In this post, we’ll cover what a GPX file is and how to view it in Windows 11/10. A GPX (GPS eXchange Format) file is a GPS data file that contains waypoints, routes, and tracks. It is basically an XML schema that stores GPS location data. You can use this type of file to create route maps for your trips, add waypoints to your routes, create a track for biking or running, etc.
Now, how can you view a GPX file on your Windows 11/10 PC? Let’s find out below!
How to view GPX files in Windows 11/10
Since Windows has no native app to view GPX files, you’ll need a third-party application to open and view them. Several free programs let you view GPX files. Here are free GPX file viewer software and online GPX viewer tools you can use on a Windows PC. These are:
- GPX Editor
- Garmin BaseCamp
- EasyGPS
- GPXSee
- GpsPrune
- GPS Visualizer
- GPX Viewer with Drive.
Let’s talk about these free GPX file viewers in detail!
1] GPX Editor
GPX Editor is a dedicated GPX file viewer and editor software for Windows. It comes in a lightweight and portable package that weighs less than 1Mb. It lets you view only GPX files, not other GPS data files.
To view a GPX file, launch this portable freeware and go to File > Open GPX option and browse and import a GPX file. Now, you will be able to view the GPS file on its main interface. You can toggle between different view modes including Preview, PointList, and OpenStreetMap view. In the left side panel, you can view each waypoint in the route. Click on a waypoint and you will be able to view the waypoint’s GPS coordinates.
You can also edit GPX files through this software using features like Add or Edit Waypoints, Merge All Tracks, Remove Empty Tracks, Create route from waypoints, etc. It lets you convert a GPX file to formats including KML, CSV, and HTML. For that, you can use its File > Export function.
Want this software? Download it from sourceforge.net.
2] Garmin BaseCamp
Garmin BaseCamp is a great free GPX file viewer software for Windows and Mac. It lets you create routes and GPS files. You can view GPX and many other GPS data files including FIT, KML, etc. You can open a GPX file in it using its File > Import option. Then, it will show you routes and waypoints from the imported GPX file.
You can view waypoint lists with their longitude, latitude, and altitude. It also lets you edit the GPX file. Some nice features of this free software include create adventures, trip planner, create routes, find addresses, find places on Yelp, find Points of Interest, locate coordinates, etc. Plus, you can even convert GPX files to KML, CSV, and TCX formats using the File > Export option.
3] EasyGPS
EasyGPS is a GPX file viewer software for Windows. It supports only GPX files. Use its Open option to browse and import a GPX file. When you import a GPX file, it shows you details and location map in dedicated panels. You can view a list of waypoints, routes, tracks, and more with respective details like longitude, latitude, elevation, distance, label, etc.
It shows a map in Aerial or Street view mode using the OpenStreetMap service. You can also edit a GPX file using its editing tools and features like waypoints, routes, tracks, editing waypoints, deleting waypoints, etc. After making the changes, you can save modifications in the same or a new GPX file.
4] GPXSee
GPXSee is another good program for viewing GPX files in Windows. It lets you view different GPS file formats, including KML, FIT, TCX, LOC, etc. To view routes from a GPX file, use its File > Open function. The location data can be viewed using different map services that include Open Street Map, Open Topo Map, 4UMaps, Antarctica, USGS Imagery, etc.
It shows different information contained in a GPX file, such as longitude, latitude, distance, date, time, etc. Plus, you can also view various graphs and statistics. You can export the current view of a GPX file to PDF or PNG.
Get it from gpxsee.org.
5] GpsPrune
GpsPrune is an easy-to-use and portable GPX file viewer software for Windows. It is a Java-based software and required JRE to be installed on your system to run.
Simply import a GPX file using its File > Open File option. Then it displays a location map, point details, and other related information. You can also edit waypoints and add new waypoints to the route in a GPX file. You can also add photos and audio clips to the file. It can also view KML and KMZ files.
You can convert a GPX file to KML, POV, or to image format.
6] GPS Visualizer
GPS Visualizer is an online GPX file viewer tool. This tool supports GPX, KMZ, KML, TRK, and other data files to read the data. You can also choose an output format to view the GPX file data. Available output formats are:
- Google Maps
- PNG map
- Leaflet Map
- GPX file map
- Plain text table, etc.
To use this GPX data reader, open this tool from gpsvisualizer.com. There, use the Choose File button to upload a GPX file. Choose the output format and press the Convert it button. Once the GPS data is processed, you can view it and also use zoom in and zoom out options.
7] GPX Viewer with Drive
GPX Viewer with Drive is also an online tool that lets you add a GPX file from your computer or your Google Drive account. The tool lets you load GPX tracks and view them on a map.
This tool shows all the waypoints of your track. Clicking a waypoint opens a pop-up. That pop-up shows the timestamp, latitude, and longitude for that particular point.
It also lets you zoom in and out of the map using the mouse wheel and the options on the map. You can also switch between satellite and map view anytime.
If you want to use this tool, open it from gpxviewer.1bestlink.net. After that, you can either use Choose File button to add a locally saved GPX file or add a GPX file using the Open File from Google Drive button.
That’s about it!
Why can’t I open GPX files?
The reason why you aren’t able to open or view GPX files on a browser or an application is that those items don’t support the GPX format. Another reason is that your GPX file is corrupt. So you will either get garbage content when you open it or it simply won’t open. If your GPX file is OK and you want to open GPX files on a Windows 11/10 computer, you can use third-party GPS viewer tools.
How do I open a GPX file for free?
If you are using Windows 11/10 and want to open a GPX file for free, you’ll need third-party tools. GPX Editor, EasyGPS, GPS Visualizer, etc., are some good free GPX viewer tools that you can use to open GPX files. This post above covers all those free GPX viewer tools. Check them.
Now read: How to view a FIT file?
