Why won't my XPM file display in the browser?

No browser supports it — browsers render PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, SVG and BMP, and nothing else. The file downloads instead and needs an image editor.

What's the difference between XPM and XBM?

XBM is monochrome; XPM added colour through a character-based palette. Both are valid C source.

Should I convert XPM to PNG?

For anything anyone needs to look at, yes — PNG is lossless, displays in every browser, and is almost always smaller. Keep the original only if a specific tool requires it.

Host an XPM file and share it as a link

Put an X PixMap online at its own address — XBM's colour successor, and also valid C source.

You can host:

Drop your XPM file here

Any other file works too — up to 25.0 MB, or 100.0 MB for a whole site

Free to use. Your XPM file is live at your-name.99helpers.site in about ten seconds.

What is a .xpm file?

XPM extended XBM to colour, using ASCII characters to represent a palette and a grid. Like XBM it's valid C source, so icons could be compiled into applications — and it became the standard icon format across Unix desktops for years.

What people use XPM files for

Icons in Unix and Linux desktop applications
Legacy X Window System assets
Small colour graphics compiled into programs

What opens a XPM file

GIMP and ImageMagick
Any text editor, since it's C source
Unix desktop environments
No modern browser displays XPM

How to host a XPM file

1
Drop your XPM file in
Drag it onto the box at the top of this page, or click to choose it. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded until you publish.
2
Pick an address
Type a name and we'll tell you straight away whether it's free. That becomes the link: desktop-icon.99helpers.site
3
Publish and share
Create a free account — that step exists so the file is yours to update, replace or delete — and the link is live within seconds.

The same three steps work for any file — see how file hosting works on 99helpers.com.

What happens when someone opens the link

The file downloads and reads as C source in a text editor. Browsers don't render XPM.

Why host a XPM file instead of emailing it?

Legacy Linux desktop assets occasionally need distributing, and XPM files are tiny.

Worth knowing before you publish

Convert to PNG for anything modern — PNG handles transparency far better.
XPM's palette approach makes it poor for photographs.
The file is human-readable, which makes small edits easy in a text editor.

XPM hosting questions

Why won't my XPM file display in the browser?: No browser supports it — browsers render PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, SVG and BMP, and nothing else. The file downloads instead and needs an image editor.
What's the difference between XPM and XBM?: XBM is monochrome; XPM added colour through a character-based palette. Both are valid C source.
Should I convert XPM to PNG?: For anything anyone needs to look at, yes — PNG is lossless, displays in every browser, and is almost always smaller. Keep the original only if a specific tool requires it.

Put your XPM file online now

It takes about ten seconds, and you only make an account once the file is ready to go live.

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Hosting guides for related formats

Host an X BitMap image (XBM)Host a PNG image Host an ICO favicon Host an SVG image Host a GIF animation

XPM is one of over 211 formats you can host — see free file hosting for any file type for the full list, or read the hosting guides for other file types.