How to open a .gpx file
Quick, free ways to open GPX on any system.
A .gpx file is a GPS Exchange Format. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads GPX yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .gpx file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .gpx. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with GPX viewers or QGIS.
- On Mac, use GPX viewers or QGIS.
- On Linux, try QGIS or GpsPrune.
- Still stuck? Convert the .gpx to KML, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .gpx files
Windows
- GPX viewers
- QGIS
- Garmin BaseCamp
macOS
- GPX viewers
- QGIS
- Garmin BaseCamp
Linux
- QGIS
- GpsPrune
- VS Code
Web
- gpx.studio
- Strava, Komoot import
!
Before you open it: Safe. GPX is location data in XML text. It does not execute; a mapping app simply plots its points.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .gpx file?
Almost always because no installed app understands GPX. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
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.