XBM to GZ Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
X BitMap and Gzip Compressed File exist for different jobs: XBM is a bitmap stored as C source code — literally an array of hex bytes that a C compiler includes. It was the original X11 icon format, and it still compiles. Unpack a .gz into a normal file or repack it as ZIP/TAR when the receiving tool does not understand gzip.
Because the whole conversion happens on your device, it is instant, unlimited and genuinely private — no accounts, no watermarks, no files on anyone's server. Multiple files are converted in one go.
How to convert XBM to GZ
- 1
Select your files
Select your XBM file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file bytes are gzip-compressed in place — the same archive your server or build tool produces, made locally.
- 3
Download results
Download the .gz file — ready to upload, serve or attach.
About the XBM format
XBM is the most honest image format ever shipped: the "file" is a C source array of hex bytes, compiled straight into X11 applications as cursor and icon bitmaps. Rendered, it is 1-bit black and white — the ancestors of every pixel-art cursor you still use.
Because it compiles, XBM never died: firmware UIs, embedded icons and retro Unix tooling still want it. Converting a PNG down to XBM gives embeddable, compilable art; the other direction previews what the C array actually draws.
+Strengths
- ✓Compiles directly into C/C++ programs
- ✓Zero-payload format — text only
- ✓Still required by embedded and Unix tooling
!Limitations
- −1-bit black & white only
- −Human-hostile representation
- −X11 bit order trips up hand-rolled decoders
About the GZ format
A .gz file is one file squeezed by gzip — not an archive. kernel.org tarballs are “tar inside gz”, but plenty of logs, JSON dumps and CSV exports travel as plain .gz. Opening one means decompressing it back to the original bytes.
Repacking into ZIP or TAR gives the decompressed file a container that every GUI tool opens without a second thought.
+Strengths
- ✓Everywhere on Linux and macOS
- ✓Fast, well-understood compression
- ✓Streams natively from any tool
!Limitations
- −Single file only — no directory tree
- −No encryption or integrity metadata
Why convert XBM to GZ?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: 1-bit black & white only GZ sidesteps that — Everywhere on Linux and macOS If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this XBM to GZ converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Will I lose quality converting XBM to GZ?
No — GZ is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original XBM file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Is there a size limit for archive conversion?
There is no upload cap because nothing is uploaded — the practical limit is your device memory. A few hundred megabytes of unpacked content works comfortably on a modern computer.
Are the files inside my XBM archive modified?
No. Contents are unpacked in memory and repacked into GZ byte-for-byte — the conversion changes the container, never the files inside it.