What is a DIB file?
DIB stands for Device-Independent Bitmap. It was created by Microsoft and first released in 1990. DIB stands for device-independent bitmap, the pixel layout inside every BMP, and Windows uses it for pictures on the clipboard. A .dib file is almost always an ordinary BMP with a different extension, which is why renaming it to .bmp usually works.
BMP is the same format under another extension.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | up to 32-bit colour |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | Windows Photos and Paint open it; browsers show it once it is renamed .bmp |
| Common uses | Windows programs, the clipboard and some older graphics software |
| MIME type | image/bmp |
How to open a DIB file
Whether a DIB file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If DIB is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | Windows Photos and Paint open DIB; browsers show it once it is renamed .bmp. |
Want the technical details? See what a .dib file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
DIB compared with other image formats
How DIB stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIB | Lossless | Yes | 1990 | Windows programs, the clipboard and some older graphics software |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
How to use the DIB converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your DIB files on the box, or press Choose DIB files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Nothing is uploaded at any point.
Tips for converting DIB files without losing quality
DIB is lossless, so it is a good source for any conversion. Converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller, and converting it to another lossless format keeps every pixel.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert DIB files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common DIB conversion, to BMP, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.dib output.bmpChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
DIB converter FAQ
What is a DIB file?
DIB stands for Device-Independent Bitmap, an alternative extension for a image format created by Microsoft in 1990. DIB stands for device-independent bitmap, the pixel layout inside every BMP, and Windows uses it for pictures on the clipboard. A .dib file is almost always an ordinary BMP with a different extension, which is why renaming it to .bmp usually works.
How do I open a DIB file?
Windows Photos and Paint open DIB; browsers show it once it is renamed .bmp. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common DIB conversion?
DIB to BMP is the conversion people search for most. DIB and BMP are the same format with different extensions, so nothing is re-encoded. The file is copied byte for byte and saved with a .bmp extension.
Does converting DIB files here upload them?
No. Every conversion on this page runs inside your browser, so your DIB files never leave your device.
Is the DIB converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark, and no limit on how many DIB files you convert. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert DIB files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your DIB files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several DIB files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.