LanguageXBM
X Windows system bitmap image
File type: Bitmap image file
Teh xbm file extension is related to the X Windows system bitmap image format an ASCII text monochrome image format, for storing cursor and icon bitmaps used in the X GUI.
What is xbm file?
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: June 23, 2025
The xbm file extension is associated with the X Windows system bitmap image format.
In computer graphics, the X Window System uses X BitMap (XBM), an ASCII text monochrome image format, for storing cursor and icon bitmaps used in the X GUI.
The xbm files differ markedly from most image files in that they take the form of C language source files. This means that they can be compiled directly into an application without any preprocessing steps, but it also makes them far larger than their raw pixel data would be (each byte of image data takes 6 bytes in a XBM file).
MIME types:
image/xbm
image/x-xbm
image/x-xbitmap
How to open xbm file?
Use compatible tools to work with *.xbm files.
How to convert xbm file?
Use OpenOffice.org Draw to convert *.xbm file in another format.
Suggested software to open xbm file:
Associated software actions with the xbm file
Software applications that can open xbm files:
Nero Multimedia Suite (Microsoft Windows)
Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Programs for viewing xbm files:
PMView Pro (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Software apps that convert xbm files:
Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Picture Resize Free Online Images Converter (On-line services)
Software apps that import xbm files:
Xara Page & Layout Designer (Microsoft Windows)
Apache OpenOffice Draw (OpenOffice.org Draw) (Multiplatform)
Krita (Multiplatform)
XnConvert (Multiplatform)
Software apps that export xbm files:
Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Krita (Multiplatform)
XnConvert (Multiplatform)
Software apps that print xbm files:
PMView Pro (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Apache OpenOffice Draw (OpenOffice.org Draw) (Multiplatform)
Software applications that handle other tasks involving xbm files:
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)