What is a GPX file?
So what is a GPX file? It is a plain-text file, written in an open XML format called GPS Exchange Format, that stores a GPS route as a list of points — each with a latitude, longitude, and usually an elevation and timestamp. It is the universal way to move tracks, routes, and waypoints between watches, apps, and mapping tools.
What GPX stands for
GPX is short for GPS Exchange Format. It was published by TopoGrafix in 2002 as a free, open standard so that GPS data could be shared between programs that would otherwise use incompatible formats. Because it is based on XML — the same tag-based text format used across the web — a GPX file is human-readable, easy for software to parse, and not tied to any single vendor. The current version is GPX 1.1; the earlier GPX 1.0 is still seen in older exports. You can read the official schema on the TopoGrafix GPX site.
What's inside a GPX file
A GPX file holds up to three kinds of geographic data, all wrapped in a root <gpx> element:
- Tracks (
<trk>→<trkseg>→<trkpt>) — an ordered breadcrumb trail of where you actually went, usually with a timestamp on every point. This is what a watch or bike computer records. - Routes (
<rte>→<rtept>) — a planned sequence of points to follow, typically without timestamps. This is what a route-planning tool produces. - Waypoints (
<wpt>) — standalone points of interest such as a summit, a car park, or a photo spot, each with its own name.
A single trackpoint looks like this:
<trkpt lat="47.36540" lon="8.54890">
<ele>412.7</ele>
<time>2026-05-18T07:14:32Z</time>
</trkpt>The latitude and longitude are decimal degrees; the elevation is metres above sea level; the time is UTC. Some files also carry extensions — extra data such as heart rate, cadence, or temperature — which we cover in the GPX file format guide.
Where GPX files come from
Almost anything that records or plans a route can produce a GPX file:
- GPS watches and bike computers — Garmin, Wahoo, Suunto, Coros and Apple Watch (via a workout app) can export a ride, run, or hike as GPX.
- Fitness and mapping platforms — Strava, Komoot, Garmin Connect, Ride with GPS and AllTrails all offer a "Export GPX" option on an activity or planned route.
- Route planners and mapping desktop software — tools like Komoot, BRouter or Garmin BaseCamp let you draw a route and save it as GPX to send to a device.
In every case the GPX is the portable copy: the format each platform agrees to read and write so your track is not locked inside one app.
What you can do with a GPX file
- View and analyse it — see the route on a map, read the distance, elevation gain, and average and maximum speed, and replay the track. You can do this right now: open your GPX file in the viewer — it renders speed heat-zones directly on the map, and if it is a sailing track it can show speed in knots.
- Convert it — turn a GPX into KML or KMZ for Google Earth, or a KML back into GPX, when a tool needs a different format.
- Send it to a device or platform — load a planned route onto a watch or bike computer, or import someone else's shared track into your own app. See how to open a GPX in Strava, Garmin, komoot and more.
Everything the viewer does happens on your own device — the file is read with the browser's File API and is never uploaded to a server. New to this? See how to open a GPX file on iPhone or Android.
GPX vs FIT vs TCX vs KML
GPX is one of several formats you will meet. Here is how it compares to the three you are most likely to run into:
| Format | Type | Best at | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPX | Open XML (text) | Sharing tracks, routes and waypoints between apps | TopoGrafix, 2002 |
| FIT | Binary | Compact fitness recording (laps, HR, power, sensors) | Garmin / ANT+ |
| TCX | XML (text) | Older fitness data with laps and heart rate | Garmin, 2007 |
| KML / KMZ | XML (text) / zipped | Rich map display in Google Earth & Maps | Keyhole / Google, OGC |
In short: GPX is the interchange format — the common language. FIT and TCX carry more detailed training data but come from the Garmin world; KML is built for visual maps. Most tools can convert between them.
Open your GPX file
Drop a .gpx file into the viewer to see the route on a map with speed heat-zones, an elevation profile, and animated replay. Everything runs in your browser — the file is never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a GPX file without any software?
Yes. A GPX file is plain text, so you can open it in any text editor to read the raw XML, or drop it into a browser-based viewer like gpxviewer.app to see the route on a map — nothing to install and the file stays on your device.
Is GPX the same as a FIT or TCX file?
No. GPX is an open XML format for tracks, routes and waypoints. FIT is Garmin's compact binary format and TCX is Garmin's older XML format; both can carry richer fitness data such as laps and heart rate. Most apps can export a GPX from a FIT or TCX recording.
Do GPX files contain my personal data?
A GPX file contains the coordinates, timestamps and elevation of wherever it was recorded, plus any waypoint names you added. It does not contain your account details, but the track itself can reveal where you live or train, so treat it like location data when sharing.