XPM

Image file
File type: Bitmap image file
Files with xpm extension can be usually encountered as pictures in X Pixmap (XPM) format, an ASCII-text-based image format used by the X Window System.
Found 2 different file type records with the same xpm filename suffix.
What is xpm file?
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: July 14, 2025
File extension xpm is used for X Pixmap (XPM), an ASCII-text-based image format used by the X Window System. It was created in 1989 by Daniel Dardailler and Colas Nahaboo working at the INRIA, France, and was later enhanced by Arnaud Le Hors.
It is intended primarily for creating icon pixmaps, and supports transparent color. It has a simple structure, deriving from the earlier XBM syntax. It can be created and manipulated using any text editor and can be included in a C language file.
Unix-X11 PixMap (256 color image for X Windows) (8bit text).
MIME types:
image/x-xpixmap
image/xpm
image/x-xpm
How to open xpm file?
Use Nero PhotoSnap, IrfanView, OpenOffice.org Draw.
How to convert xpm file?
Use OpenOffice.org Draw to save xpm file to another format.
Suggested software to open xpm file:
Associated software actions with the xpm file
Software applications that can open xpm files:
IrfanView (Microsoft Windows)
GIMP (Microsoft Windows)
GIMP for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
GIMP for Linux (Linux/Unix)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Software applications that can edit xpm files:
GIMP (Microsoft Windows)
GIMP for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
GIMP for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Software capable of saving xpm files:
GIMP (Microsoft Windows)
GIMP for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
GIMP for Linux (Linux/Unix)
Programs for viewing xpm files:
IrfanView (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
Corel PaintShop Pro (Microsoft Windows)
Egon Animator (Linux/Unix)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Software apps that convert xpm files:
Picture Resize Free Online Images Converter (On-line services)
Software apps that import xpm files:
Xara Page & Layout Designer (Microsoft Windows)
Apache OpenOffice Draw (OpenOffice.org Draw) (Multiplatform)
XnConvert (Multiplatform)
LibreOffice Draw (Multiplatform)
Krita (Multiplatform)
Software apps that export xpm files:
XnConvert (Multiplatform)
Krita (Multiplatform)
Software apps that print xpm files:
IrfanView (Microsoft Windows)
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
XnView MP (Multiplatform)
Software applications that handle other tasks involving xpm files:
ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)
DESQview macro file
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: January 16, 2012
The XPM file extension is related to an old application called DESQview which was a text mode multitasking program developed by Quarterdeck Office Systems which enjoyed modest popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Running on top of DOS, it allowed users to run multiple DOS programs concurrently in multiple windows.
An *.xpm file contains macroes usable in the program.