Convert PNG to BMP in Batch on Windows

Legacy Windows applications, embedded display panels, industrial HMI software, and old graphics tools often refuse PNG files and require BMP instead. PNG is the modern standard, but BMP is what these systems actually load. Total Image Converter converts entire folders of PNG files to BMP in one run — with control over color depth, resolution, and file naming — so you can feed any legacy system without touching each image manually.

PNG vs. BMP: What Is the Difference

PNG compresses image data without any quality loss and supports a full 8-bit alpha channel for transparency. It is the standard format for web graphics, application icons, and screenshots. Most modern software opens PNG without issue.

BMP (Windows Bitmap) stores pixel data raw, with no compression. Every pixel is written directly to disk, which makes files large but fast to read by hardware with minimal processing power. BMP is not portable — it is a Windows format — but it is universally supported by Windows-native software, device drivers, and embedded display controllers that predate PNG support. When a system requires BMP, there is no substitute.

How to Convert PNG to BMP in Batch

1. Download and install Total Image Converter. The 30-day trial is fully functional — no email or credit card required.
2. Open the program. In the left panel, navigate to the folder containing your PNG files. Thumbnails appear in the file list on the right.
3. Select files: click one file, Shift-click for a range, or press Ctrl+A to select all PNG files in the folder.
4. Click the BMP button in the toolbar. The conversion options dialog opens.
5. Set the color depth (1, 4, 8, 16, 24, or 32 bits per pixel) and resize parameters if the target system requires specific image dimensions.
6. Choose the output folder and click Start. All selected PNG files are converted and saved as BMP.

Command-Line PNG to BMP

Total Image Converter includes a command-line version for automation and integration into build or deployment pipelines. To convert all PNG files in a folder to 24-bit BMP:

TotalImageConverter.exe C:\Images\*.png C:\Output -c bmp

To convert to 8-bit BMP (256 colors) and resize to 800×600 pixels:

TotalImageConverter.exe C:\Images\*.png C:\Output -c bmp -colors 256 -resize 800,600

Use these commands in .bat files, Makefiles, or deployment scripts to automate asset preparation for embedded or legacy systems.

Why Use Total Image Converter

True batch processing — entire folders in one run

Select hundreds of PNG files at once or point the tool at a folder and convert everything in it. No file-by-file dialog, no repeated clicking. The same settings apply to every file in the batch, so all output BMPs are consistent in size, color depth, and naming convention.

Color depth control down to 1-bit

Embedded systems and monochrome displays often require 1-bit (black and white) or 4-bit (16 color) BMP files. Total Image Converter lets you choose the exact bit depth: 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, or 32 bits per pixel. Standard image editors default to 24-bit and give no option to go lower without manual steps.

Resize while converting

HMI panels and legacy display controllers require images at a fixed resolution — 320×240, 640×480, or another specific size. Set the target dimensions in the same conversion dialog. Every PNG is resized and converted to BMP in one pass, with no intermediate files.

Runs entirely offline

All processing happens locally on Windows. Your image files never leave the machine. This matters when converting proprietary product images, internal engineering assets, or confidential diagrams that must not be uploaded to any external service.

Personal license from $49.90

One-time payment. Free updates and technical support included. Works on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. A command-line server version (Total Image Converter X) is available for integration into automated production pipelines.

Total Image Converter Customer Reviews 2026

"Our STM32-based display controller loads 16-bit BMP files from an SD card at boot. All our UI assets are designed and exported as PNG. Total Image Converter converts the entire asset folder to 16-bit BMP in seconds as part of the build process. The color depth option and batch command line are exactly what we needed — no other tool we tried could do both."

Stefan Vollmer Embedded Systems Developer

"I maintain a suite of Windows XP-era applications that only accept 8-bit BMP for their resource files. Clients send me modern PNG graphics and I need to downconvert everything before importing. Total Image Converter handles entire folders with the correct bit depth in one run. Saves a lot of manual Photoshop work. The resize option is a bonus since the old software also requires fixed dimensions."

Alan Prescott Legacy Software Integration Specialist

"We deploy HMI panels that require 24-bit BMP images for all operator screen graphics. Our graphic designers work in PNG. Total Image Converter is part of our deployment script — it converts the graphics folder to BMP before the HMI project is compiled and pushed to the panel. Consistent output, zero failures in two years of use."

Marcin Kowalczyk Industrial Automation Engineer

FAQ ▼