Convert PNG to BMP Online
Free, private PNG to BMP converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
Drag & drop files here
images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more
No Server Uploads
FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
Built for Privacy
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. They never leave your device.
How to convert PNG to BMP
Drop your PNG file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your BMP file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert PNG to BMP?
PNG and BMP serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a PNG file?
Portable Network Graphics: PNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It was created as a patent-free replacement for GIF back in the mid-1990s and quickly became the standard for web graphics that need clean edges or see-through backgrounds.
Created by: PNG Development Group, first released in 1996
Used for: Web graphics, logos, screenshots, icons, anything that needs transparency or sharp text
Technical details: Lossless compression, so the image looks identical to the original. Supports 8-bit and 24-bit color with an alpha channel for transparency. File sizes tend to be larger than JPEG for photos but smaller for graphics with flat colors.
Compatibility: Every browser, operating system, and image editor supports PNG. It is one of the most universally readable formats.
What is a BMP file?
Bitmap Image File: BMP is an uncompressed image format from Microsoft. Files are large because every pixel is stored individually without compression. It is mostly used in legacy Windows applications.
Created by: Microsoft, introduced with Windows 1.0 in 1985
Used for: Legacy Windows applications, raw pixel data, internal processing
Technical details: Typically uncompressed, storing raw pixel data. Supports various color depths. Files are significantly larger than equivalent PNG or JPEG.
Compatibility: Natively supported on Windows. Most image editors can read BMP, but web browsers have limited support.
PNG vs BMP
| Feature | PNG | BMP |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Portable Network Graphics | Bitmap Image File |
| Best for | Web graphics, logos, screenshots, icons, anything that needs transparency or sharp text | Legacy Windows applications, raw pixel data, internal processing |
| Compatibility | Every browser, operating system, and image editor supports PNG. It is one of the most universally readable formats. | Natively supported on Windows. Most image editors can read BMP, but web browsers have limited support. |
| Pros | Lossless quality, transparency support, universal compatibility | No compression artifacts, simple format, fast to read and write |
| Cons | Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs, no animation support (use APNG or GIF for that) | Very large file sizes, not suitable for web use, limited browser support |