What is a PCX file?
PCX stands for PC Paintbrush image. It was created by ZSoft and first released in 1985. PCX was the format of ZSoft PC Paintbrush for DOS and one of the first image formats widely used on PCs. It compresses each row with simple run-length encoding, so flat artwork stays small while photos barely shrink.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | 1, 4, 8 or 24-bit colour, often with a 256-colour palette |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | does not open in browsers; IrfanView, GIMP, Paint.NET and Photoshop open it |
| Common uses | DOS-era graphics, old games and scanning, fax and label software |
| MIME type | image/x-pcx |
Which format should you convert PCX to?
- PCX to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- PCX to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- PCX to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
PCX is lossless, so converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller.
How to open a PCX file
A PCX file does not open in a web browser, and only some devices have a program for it. Here is what works on each. If none of these is to hand, converting the file to PNG here is the quickest way to see what is inside it.
| Windows | IrfanView and Paint.NET (both free) and GIMP open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | GIMP (free) and Photoshop open it. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app cannot show PCX. Convert it to PNG or JPG here to view it. |
| Android | Most gallery apps cannot show PCX. Convert it to PNG or JPG here to view it. |
Want the technical details? See what a .pcx file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
PCX compared with other image formats
How PCX stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCX | Lossless | No | 1985 | DOS-era graphics, old games and scanning, fax and label 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 PCX converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your PCX files on the box, or press Choose PCX 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. The file is converted on our server and deleted as soon as the result is sent back.
Tips for converting PCX files without losing quality
PCX 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.
- Keep the original file. It holds the layers, masks or raw data that a converted image does not, and you can always convert from it again.
- Choose PNG for artwork, screenshots and anything with sharp edges, and JPG for photos that must be small.
- Converted images are flattened: layers, adjustments and editable text become pixels, so make changes in the original and convert again.
- The server accepts files up to 25 MB; save very large files at a smaller size first.
Convert PCX files from the command line
ImageMagick does the same on your own computer:
magick input.pcx output.pngConverting on your own computer keeps the file entirely local, which is worth it for very large or very sensitive documents. For everything else, the converter on this page does it without installing anything.
PCX converter FAQ
What is a PCX file?
PCX stands for PC Paintbrush image, an image format created by ZSoft in 1985. PCX was the format of ZSoft PC Paintbrush for DOS and one of the first image formats widely used on PCs. It compresses each row with simple run-length encoding, so flat artwork stays small while photos barely shrink.
How do I open a PCX file?
PCX does not open in browsers; IrfanView, GIMP, Paint.NET and Photoshop open it. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common PCX conversion?
PCX to PNG is the conversion people search for most. ImageMagick, the open-source image toolkit, reads the PCX on our conversion server and saves it as a lossless PNG.
Does converting PCX files here upload them?
Yes. PCX conversions need ImageMagick, an open-source program that cannot run in a browser, so they run on our conversion server. The file is uploaded, converted, and deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to you. Nothing is kept.
Is the PCX converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert PCX files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your PCX files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several PCX files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.