Nik Collection by DxO download gives you DxO’s plugin suite (Color Efex, Silver Efex, Analog Efex, Viveza, HDR Efex, Sharpener, Dfine). Current major is Nik Collection 9 (announced April 2026). Official: nikcollection.dxo.com and dxo.com. One installer; hosts are Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, DxO PhotoLab, plus standalone for some apps. v9 is a perpetual DxO licence, not a Google 2016 free pack. “Nik 9 unlocked” is not DxO. The old Google 1.2.11 giveaway is a different, frozen product.

Screenshots

Download Nik Collection by DxO for Windows

Official download from DxO. First, install Photoshop / Lightroom / PhotoLab. Next, install Nik 9. Then, activate with the DxO key. Finally, use Filter → Nik Collection.

Download Nik Collection 9 for Windows

Windows 10 22H2 / Windows 11 24H2 · Nik 9 · Perpetual v9

Setup guide: Setup and installation.
Product: nikcollection.dxo.com.
Learn / FAQ: dxo.com/en/nik-collection/learn.
Do not run Nik_Collection_9_Full.exe. That is not DxO.

For example, work PCs: 3 activations, one PC at a time, Mac+PC same key (DxO FAQ).

Install Nik 9 · Keep Nik 8 beside it? · Already licensed?

If you searched for “Nik Collection 9 full,” “Google Nik free 2026,” or “activated”

First of all, there is no extra unlocked plugin pack.

• First, buy / trial from DxO
• Next, download Nik Collection 9 from your DxO account
• Then, quit Photoshop / Lightroom
• After that, install
• Finally, activate

However, a “Nik 9 pre-activated” folder plus a patched .8bf is stolen licensing. In addition, grey-market keys are often recycled.

Google Nik 1.2.11 (2016) is the last free Google build — not Nik 9, not supported by DxO, and a poor fit on Windows 11. However, don’t confuse the two.

From 6.3 onward DxO allows two majors side by side (e.g. 8 and 9). However, 9.1 replaces 9.0.

Your download should start on dxo.com

For example, if the EXE is 40 MB named Nik9_Plugins_Pack, leave.

What to do next

1. First, sign in at DxO → Nik Collection download.
2. Next, close PS / LR / PhotoLab.
3. Then, run the Nik 9 installer.
4. After that, restart the host.
5. Finally, Photoshop: Filter → Nik Collection. Lightroom: File → Plug-in Extras.

For example, typical folder: C:\Program Files\DxO\Nik Collection (confirm in the installer).

However, you generally cannot pick only Silver Efex on current DxO — it’s the suite.

Windows may warn you. Check the publisher.

• First, publisher should read DxO Labs.
• Next, SmartScreen can appear on a new 9.x setup. Use More info only if the signature is DxO.
• However, do not turn off Defender to “register Color Efex.”
• Finally, AI / Depth Masks want a discrete GPU (see below).

Pick the right Windows file

Not this download

• “Nik 4 Google portable”
• Imagenomic labelled Nik
• macOS DMG on this Windows page

Trial and licence

First, a DxO trial, then perpetual Nik 9 (free updates within 9). Upgrade pricing from 7/8 is on their shop. Cancel nothing if perpetual. Finally, activations: DxO support if you run out.

However, a $20 “Nik 9 lifetime 2026” key is not DxO.

Will it run on this PC?

According to the Nik 9 guide (Aug 2026): Win11 24H2 or Win10 22H2, Intel 10th-gen / Ultra 7 165H / Ryzen 4-core, 16 GB RAM, 16 GB disk, 1280×768. AI / Depth Masks: RTX 2000 6 GB or RX 6000 8 GB (Intel Arc 8 GB also listed on the JP mirror). Recommended: 8-core, 32 GB, 50 GB, 1080p, RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB. Therefore, hosts must be installed first.

Already installed? First, use Help → Check for Updates inside a Nik app. In other words, you do not hunt a second “9 full.”

Install, first Color Efex, and activate

First run

1. First, open Photoshop or Lightroom Classic.
2. Next, confirm Nik Collection appears.
3. Then, Color Efex on a photo you own.
4. After that, save a recipe.
5. Finally, Help → About = 9.x.

Finally, uninstall: DxO / Apps. Remove one major at a time if 8 and 9 coexist.

If it did not work

• Duplicate / missing filters — first, host was open during install.
• No AI masks — next, GPU below the floor.
• Finally, 30 MB Nik9_Unlocked — leave.

Why people still buy official Nik 9

• Color Efex + Silver Efex in one DxO key
• 9 adds Depth / AI masks
• Perpetual within the major

However, it will not replace a full raw converter.

Questions before you trust the installer

Is this the official file? In short, yes if it came from dxo.com / your DxO account and the publisher is DxO Labs.

Is Nik 9 free? In short, no. Google 2016 is the old free suite.

8 and 9 together? In short, yes from 6.3 rules; patches replace the same major.

Safe? First, use the official DxO installer. However, forum “Nik 9 full” files are the risk.

After you have the file

First, install Nik Collection 9 from DxO. Next, activate a real key. Finally, open PS or LR.

Setup: userguides.dxo.com/nikcollection
Product: nikcollection.dxo.com

Publisher: DxO Labs. Nik Collection is their mark. Finally, report a page that wrapped this installer in a crack.