XWD to BMP Converter

Seamless XWD to BMP image conversion, done in the cloud

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Batch Processing

Upload multiple XWD files at once and convert them all to BMP in a single session — ideal when you have many legacy images to migrate.

Lightning Fast

XWD files are small and convert to BMP in seconds. The cloud-based engine handles the transformation quickly so you can download right away.

Format Upgrade

Move from Unix workstation era XWD to the modern BMP format — enjoy uncompressed pixel data and broad software compatibility.

How to convert XWD to BMP

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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
BMP (Bitmap) is a raster image file format developed by Microsoft for the Windows operating system, introduced with Windows 3.0 in 1990. The format stores pixel data in a straightforward structure: a file header specifying dimensions, color depth, and compression method, followed by an optional color palette and then the raw pixel array. BMP supports color depths from 1-bit monochrome through 4-bit and 8-bit indexed color to 16-bit, 24-bit true color, and 32-bit with alpha channel. Most BMP files store pixels uncompressed (BI_RGB), though optional RLE compression is available for 4-bit and 8-bit modes. Pixels are arranged in bottom-up row order by default, with each row padded to a 4-byte boundary. One advantage is absolute simplicity — the format has no complex encoding, filtering, or compression layers, making BMP files trivial to read and write programmatically in any language. This simplicity also means BMP images render with zero decoding overhead, useful in scenarios where decompression latency matters. The format's deep Windows integration is another strength: BMP is the native bitmap format for Windows GDI, clipboard operations, and device-independent bitmap (DIB) handling, ensuring first-class support across the entire Windows ecosystem. While BMP's lack of compression produces large files unsuitable for web use or storage-constrained environments, it remains widely used as an intermediate format in image processing, as a clipboard exchange format, and in embedded systems where decoding simplicity outweighs file size.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: 1990

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I convert XWD to BMP?

XWD is tied to Unix/X11 screenshots. Switching to BMP gives you uncompressed pixel data and broad support across platforms, browsers, and devices.

How do I open a BMP file?

Software that handles BMP includes Microsoft Paint, Photoshop, GIMP, any Windows viewer — giving you options on every major operating system.

Can I convert multiple XWD files to BMP at once?

Yes — upload several XWD files in one session and Convertio processes them all into BMP simultaneously, saving you time.

Is my XWD file safe when converting online?

Convertio takes privacy seriously — your XWD uploads are deleted after conversion and the BMP results are cleared within 24 hours.

What platforms support this XWD converter?

Convertio is entirely web-based. Convert XWD to BMP from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any modern browser on any operating system.