternatives
Photoshop, GIMP, and the unified Affinity app overlap. Photoshop does not replace Photo.exe for a .afphoto file.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | affinity.serif.com/photo/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | affinity.help/photo2/ Vendor support |
| Official site | affinity.serif.com/photo/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
Serif lists 64-bit Windows 10 version 2004 or later for v2. Large RAWs want RAM.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Affinity Photo official site · Vendor product page
- Affinity Photo help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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