BMP to GIF Converter
Convert BMP to GIF in your browser. BMP files usually come from Windows Paint, legacy Windows programs, embedded displays and some scanners; GIF is the better fit for short animations and reactions that must play everywhere. You get a GIF with an optimised palette of up to 256 colours per frame, dithered. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
BMP expected · other image formats also work
How to use BMP to GIF
- 1
Add your BMP files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
There is nothing to tune: the GIF is written losslessly. Resizing and rotating are under More options if you need them.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .gif files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for bmp to gif
Where the GIF goes next
GIF opens in every browser, operating system, chat app and editor.
GIF next to BMP
Both sides are lossless, so the size depends on how well the GIF encoder handles this picture compared with the BMP's usually none; RLE for some 4 and 8-bit files.
Written without a lossy pass
The GIF is written losslessly, so the pixels decoded from the BMP arrive unchanged.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
BMP vs GIF
What changes from BMP to GIF
Encoding: the BMP uses usually none; RLE for some 4 and 8-bit files; GIF uses lossless LZW over a palette of at most 256 colours, and the download is a GIF with an optimised palette of up to 256 colours per frame, dithered.
Bit depth: 1, 4, 8, 16, 24 or 32 bits per pixel in the BMP; GIF allows 8 bits per pixel, as indexes into a palette, and the GIF written here has 8 bits per pixel (palette).
Colour: RGB or an indexed palette in the BMP; GIF supports an indexed palette of up to 256 colours per frame, written here as an indexed palette of up to 256 colours.
Transparency: the BMP stores it as an optional fourth byte in 32-bit files, which many programs ignore; the GIF keeps it as on or off per pixel, so soft edges become hard.
Metadata: the BMP can carry nothing beyond the header's resolution fields (and a colour profile in rare V5 headers); GIF can carry comment and application extension blocks, but no EXIF, but nothing is copied across.
About BMP
BMP stores raw, uncompressed pixels. Files are huge but trivially simple, which is why some legacy Windows software, embedded displays and printers still ask for it.
A BMP is a 14-byte file header ('BM' and the offset to the pixels), a DIB header (40 bytes, or 108 and 124 bytes in the V4 and V5 versions that add colour masks and alpha), an optional palette, then pixel rows padded to 4 bytes and normally stored bottom-up.
BMP files usually come from Windows Paint, legacy Windows programs, embedded displays and some scanners.
About GIF
GIF is the classic animated image format. It is limited to 256 colours per frame and 1-bit transparency, so photos look grainy and files are large, but it plays everywhere.
A GIF starts with 'GIF89a' (or the older 87a), a logical screen descriptor and an optional global colour table, then image blocks, each preceded by a graphic control extension that sets its delay and transparent colour.
When converting BMP to GIF makes sense
GIF is the better choice for short animations and reactions that must play everywhere, while BMP suits legacy software and embedded systems that require it.
GIF strengths: Animation that works everywhere; Simple, universally supported; Good for small flat graphics. Drawbacks to weigh: Only 256 colours per frame; Hard-edged transparency only; Large files for photos or long clips.
Limitations
- BMP stores nearly every pixel literally, so almost any compressed target is several times smaller.
- A 32-bit BMP can carry an alpha byte that most programs ignore; if the image suddenly gains transparent areas after converting, that byte was set.
- GIF transparency is on or off per pixel, so soft edges and shadows get a hard outline.
- GIF stores at most 256 colours per frame, so photographs show dithering or banding.
- GIF transparency is all or nothing per pixel, so soft shadows and anti-aliased edges get a hard fringe.
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting BMP to GIF lose quality?
GIF is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded.
Which apps open GIF files?
Every browser, operating system, chat app and editor.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.