raster format

What is a .XWD file?

XWD (X Window Dump) is the screenshot format produced by the X11 xwd utility, capturing a window's raw pixels on Unix and Linux.

Full name
X Window Dump
Developed by
X Consortium
Released
1986
Extension
.xwd
MIME type
image/xwd
Transparency
Varies

How to open a XWD file

XWD opens in GIMP, ImageMagick and X tools; convert to PNG/JPG to share widely.

What XWD files are used for

Photos & web images

Share, post and embed pictures across sites and apps.

Editing & design

Work with the format in editors like Photoshop and GIMP.

Storage & archiving

Keep memories and assets in a widely-readable form.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Excellent compatibilityNo transparency support
Limited support — may need converting

Need more than a conversion?

Remove the background from XWD images, upscale to 4K, or generate new visuals with SharkFoto AI.

Frequently asked questions

XWD (X Window Dump) is the screenshot format produced by the X11 xwd utility, capturing a window's raw pixels on Unix and Linux.

XWD opens in GIMP, ImageMagick and X tools; convert to PNG/JPG to share widely.

XWD is optimised for its specific use rather than strictly lossless storage.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your XWD file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

No — XWD doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.