In this post, we are going to talk about how to edit KML files in Windows 11/ 10. A KML file, an acronym for Keyhole Markup Language, is a file that is used to store geographical data including location data, image overlays, annotations, and more. This format is natively used in Google Earth service and some other GPS programs. It basically contains waypoints, routes, and tracks data. In this article, we are going to discuss how you can edit KML files on your Windows 11/10 PC.
As there is no native app to edit a KML file in Windows 11/10, we are going to use third-party software to modify KML files. Here, I am going to mention some free software that allows you to edit waypoints, routes, and tracks saved in KML files. All these software can be available for Windows 11/10 platform. Now, let us check out these free KML editor software.
How to edit KML Files in Windows 11/10
You can use below free software to edit KML in Windows 11/10:
- GPSPrune
- ITN Converter
- Notepad++
- RouteConverter
- GPX Editor
- Garmin Basecamp
Let’s talk about these KML file editors in detail!
1] GPSPrune
GPSPrune is a free program to edit KML files in Windows 11/10. Using it, you can modify KML and other GPS data files including GPX, TXT, and KMZ. Simply go to its File > Open File option and import a KML file. Then, you will be able to view geographical data with maps saved in KML files that you can easily modify. You can view a number of waypoints and respective point details.
From its Point menu, you can edit a waypoint by modifying its data like coordinates, altitude, name, time, segment, description, and type. Furthermore, you can find more options in the Point menu including adding new points, delete points, find waypoints, duplicate points, enter point coordinates, and more.
Some additional features are also available in it like Compress Track, Sew Track Segments Together, Mark Uphill Lifts, Rearrange waypoints, etc. You can also add photos and audio clips to the KML file. It also lets you open maps in a browser using services like Google Earth, Mapquest, Openstreetmap, etc.
After editing the KML file, you can save it in its original KML format or convert it to POV, SVG, GPX, and TXT format.
This free KML editor comes in a portable package. You can download it from activityworkshop.net.
2] ITN Converter
ITN Converter is a GPS data file converter using which you can also edit KML files. It supports a variety of formats to perform modifications and conversion including KML, GPX, RTE, WPT, CSV, XML, and more. Simply open a KML file and then edit the consisting information by clicking on the Editor option. Its Editor tool provides you a map where you can view all the waypoints. You can double-click on the map and then click the Add to itinerary option to add the waypoint to the existing track or route.
You can also delete waypoints, rearrange the order of waypoints, reverse track, etc. You can also find some useful options like Get Directions, Optimise itinerary, Show entire itinerary, choose the desired map view, etc. It also provides a Search feature to search for a specific location and then add it to the KML file. After editing, set Export file format to KML and then click the Export button to save the edited KML file.
3] Notepad++
Notepad++ is a popular free and open-source text and source code editor that you can use to edit KML files. You might be surprised to see Notepad++ on this list, but it can really enable you to edit KML files. You can simply open a KML file and it will show you an XML view of the file. Now, you can look for the point’s name, coordinates, altitude, description, and other information enclosed in respective tags. Edit the point’s details by entering new values to the tags. See the above screenshot for your reference.
You can also delete the point by removing the respective code. If you want to add a new waypoint, simply copy the code for any waypoint and then paste it below the point you want it. After that, you can edit the details accordingly. You can click on the File > Save option to save the edited KML file.
4] RouteConverter
RouteConverter is another freeware to edit KML files in Windows 11/10. It lets you edit KML, KMZ, GPX, RTE, WPT, TRK, CSV, and some other GPS data files. In it, you can add, remove, and edit waypoints as per your requirements. You can also locate a waypoint on the map and add it to the list. It also allows you to merge routes from waypoints, split KML file, reorder waypoints, etc.
You can later save the modified KML file using the File > Save option. If you want, you can also export KML files to another supported format like CSV, Excel, FIT, GPX, and more files.
5] GPX Editor
GPX Editor is a free and portable KML file editor for Windows 11/10. Although its name suggests that it is a dedicated GPX file editor, it also lets you import and edit KML files. Other than GPX and KML, it also supports NMEA, NGT, and LOG file formats.
To edit a KML file, simply open a KML file using the File > Import > From KML option and then edit the file with the help of available tools. When you open a file, you browse all KML file information Metadata, Tracks, Waypoints, Routes, etc. It also shows KML files in Preview, Point List, and OpenStreetMap view modes. You can double click on a waypoint and edit related information like latitude, longitude, altitude, time, source, link, satellites, etc.
You can also add a new waypoint to tracks, duplicate a point, reverse points, or delete an existing waypoint. Some handy options like Create route from waypoints, Shift altitude, Cut Track, Merge All Tracks, Remove Empty Tracks, Anonymize time, and more are also available in it. When done editing a KML file, you can save the modified KML file by using the File > Export > As KML option. You can also convert KML to GPX and HTML formats.
6] Garmin Basecamp
Garmin Basecamp is another KML file editor for Windows 11/10. This software is primarily used to plan routes and trips. It also lets you edit an existing KML file or create a new one. Use its File > Import option and you will then be able to view and modify GPS data. It displays the points list, tracks, and routes on the global map.
You can edit extensive detail related to a waypoint such as a name, coordinates, elevation, depth, symbol, proximity, temperature, contact, notes (file link, weblink), categories, references, etc. It also lets you add new points to tracks and routes saved in KML files. You can find a location using a global map and then add the waypoint. It also lets generate routes from selected waypoints. All these and more options are available in its Tools menu. There are some more tools available in it include Create Adventures, Find Addresses, Find places on Yelp, Find Points of Interest, Find Points of Interest, Trip Planner, etc.
To save edited KML files, you can use its File > Export option. The same option can be used to convert KML to CSV and TCX formats.
You can download this advanced KML editor software from garmin.com.
Hope this article helps you if you were looking for a solution to edit KML files in Windows 11/10.
