MRXS viewer alternative

3DHISTECH SlideViewer Alternative: Open MRXS Slides on Mac and Windows

Looking for SlideViewer? It is 3DHISTECH's free viewer for its MRXS slides, and the successor to CaseViewer. 3DHISTECH lists Windows requirements only. If you are on a Mac, or you want one viewer for MRXS alongside SVS, CZI, ND2 and DICOM, SlideScope opens MRXS slides locally on macOS and Windows, with nothing uploaded.

Download SlideScopeHow to open MRXS files
macOS and WindowsMRXS, SVS, NDPI, CZI, ND2Slides stay on your computer

How to open an MRXS slide in SlideScope

  1. Download SlideScope for macOS 14 or later (Apple Silicon or Intel) or Windows 10/11, install it, and sign in with a free account.
  2. Copy the complete slide to a local disk: the .mrxs file and the folder with the same name next to it, which holds Slidedat.ini, the index file (usually Index.dat) and the Data*.dat files. Do not rename either one.
  3. Open the .mrxs file in SlideScope, or drag it into the viewer. Open the .mrxs, not the folder or a .dat file.
  4. Pan and zoom through the slide, use the overview navigator to move around, check the slide metadata, and make calibrated measurements or annotations.

If only the .mrxs file arrives, the slide cannot open: it is a small index, and the pixels live in the data folder. SlideScope checks for that folder and tells you what is missing. MRXS slides must be opened from local storage; they are not supported through remote links. Full limits are on the file compatibility page and in the MRXS guide.

SlideViewer and SlideScope compared

 3DHISTECH SlideViewerSlideScope
PlatformsWindows 10 22H2 Professional 64-bit or newer. No macOS version listedmacOS 14 or later (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows 10/11
PriceFree downloadPaid subscription, with a free account preview and a 3-day trial (pricing)
Slide formatsMRXS, DICOM, SVS, Roche TIF “and more”MRXS, SVS, NDPI, SCN, BIF, DICOM, TIFF and OME-TIFF, plus CZI, ND2, LIF and IMS microscopy files
How MRXS is read3DHISTECH's own viewer for its formatThrough the open-source OpenSlide library
Where slides are viewedDesktop applicationDesktop application; MRXS opens from local storage only
Annotations and measurementAnnotations and measurement toolsCalibrated measurements and saved annotations
Other listed tools3D Z-stack viewing, polarization imaging, TMA core toolsOverview navigator, metadata panel, brightness, contrast and channel controls

SlideViewer facts come from 3DHISTECH's own pages, checked on 27 September 2026; see the sources below.

When SlideViewer is still the better choice

If you are on Windows and your slides all come from 3DHISTECH scanners, SlideViewer is free and built by the company that makes the format, with tools such as TMA core marking and Z-stack viewing that SlideScope does not try to copy. It is also the safer choice for multichannel fluorescence MRXS scans: SlideScope reads MRXS through OpenSlide, and QuPath's format documentation notes that OpenSlide's MRXS support is limited to 2D, 8-bit RGB slides without JPEG-XR compression. The brightfield slides in our format benchmark all opened. If you need a free viewer on a Mac, QuPath is free and open source. For a wider look, see the whole slide image viewer comparison.

SlideViewer and MRXS questions

Is there a 3DHISTECH SlideViewer for Mac?

3DHISTECH lists Windows system requirements for SlideViewer (Windows 10 22H2 Professional 64-bit or newer) and no macOS version. To open MRXS slides on a Mac, use a macOS viewer that reads MRXS, such as SlideScope (macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel) or the free, open-source QuPath.

Why won't my MRXS file open?

Almost always because only the .mrxs file was copied. An MRXS slide is the .mrxs file plus a folder with the same name next to it, holding Slidedat.ini, the index file (usually Index.dat) and the Data*.dat files with the pixels. Copy the .mrxs and that folder together, keep their names unchanged, and open the .mrxs again.

Can I open MRXS files without registering?

When we checked on 27 September 2026, 3DHISTECH offered SlideViewer 2.9.0 as a direct download on its partners portal. SlideScope downloads without an account, but opening files requires signing in to a free SlideScope account. QuPath is free and needs no account.

Is SlideScope free?

SlideScope is a paid app with a free preview.

Create a free account and sign in to preview 3 local images. Eligible accounts can start a free 3-day trial with full access after approving a PayPal or card subscription. For the individual monthly plan, billing starts at $25/month when the trial ends unless you cancel beforehand. Cancel anytime from your account. Annual billing is available at $249.99/year, which works out to about two months free.

Does SlideScope upload my slides?

No. SlideScope reads MRXS slides from your own disk, and MRXS slides can only be opened from local storage. Optional features such as AI Analysis or shared links are separate, and only run when you choose to use them.

Try it free on your own files

Open your own MRXS slides in SlideScope and decide from real review work, not a feature list. Already decided? Subscribe now.

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