Images conversion
Convert BMP to GIF
Updated Jul 2026
BMP is the plain, uncompressed image format built into Windows, and GIF is the small, widely shared format used for simple graphics and animations. To convert BMP to GIF, open the file in a converter and export it as GIF. Doing this on your own computer means the image never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .bmp
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Legacy Windows images
- Transparency
- None
- Extension
- .gif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Animations, memes
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert BMP to GIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert BMP to GIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the BMP file or a whole folder of them.
- Choose GIF as the output format.
- Convert. The GIFs are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
BMP vs GIF: what actually changes
| BMP | GIF | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, stores every pixel uncompressed | Much smaller, compressed |
| Color range | Full color, up to millions of shades | Limited to 256 colors at a time |
| Quality | Exact, no compression artifacts | Lossless within its 256-color palette, but photos can show banding |
| Transparency | No | Yes, single-color transparency |
| Animation | No, one image per file | Yes, can hold multiple frames |
| Opens everywhere | Mostly Windows and older software | Yes, universal support |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert BMP to GIF when you need a much smaller file for the web, when the image is simple graphics or line art rather than a photo, or when you want to turn a sequence of BMP frames into a small animation.
Keep the BMP original if the image is a photo or has smooth gradients and fine color detail, since GIF's 256-color palette can flatten or band those areas in a way you can't undo.
Why not just use an online converter?
BMP files are common on Windows for screenshots, scanned documents, and internal graphics, some of which people would rather not send anywhere else. An online converter uploads the file to a server you don't control before handing back a GIF. Converting on your own computer keeps the image, whatever it shows, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting BMP to GIF lose quality?
It depends on the image. Simple graphics, icons, and line art usually convert cleanly. Photos or anything with smooth color gradients can lose detail because GIF only allows 256 colors at once.
Will the GIF keep any metadata from the BMP?
BMP files carry very little metadata to begin with, mostly just basic image dimensions and color settings, and GIF doesn't have much room for extra metadata either. There isn't much to lose either way.
Why would I turn a BMP into a GIF instead of another format?
GIF is worth it when you want a much smaller file, need transparency, or want to combine several images into a simple animation. For photos, a format without a color limit usually looks better.
Can I convert BMP to GIF without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Can GIF handle transparency the way BMP can't?
Yes. BMP has no transparency at all, while GIF supports a single transparent color, which is useful for icons or simple graphics placed over a background.
Morphjet converts BMP, GIF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.