Tips to open BSP file

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

BSP file extension

File Name Quake Engine Game Map Format
File Developer id Software
File Category Game Files

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

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 2
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is BSP file?

The file with the extension BSP is the Game Files file type. The author of this format is id Software. In addition to this file, the Game Files category includes 1509 related files. Quake Engine Game Map Format is most often found on 3 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Linux, Mac OS, Windows. Alternatively, you can use 11 other programs. You can use Irrlicht, QuArK, BSP, EntSpy in case GtkRadiant cannot be used.

How to open BSP file?

The main problem with Quake Engine Game Map Format is that the BSP file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that BSP files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the BSP 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 GtkRadiant

The first step is to check if the computer has the GtkRadiant program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name GtkRadiant in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open BSP files.

Step 2. Create association of GtkRadiant with BSP files

If, despite the installed application, the BSP file does not start in the GtkRadiant application, you must create a file association. 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 select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the BSP file with the GtkRadiant program.

Step 3. Update GtkRadiant to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the GtkRadiant program, it is possible that Quake Engine Game Map Format requires a newer version of the program.

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

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

The BSP file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This suggests truncating the BSP file contents when downloading or copying. 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. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our BSP file. However, remember that not every infected BSP file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the BSP files changes over time. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair BSP file corruption.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted BSP files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the BSP file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the BSP file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file BSP to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.