How to Convert PES to DST: Complete Guide

What You'll Learn
Why Convert PES to DST?
Step-by-Step Conversion Guide
Common Mistakes to Avoid
FAQ
Related Tutorials

What You'll Learn

Converting PES files to DST format is one of the most common tasks in embroidery. PES files work with Brother and Babylock machines, while DST (Tajima) files are the industry standard that works with most commercial embroidery machines.

This guide shows you how to convert PES to DST in under a minute using Embrowser's free online converter.

Convert PES to DST in Your Browser No software to download. Drag, drop, and export. Open Embrowser - Start Free

Why Convert PES to DST?

Common reasons you need PES to DST conversion:

Your embroidery machine only accepts DST files
You're sending designs to a commercial embroidery shop
You purchased a design in PES format but use a Tajima, Barudan, or other commercial machine
You want a universal format that works across multiple machine brands

DST compatibility includes:

Tajima machines
Barudan machines
SWF machines
Happy machines
Many multi-needle commercial machines

Step-by-Step Conversion Guide

Step 1: Open Embrowser and Sign In

Go to embrowser.com in any web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge). Sign up for a free account or log in if you already have one.

Step 2: Create a New Design

Click + Design to create a new design. This opens a blank canvas where you'll import and convert your file.

Step 3: Import Your PES File

Option A: Drag and Drop

Locate your PES file on your computer
Drag it directly onto the Embrowser canvas
The file loads automatically

Option B: Use Import Menu

Click the Actions menu in the bottom toolbar
Select Import
Click anywhere on the overlay or drag your file

Step 4: Preview Your Design

Once imported, your design appears on the canvas. Take a moment to verify:

All colors loaded correctly
The design dimensions match what you expect
Stitch paths display properly

You can zoom in using the scroll wheel or the zoom control in the bottom toolbar.

Step 5: Export as DST

Click the Actions menu in the bottom toolbar
Hover over Export
Click DST from the format options
Your browser downloads the converted file

The DST file saves to your default downloads folder with the same name as your design.

Step 6: Transfer to Your Machine

Copy the DST file to your embroidery machine via USB drive, direct USB connection, or WiFi (depending on your machine's capabilities).

Need to Convert Multiple Files? Open each PES file as a new project and export individually. Embrowser auto-saves your work to the cloud. Try Embrowser Free

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Not Checking Thread Colors After Conversion

Problem: DST format has limited color information. Some machines may show generic color names. Solution: Note your original thread colors before conversion. DST stores color sequence but not specific thread brand/numbers.

Mistake 2: Converting Oversized Designs

Problem: Your machine rejects the file or stitches outside the hoop area. Solution: Check the design dimensions in Embrowser before exporting. Resize if needed to fit your hoop.

Mistake 3: Skipping the Preview

Problem: Missing elements or incorrect stitch counts after conversion. Solution: Always preview in Embrowser before exporting. The preview shows exactly what will export.

Mistake 4: Corrupted Source File

Problem: PES file won't import or shows errors. Solution: If a PES file fails to import, try downloading it again or contact the original source. If you've tried everything and the issue persists, Embrowser is currently in beta. Please contact us so we can investigate.

FAQ

How long does PES to DST conversion take?

Conversion is fast for most designs. Larger designs with more stitches take longer to process.

Will my thread colors transfer to DST?

DST files store the color sequence (which color comes first, second, etc.) but not specific thread brand names. Your design will maintain color order, and most embroidery machines let you assign thread colors during setup.

Can I convert DST back to PES?

Yes. Embrowser converts between all major embroidery formats in both directions. See our DST to PES guide.

Is the online converter free?

Yes. Embrowser offers a free tier that includes file conversion. Sign up takes just seconds with your email.

My machine still won't read the DST file. What's wrong?

Check these common issues:

File is in the root directory of your USB (not in a folder)
USB is formatted as FAT32
Filename doesn't contain special characters
File isn't corrupted (re-export from Embrowser)

If you've checked all of these and the issue persists, Embrowser is currently in beta and there may be bugs. Please contact us so we can investigate and fix the issue.

Does Embrowser work on Mac?

Yes. Embrowser runs in any modern web browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.