Tips to open BMP file

Can't open the BMP file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open BMP files as well as a list of programs that support BMP files.

BMP file extension

File Name Bitmap Image Format
File Category Raster Image Files

The BMP file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the BMP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the BMP file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 7
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is BMP file?

A .BMP file is an image file. Contains uncompressed bitmap. It is the most common format for saving simple drawings. It is so common that most editors and programs have no problems with viewing these files. The format offers several possible color depths and a grayscale drawing. From the point of view of the file structure, it consists of a header containing data about the file, i.e. color depth, bitmap size and the starting point of the bitmap. The actual bitmap starts after the header.

How to open BMP file?

The most common problem when using Bitmap Image Format is that a specific BMP is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open BMP, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the BMP file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install ACDSee

The first step is to check if the computer has the ACDSee program installed. This can be achieved by typing ACDSee into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file BMP with ACDSee. Below you will find a list of applications that support BMP files.

Step 2. Create association of ACDSee with BMP files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the BMP file to open in the ACDSee application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the BMP file with the ACDSee program.

Step 3. Update ACDSee to the latest version

If, however, after binding ACDSee with Bitmap Image Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the BMP file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to BMP files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the BMP file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected BMP file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the BMP file. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged BMP files.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted BMP files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the BMP file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the BMP file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. However, some background programs may block the BMP file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.