PNG to XWD Converter

Convert PNG to XWD X Window dump format free

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

X11 Native Format

XWD is the standard for X Window screenshots and dumps — your PNG becomes compatible with the X11 graphics ecosystem.

Raw Pixel Access

XWD stores unprocessed pixel data with X11 metadata — easy for X Window tools and scripts to read and manipulate.

No X11 Required

Generate XWD files from PNG without an X11 desktop. The conversion runs online in your web browser on any platform.

How to convert PNG to XWD

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose xwd or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xwd file right afterwards

About formats

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless raster image format developed by the PNG Development Group and published as a W3C Recommendation on October 1, 1996, created as a patent-free replacement for GIF after the Unisys LZW patent controversy. PNG uses a two-stage compression pipeline: a prediction filter selects the optimal per-row preprocessing (none, sub, up, average, or Paeth), then DEFLATE compression encodes the filtered data. The format supports rich color modes — 1/2/4/8/16-bit grayscale, 8/16-bit per channel true color, and indexed color with palettes up to 256 entries — all with optional alpha transparency ranging from a single transparent color to a full per-pixel alpha channel with 256 or 65536 levels. PNG also stores gamma correction, ICC color profiles, text metadata, and suggested background color. One advantage is lossless compression with transparency — PNG preserves every pixel exactly while supporting smooth semi-transparent edges, making it the standard format for web graphics, UI elements, logos, screenshots, and any image where artifacts or color shifts are unacceptable. Universal support is another core strength: every web browser, operating system, image editor, and programming library handles PNG natively. The format has proven remarkably durable — after nearly three decades, PNG remains the default lossless web image format. While newer formats like WebP and AVIF offer better compression, PNG's combination of lossless quality, full transparency, and absolute ubiquity keeps it indispensable.
Initial release: October 1, 1996
XWD (X Window Dump) is a screen capture image format defined as part of the X Window System by the MIT X Consortium, dating to approximately 1987. The xwd command-line utility captures the contents of an X window or the entire screen and saves it as an XWD file — functionally equivalent to a screenshot utility but predating the concept by years. XWD files contain a detailed header specifying the X server's visual type, bit depth, byte order, bitmap unit and padding, the window's dimensions, border width, and color map information, followed by the raw pixel data exactly as represented in the X server's framebuffer. This means XWD files faithfully capture the exact pixel representation used by the display hardware — including server-specific byte ordering, padding, and color organization — making them primarily useful on the system where they were captured or on systems with compatible display configurations. The header also stores the window name string and the full color map entries for indexed-color visuals. XWD supports all X11 visual types: StaticGray, GrayScale, StaticColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, and DirectColor, at any bit depth supported by the X server. One advantage is exact framebuffer fidelity: XWD captures the window's pixel data in its native format without any color space conversion or compression, making it the definitive record of what the X server was actually displaying. The format's integration with the X11 command-line toolkit provides another practical benefit — xwd can capture specific windows by ID or name, be triggered remotely via SSH, and piped directly to format converters. XWD files are handled by ImageMagick, GIMP, xwud (the viewer companion to xwd), and xv.
Developer: MIT X Consortium
Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PNG to XWD?

XWD is the native screenshot format for X Window System desktops. Some X11 tools and scripts specifically require XWD input.

What opens XWD files?

The xwud utility, GIMP, ImageMagick, XnView, and X11 display tools handle X Window Dump files for viewing and processing.

Is XWD uncompressed?

XWD stores raw pixel data with an X11 header. Files are uncompressed and larger than PNG, but trivial for X11 tools to process.

Is PNG to XWD free?

Yes — standard conversion is free on Convertio. Premium users get batch conversion and faster processing speeds.

Is XWD used outside X11?

XWD is specific to the X Window System. For general image interchange, PNG, TIFF, or BMP are more broadly compatible.

Can I display XWD with xwud?

Yes — xwud (X Window Undump) is the standard X11 tool for displaying XWD files back on screen. It ships with most X11 installs.

PNG to XWD Quality Rating

4.8 (18 votes)
You need to convert and download at least 1 file to provide feedback!