Open BMP files

Full name

Standard Windows Bitmap Image (also OS/2)
Developer

N/A
Popularity

Have you encountered a problem with a BMP file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a BMP file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your BMP file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is BMP file?

The Windows BitMaP or "device independent bitmap" (extension DIB), ie device-independent graphics, was developed for the operating systems Microsoft Windows and OS / 2. BMP is a fairly simple format and is now mainly used in applications within Windows.

More info

BMP files usually contain uncompressed graphics or graphics compressed with the fairly weak RLE algorithm. Therefore, BMP files are often quite large and not suitable for data exchange on the Internet. The advantage of the BMP format is the fairly simple internal structure, which is why it can also be processed by any graphics program (especially under Windows).
The BMP format supports up to 32-bit color depth, but only from version 4 or 5, which were introduced with Windows 95 or 98, the format also dominates alpha channels. But BMP can also be used as a container format for png files in these new versions.

Programs which can open a BMP file

Windows

Mac OS

How to open file with BMP extension?

In order to open a file with BMP extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening BMP file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with BMP files, follow the instructions below.

Install ACDSee or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening BMP files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support BMP files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of BMP files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set ACDSee as the default program for opening BMP files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate BMP files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the ACDSee applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where ACDSee has been installed.

Check the section that lists most common problems with BMP files

Sometimes problems with opening BMP files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

File data is corrupted
BMP files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open BMP files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
BMP file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)