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Free online converter for converting files to BMP3.

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How to convert files to BMP3?

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Click the 'Choose File' button or drag and drop your file into the upload area. Supported formats include PNG, JPG, WEBP and more.

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Make sure BMP3 is selected as the conversion format. Adjust additional settings if needed.

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Download the result

Once the process is complete, click the 'Download' button and save the file in BMP3 format.

.BMP3

BMP3

Microsoft Windows bitmap image (V3)

Data type	Image
MIME type	image/bmp
Developer	Microsoft
Primary use cases	Legacy Windows graphics, interoperability with older software, simple lossless raster exchange, embedded/industrial systems

What is the BMP3 file format?

BMP3 is a Windows Bitmap (BMP) image saved in the older Version 3 DIB layout (BITMAPINFOHEADER). It’s usually uncompressed, simple, and mainly used for legacy compatibility rather than the modern web.

BMP3 file characteristics

Data type	Image
MIME type	image/bmp
Compression	None (BI_RGB) or RLE (BI_RLE8/BI_RLE4 for indexed images)
Color depth	Commonly 1/4/8/16/24/32 bpp; alpha is not standardized in BMP V3
Color space	RGB (typically treated as sRGB in practice; V3 header does not define ICC profiles)
Transparency support	No
Animation support	No
Metadata	Basic BMP/DIB header fields; no standardized EXIF/IPTC; no V3 color profile fields
Standard / Specification	RFC 7903 (image/bmp); Microsoft documentation for BITMAPINFOHEADER / DIB structures
Typical file size	Large: ≈3 MB per megapixel at 24-bit uncompressed (plus headers and row padding)
Year introduced	1990

Advantages

The BMP3 file format offers several advantages that make it suitable for common use cases.

Very simple structure;
Lossless storage;
Fast to decode/encode;
Supports palettes and basic RLE for indexed images;
Widely recognized by legacy Windows software

Limitations

The BMP3 file format has certain limitations that may affect its use in specific scenarios.

BMP V3 lacks modern color management (ICC) and standardized transparency;
Some encoders write 32-bit pixels but alpha may be ignored;
Row padding and BGR channel order can cause compatibility issues in simplistic parsers

Security considerations

Keep image libraries updated; malformed headers, palettes, or metadata can trigger decoder bugs. Some BMP payloads may encapsulate other image data (e.g., JPEG/PNG), so security considerations of those decoders may also apply

License

Publicly documented format; no known licensing fees for implementation

BMP3 refers to a Windows Bitmap file written with the Version 3 DIB header (BITMAPINFOHEADER, 40 bytes). The pixel data is typically stored uncompressed (BI_RGB) with 4-byte row padding, though indexed images may use RLE (RLE4/RLE8). BMP3 is lossless but often large, has limited metadata, and lacks modern color management; it’s primarily encountered in legacy Windows workflows and compatibility scenarios.