How to open a GPX file on Windows
To open a GPX file on Windows, drag it from File Explorer onto gpxviewer.app in your browser — the route appears on a map right away. Windows has no built-in GPX viewer, so a browser viewer is the quickest way; GPXSee is a good desktop alternative if you prefer an installed app.
Open a GPX file in your browser (fastest)
- Find the GPX file in File Explorer. Locate the .gpx file — usually in your Downloads folder.
- Open gpxviewer.app in a browser. In Edge, Chrome, or Firefox, go to gpxviewer.app.
- Drag the file onto the page. Drag the .gpx from File Explorer and drop it onto the viewer's upload area. (Or click “Choose a file” and pick it.)
- View the route. The track appears on the map with distance, elevation, speed heat-zones, and replay. The file is read locally in your browser and never uploaded.
Open your GPX file now
Drag a .gpx file onto the viewer to see the route on an interactive map with speed heat-zones and an elevation profile. Everything runs in your browser — the file is never uploaded.
Alternative: GPXSee (desktop)
If you want an installed program, GPXSee is a free, open-source GPX and route viewer for Windows (also Linux and Mac). It opens GPX, TCX, FIT and KML, and shows elevation and speed graphs. Being desktop-only, it's a good choice when you're offline or working with many files at once — an honest trade-off against a browser viewer that needs no install and works on any device.
Why double-clicking doesn't work
Windows has no default application for the .gpx extension, so double-clicking often prompts you to pick a program or opens Notepad showing raw XML. Open a viewer first and load the file into it instead of setting a default app.
Frequently asked questions
What program opens GPX files on Windows?
Any browser opens a GPX at gpxviewer.app with no install. For a desktop app, GPXSee is a free, open-source viewer for Windows.
Why does my GPX file open in Notepad?
Windows treats .gpx as text if no viewer is set, so it opens the XML in Notepad. Open the file at gpxviewer.app or in GPXSee to see the route on a map.