Free tool · Convert
PNG to BMP
Convert PNG images to BMP format.
Convert a PNG image into an uncompressed 24-bit BMP file, the raw bitmap format some older Windows software and legacy print or embedded workflows specifically require. The file will be considerably larger than the PNG, since BMP stores every pixel uncompressed.
- Files never leave your device
- Runs entirely in your browser
- Free, no account needed
How to use PNG to BMP
Two steps, and nothing to install.
Drop your PNG file
Add the image. Any transparent areas will be flattened onto white during conversion.
Download the BMP
Save the uncompressed bitmap, ready for software that accepts nothing else.
More free tools
Free, private, and no sign-up on any of them.
How this works in your browser
Your PNG is decoded onto a canvas in the browser, then the pixel values are written out with a BMP header in front of them. BMP has almost no cleverness to it: after the header comes the raw colour of every pixel, stored bottom row first and padded so each row starts on a four-byte boundary. There is no compression stage, which is exactly why the output is large and exactly why ancient software can read it. The alpha channel simply has nowhere to go in a 24-bit bitmap, so transparent pixels are composited onto white before being written, which is why a logo with a see-through background arrives with a white box around it.
PNG to BMP vs. upload-based online tools
| Feature | PNG to BMP (in-browser) | Upload-based online tools |
|---|---|---|
| File upload required | No - never leaves your device | Yes - file is sent to a server |
| Processing queue | None - starts instantly | Often, especially at peak times |
| Watermark on output | Never | Common on free plans |
| Usage limits | None - free, unlimited use | Often capped per day or file size |
| Works offline once loaded | Yes, for most tools | No - requires a live connection |
| Account required | No | Often, for anything beyond a trial |
Who uses PNG to BMP
Feeding legacy Windows software
Supply images to older applications and utilities that were written before PNG existed.
Embedded and industrial displays
Provide raw bitmaps to controllers, kiosks and devices whose firmware has no image decoder built in.
Specialist print and RIP workflows
Meet the intake requirements of print or imaging pipelines that specify uncompressed bitmap input.
Frequently asked questions
What it can and cannot do, and what happens to your files.
Why would I need BMP instead of PNG?
Some older Windows applications, embedded systems, and legacy print workflows specifically require the uncompressed BMP format for file intake.
What happens to transparent areas?
Classic 24-bit BMP has no transparency support, so any transparent areas in your PNG are filled with white.
Will the BMP file be much larger?
Yes, often significantly, since BMP does not compress pixel data the way PNG does.
Can I keep transparency by choosing a different background?
The transparent areas are flattened onto white here. If your artwork needs a different backdrop, place it on that colour first using our image editing tools, then convert, so the flattening matches what you intended rather than leaving white fringes.
Does converting to BMP lose any quality?
No. BMP stores pixels uncompressed, so every colour value from the PNG survives exactly. The only loss is transparency, which the format cannot represent.
Why does old software still want BMP?
Because reading one is trivial. There is no decoder to implement, no licensing question and no compression to unpack, so embedded firmware, industrial controllers and decades-old Windows applications often support BMP and nothing else.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. The bitmap is written inside your browser tab.
Convert PNG to BMP - free, for legacy software.
Files never leave your device. No upload, no account, and free for unlimited use.
Also see: BMP to PNG