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XPM File Format

X11 Pixmap category

XPM (X11 Pixmap) is an image written as C source code — plain ASCII text that compilers and editors ingest directly, the classic icon format of Linux desktops and legacy X11 apps.

Typical use: Convert PNG or SVG output to XPM to feed icon themes and legacy toolkits.

About the XPM format

XPM (X11 Pixmap) is an image format that is literally C source code: pixels are listed as character-to-color mappings inside an ASCII array. Compilers, text editors and version control all treat it as plain text, which is why Linux desktop icons and legacy X11 application assets have used it for decades.

XPM is limited to 256 colors per image and stores no alpha beyond a designated transparent character, so it is a niche target: mainly icon themes, window-manager decorations and retro programming projects.

Strengths

  • ✓ Plain text — diffs and greps
  • ✓ Compiles straight into C programs
  • ✓ Tiny for small flat icons

Limitations

  • ✗ 256 colors maximum
  • ✗ Poor alpha (one transparent color)
Compression
None (ASCII text)
Transparency
Single transparent color
Animation
Not supported
Metadata
Not supported
Best for
Linux icons, X11 themes

Convert XPM to…

48 direct directions plus 12 workflows, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.

XPM to AVIF Hot XPM to BMP Hot XPM to CIN XPM to CUR XPM to DCX XPM to DDS XPM to FARBFELD XPM to FITS XPM to GIF Hot XPM to GRAY XPM to GRAYA XPM to HDR XPM to ICO Hot XPM to J2C XPM to J2K XPM to JFIF XPM to JP2 XPM to JPE XPM to JPEG Hot XPM to JPG Hot XPM to JPT XPM to JXL XPM to OTB XPM to PALM XPM to PBM XPM to PCL XPM to PCX XPM to PDF Hot XPM to PFM XPM to PGM XPM to PNG Hot XPM to PNG24 XPM to PNG8 XPM to PNM XPM to PPM XPM to QOI XPM to RAS XPM to SIXEL XPM to SVG Hot XPM to SVGZ XPM to TGA XPM to TIF XPM to TIFF Hot XPM to UYVY XPM to VICAR XPM to WebP Hot XPM to XBM XPM to XV

Cross-engine workflows

XPM to 7Z XPM to APK XPM to JAR XPM to TAR XPM to TAR.BZ2 XPM to TAR.GZ XPM to TAR.XZ XPM to TBZ2 XPM to TGZ XPM to TXZ XPM to WIM XPM to ZIP

Convert other files to XPM…

AVIF to XPM Hot BMP to XPM Hot CIN to XPM CUR to XPM DCX to XPM DDS to XPM FARBFELD to XPM FITS to XPM GeoTIFF to XPM GIF to XPM Hot GRAY to XPM GRAYA to XPM HDR to XPM HEIC to XPM Hot HEIF to XPM ICO to XPM Hot J2C to XPM J2K to XPM JFIF to XPM JP2 to XPM JPE to XPM JPEG to XPM Hot JPG to XPM Hot JPT to XPM JXL to XPM OTB to XPM PALM to XPM PBM to XPM PCL to XPM PCX to XPM PFM to XPM PGM to XPM PNG to XPM Hot PNG24 to XPM PNG8 to XPM PNM to XPM PPM to XPM PSB to XPM PSD to XPM Hot QOI to XPM RAS to XPM RAW to XPM Hot SIXEL to XPM SVG to XPM Hot SVGZ to XPM TGA to XPM TIF to XPM TIFF to XPM Hot UYVY to XPM VICAR to XPM WebP to XPM Hot XBM to XPM XV to XPM

Frequently asked questions

What is a XPM file?

XPM (X11 Pixmap) is an image written as C source code — plain ASCII text that compilers and editors ingest directly, the classic icon format of Linux desktops and legacy X11 apps.

How do I convert XPM files online?

Pick a target format from the "Convert XPM 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 XPM 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 XPM convert to?

This page lists all 60 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.