BMP is Windows’ native uncompressed bitmap format. Every pixel is stored exactly as captured, which makes files large but trivially simple to read — common in older software and scanners.
Typical use: Some legacy Windows programs, industrial devices and printers still require plain, uncompressed BMP files.
About the BMP format
BMP is Windows' native bitmap format, dating to 1990. It stores pixels essentially raw — rows of BGR values padded to 4-byte boundaries — with optional RLE compression that almost nobody uses. That simplicity is its whole personality: any program written since the dawn of Windows can read one in a dozen lines of code, which is why scanners and ancient lab software still emit it.
The cost of that simplicity is size: an uncompressed BMP of a photo runs dozens of times larger than a JPG. There is no meaningful metadata standard, transparency only exists via the rarely-implemented V5 header, and no modern workflow needs it. Treat BMP as a legacy interchange format you convert away from.
Strengths
- ✓ Zero compression artifacts — pixels stored as captured
- ✓ Trivially easy to decode, even in ancient software
- ✓ Universal inside the Windows world
Limitations
- ✗ Enormous files — dozens of times larger than JPG
- ✗ No real metadata or color-management story
- ✗ No role in modern web or print workflows
- Compression
- Usually none (RLE optional)
- Transparency
- Rarely (V5 header only)
- Animation
- Not supported
- Metadata
- Minimal
- Best for
- Legacy software and scanner output
Convert BMP to…
48 direct directions plus 12 workflows, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.
Cross-engine workflows
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Frequently asked questions
What is a BMP file?
BMP is Windows’ native uncompressed bitmap format. Every pixel is stored exactly as captured, which makes files large but trivially simple to read — common in older software and scanners.
How do I convert BMP files online?
Pick a target format from the "Convert BMP to…" list below, drop your file and hit convert. Everything runs in your browser — no install, no upload, no watermark, no limits.
Is it safe to convert BMP files here?
Yes. Every conversion is performed by your own device inside the browser — files never leave for a server, and the page keeps working even offline.
Which formats can BMP convert to?
This page lists all 60 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.