Convert to PCX online

Free online converter for converting files to PCX.

How to convert files to PCX?

1
Upload your file
Click the 'Choose File' button or drag and drop your file into the upload area. Supported formats include PNG, JPG, WEBP and more.
2
Select the output format
Make sure PCX is selected as the conversion format. Adjust additional settings if needed.
3
Start the conversion process
Click the 'Convert' button and wait a few seconds. All conversions are performed on our servers.
4
Download the result
Once the process is complete, click the 'Download' button and save the file in PCX format.

Why choose our PCX converter?

We ensure quality, convenience, and support for all formats.

High-quality to PCX conversion
We guarantee precise to PCX file conversion without any loss of quality.
Support for multiple formats
You can convert your to PCX files from over 200 different formats, including images, documents, and more.
Compatible with all devices
Convert to PCX files from any device – whether it's a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
User-friendly interface
Our service is designed to make to PCX conversion easy for everyone in just a few simple steps.
Full data security
All files are transmitted and stored using advanced encryption technologies.
High-speed processing
Thanks to cloud technology, we ensure fast processing even for large to PCX files.

Convert to PCX: supported formats

Convert PCX to other formats

.PCX

PCX
PiCture eXchange
Data typeImage
MIME typeimage/x-pcx
DeveloperZSoft Corporation
Primary use casesLegacy graphics (DOS/early Windows), retro game assets, palette-based artwork, archival conversion into modern formats

What is the PCX file format?

PCX is a legacy lossless raster image format from ZSoft PC Paintbrush that uses simple RLE compression and is mainly used for retro graphics and archival conversion.

PCX file characteristics

Data typeImage
MIME typeimage/x-pcx
CompressionRun-length encoding (RLE); sometimes uncompressed
Color depth1-bit, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit indexed; also 24-bit truecolor (typically 3 planes × 8-bit)
Color spaceIndexed palette (up to 256 colors) or RGB truecolor (24-bit); grayscale also used
Transparency supportNo
Animation supportNo
Resolution supportHeader stores horizontal/vertical resolution (DPI) fields used by some software
EXIF / Metadata supportNo
MetadataNo Exif. Stores basic header fields (dimensions, DPI, planes) and palettes (16-color in header; optional 256-color palette at end for 8-bit indexed).
Standard / SpecificationZSoft PCX File Format Technical Reference Manual (PCX v5, 1991)
Typical file sizeOften small for flat-color art; can be large for photos/noisy images compared to PNG/WebP
Year introduced1985

Advantages

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

  • Simple lossless RLE;
  • Good for flat-color/palette images;
  • Widely supported in editors/libraries;
  • Can store DPI and palettes

Limitations

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

  • Palette-oriented design;
  • Truecolor PCX exists but is less common;
  • No standard alpha channel;
  • Some variations depend on producer software

Compatibility

PCX images are widely supported and can be viewed on most devices and platforms.

  • Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (via image editors and libraries)
  • Supported devices: Computers; legacy DOS/Windows graphics software
  • Browser support: No
  • Mobile support: No
  • Cloud support: No
  • Backward compatibility: Yes

Security considerations

Treat as untrusted input: malformed headers/RLE streams can exploit decoder bugs. Strip metadata/palettes if privacy or size matters.

License

Legacy proprietary format with publicly documented specification

PCX (PiCture eXchange) is a bitmap image format created for ZSoft’s PC Paintbrush. A PCX file typically contains a 128-byte header and image data encoded with run-length encoding (RLE), often stored in planar form. It commonly stores palette-indexed images (2/4/16/256 colors) and also supports 24-bit truecolor variants. For 256-color images, the palette is stored near the end of the file (with a marker byte) in many PCX versions. PCX is considered a legacy format: it’s supported by many editors and libraries, but it’s not a web-native format.