What is a .gpx file?
GPS Exchange Format · Data · Topografix · 2002
GPX is an XML format for GPS data: waypoints, routes and recorded tracks. Fitness apps, hiking devices and satnavs use it to share where you have been and where you want to go.
What is a .gpx file used for?
A GPX file lists points with latitude, longitude, elevation and a timestamp, grouped into tracks (where you went) and routes (where to go). Being XML, it is human-readable and opens in any editor.
It is the universal exchange format between GPS devices and apps: export a run from one platform and import it into another. Many mapping sites let you drop a GPX file onto a map to see the trail.
How to open a .gpx file
The .gpx format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .gpx file.
Windows
- GPX viewers
- QGIS
- Garmin BaseCamp
macOS
- GPX viewers
- QGIS
- Garmin BaseCamp
Linux
- QGIS
- GpsPrune
- VS Code
Web
- gpx.studio
- Strava, Komoot import
How to convert a .gpx file
You can convert a .gpx file to KML, GeoJSON, CSV using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.gpx file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .gpx file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for GPX.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3C 3F 78 6D 6C | 0 | '<?xml' (GPX is XML) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .gpx file?
GPX is an XML format for GPS data: waypoints, routes and recorded tracks. Fitness apps, hiking devices and satnavs use it to share where you have been and where you want to go.
How do I open a GPX file?
Upload it to a viewer like gpx.studio, import it into a fitness app such as Strava or Komoot, or open the XML in a text editor.
What is inside a GPX file?
Waypoints, routes and tracks, each a list of points with coordinates, elevation and time. It is plain XML, so you can read it directly.
Can I convert GPX to KML?
Yes. Tools like QGIS or online converters translate between GPX and KML since both describe the same kind of geographic points and paths.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: