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Convert BMP to WBMP - Create Monochrome Wireless Bitmaps

Transform BMP images into monochrome WBMP format for legacy devices and embedded systems.

Step 1: Upload your files

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Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Need a Monochrome Image Format?

WBMP (Wireless Bitmap) is a specialized image format that displays only black and white pixels. While modern devices have moved on, WBMP remains relevant for legacy mobile systems, embedded displays, and specific industrial applications.

Converting your BMP files to WBMP reduces them to 1-bit monochrome images. This process is irreversible in terms of color data, but it creates extremely small files perfect for bandwidth-limited or memory-constrained environments.

How to Convert BMP to WBMP

  1. Upload your BMP file - Drag and drop or click to select your bitmap image
  2. Convert to WBMP - Our converter processes the image into monochrome format
  3. Download your WBMP - Get your wireless bitmap file ready for use

The conversion happens instantly in your browser. No software installation required, no accounts to create.

Understanding BMP vs WBMP

BMP (Bitmap) files can store images with millions of colors at various bit depths. WBMP files are radically different - they only support 1-bit color depth, meaning every pixel is either black or white.

  • BMP - Full color support (up to 24-bit or 32-bit), larger file sizes, universal compatibility
  • WBMP - Monochrome only (1-bit), extremely small file sizes, designed for wireless transmission

In our testing, a 100KB BMP image typically converts to a WBMP file under 5KB, depending on the image dimensions and content. This dramatic size reduction comes at the cost of all color and grayscale information.

When WBMP Makes Sense

Legacy Mobile Development

WBMP was the standard image format for early mobile phones using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). If you maintain legacy systems or need to test on older devices, WBMP remains the required format.

Embedded Systems

Many embedded devices with monochrome LCD displays use WBMP or similar 1-bit formats. Industrial equipment, medical devices, and IoT sensors often have extremely limited memory and benefit from WBMP's tiny file sizes.

E-Ink and Low-Power Displays

Electronic paper displays and other low-power screens that show black and white content can efficiently render WBMP images without additional processing.

Line Art and Simple Graphics

Logos, icons, QR codes, and simple diagrams that are already essentially black and white convert to WBMP with minimal quality loss.

What to Expect from Conversion

When converting BMP to WBMP, the converter must reduce all colors to pure black or white. This process uses thresholding - pixels brighter than a certain value become white, and darker pixels become black.

Results vary based on your source image:

  • High-contrast images - Convert cleanly with recognizable results
  • Photographs - Lose most detail, may appear as abstract black and white shapes
  • Text and line art - Convert well if the original has clear contrast
  • Gradient images - Show harsh banding or lose detail entirely

For best results, consider adjusting your source BMP's contrast before conversion.

Alternative Formats to Consider

WBMP isn't the right choice for every situation. Consider these alternatives:

  • BMP to PNG - For web use with full color and transparency support
  • BMP to JPG - For photographs where you need smaller files but want to keep colors
  • BMP to GIF - For simple graphics with limited colors, supports animation

Only use WBMP when you specifically need monochrome output for legacy or embedded systems.

Works on Any Device

Our BMP to WBMP converter runs entirely in your browser:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • Tablets and smartphones

No downloads, no plugins, no Java required. Your files stay on your device throughout the conversion process.

Pro Tip

Before converting photographs to WBMP, increase the contrast significantly in your image editor. This helps the thresholding algorithm produce cleaner black and white separation rather than muddy gray-to-black patches.

Common Mistake

Trying to convert detailed photographs to WBMP expecting recognizable results. WBMP is designed for simple graphics, not photography. Use PNG or JPG for photos.

Best For

Legacy mobile development, embedded systems with monochrome LCD displays, e-ink applications, and any situation requiring extremely small monochrome image files.

Not Recommended

Do not use WBMP for photos, graphics with gradients, or anything that needs color. Modern mobile apps should use PNG or WEBP instead. WBMP is only for legacy or specialized embedded use.

Frequently Asked Questions

WBMP (Wireless Bitmap) is a monochrome image format that supports only black and white pixels. It was originally designed for early mobile phones and WAP browsers. Each pixel is stored as a single bit, making WBMP files extremely small.

Common reasons include supporting legacy mobile devices, creating images for embedded systems with monochrome displays, developing for e-ink screens, or generating extremely small image files for bandwidth-limited applications.

Yes. WBMP only supports black and white, so all color information is permanently lost. The image is reduced to 1-bit depth. This works well for line art and text but photographs will lose significant detail.

The converter uses thresholding. Pixels above a certain brightness level become white, and pixels below become black. High-contrast images convert best. You may want to adjust contrast in your source BMP before converting.

You can convert WBMP to BMP, but the original colors cannot be recovered. The result will still be a black and white image, just stored in BMP format. Color information is permanently lost during the initial conversion.

Legacy mobile phones from the early 2000s, certain embedded systems, industrial equipment with monochrome displays, some e-ink devices, and specialized IoT sensors. Modern smartphones do not use WBMP.

WBMP files are dramatically smaller because they use only 1 bit per pixel versus 24 or 32 bits for color BMP. A 100KB color BMP might become a 3-5KB WBMP file, though exact ratios depend on image dimensions.

Yes, our converter is completely free. There are no limits on file size or number of conversions, no watermarks added, and no account required.

Yes. Upload several BMP files and convert them all to WBMP in a single batch. This is useful when preparing multiple images for embedded systems or legacy device deployment.

High-contrast images convert best. Line drawings, text, logos, QR codes, simple icons, and diagrams typically produce usable WBMP files. Photographs and gradients usually produce poor results due to the monochrome limitation.

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