How to open a GPX file

On iPhone

Full iPhone guide: how to open a GPX file on iPhone — best free and paid apps, share-sheet flow, default-handler setup, common pitfalls, FAQ. Quick summary below.

iPhone does not natively open GPX files in Apple Maps. The simplest path is to open Safari, go to viewmygpx.com, and drop the file onto the viewer — the route renders in mobile Safari without any install.

To get the file from email, Messages, or AirDrop into the viewer, tap the share icon next to the attachment and pick Save to Files. Then in Safari, tap the file-picker on viewmygpx and choose the file from On My iPhone or iCloud Drive.

To send the file to a third-party app instead, tap the share icon on the .gpx attachment and pick the app from the share sheet. Gaia GPS, Strava, Komoot, and AllTrails all register as share-sheet targets when installed and import the file directly.

For an iOS-specific tour of GPX-aware apps and the Apple Maps workarounds (Apple Maps does not natively import GPX), see Open GPX in Apple Maps.

On Android

Full Android guide: how to open a GPX file on Android — best free apps (OsmAnd, Locus Map, Komoot), Open with sheet flow, common pitfalls, FAQ. Quick summary below.

Android handles GPX through the system share sheet just like iOS. The fastest no-install option is Chrome — open viewmygpx.com and drop the file onto the viewer to see the route immediately.

To open a .gpx file already saved on the device, long-press it in Files by Google or your file manager of choice and pick Open with. Komoot, Gaia GPS, OsmAnd, Locus Map, and AllTrails all appear in the list when installed and import the file natively.

Some Android browsers display .gpx as raw XML when you tap it directly. To avoid that, open the viewer first, then use its file picker. Most modern Chromium-based browsers on Android also support drag-and-drop into a webpage if you have a desktop-style file manager open in split-screen.

For platform-specific app recommendations, the Open GPX in hub has dedicated guides for the most common Android-friendly destinations: Komoot, Strava, AllTrails, Garmin Connect.

On Mac

Full Mac guide: how to open a GPX file on Mac — Google Earth Pro, BaseCamp, Cartographica, QGIS, Quick Look workarounds, default-handler setup, FAQ. Quick summary below.

macOS has no default app registered for .gpx, so double-clicking the file usually shows a chooser dialog. The web viewer is the simplest answer: open viewmygpx.com in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox and drag the file onto the page.

For a desktop-only flow, Google Earth Pro for Mac imports GPX as either a track or a path through File > Import. The free Garmin BaseCamp (legacy but still functional) also handles GPX and is the usual choice for managing routes destined for older Garmin units.

If you ever need the file as KML, KMZ, CSV, or GeoJSON for a Mac-side workflow, the homepage viewer has Download buttons for each format under the file summary. All conversions run in the browser; nothing uploads. For sending the file directly to a mapping or fitness platform, the Open GPX in hub covers the per-platform import flow.

On Windows

Full Windows guide: how to open a GPX file on Windows — GPXSee, Google Earth Pro, BaseCamp, GPSBabel, sending-to-Garmin-over-USB, default-handler setup, FAQ. Quick summary below.

Windows treats .gpx as an unrecognized extension by default. The shortest path to a working view is to open viewmygpx.com in Edge, Chrome, or Firefox and drag the file from File Explorer onto the page.

For desktop-only viewing, Google Earth Pro for Windows imports GPX via File > Import. The free GPSBabel handles every conversion to and from GPX from a command line or its bundled GUI. Garmin BaseCamp remains the standard choice for managing routes on older Garmin handhelds and Edge units.

If you want to push the file to a Garmin Edge connected over USB, Windows mounts the device as a removable drive — copy the file into the Garmin/NewFiles folder and the device parses it on next startup. For the cleaner Garmin-cloud path that handles Course-vs-Activity correctly, see Open GPX in Garmin Connect.

In Google Maps

Google Maps does not import GPX directly. The supported flow is through Google My Maps (mymaps.google.com), which accepts KML and KMZ. Convert your GPX file to KML first, then import it as a layer.

The conversion takes one click on the homepage viewer — drop the GPX, choose Download as KML. In Google My Maps, create a new map, click Import on the untitled layer, and select the .kml file. The route appears as a styled polyline you can share or embed.

For waypoints, Google My Maps creates one pin per waypoint automatically. The map respects KML styling, so the converter preserves track and waypoint labels where present. The full walkthrough with screenshots is in the Google Maps guide.

In Google Earth

Google Earth imports GPX in both the desktop Pro version and the web version at earth.google.com. On desktop, use File > Import and pick the .gpx file; on the web, use the New Project menu and Import KML file from computer — Earth Web accepts GPX through that same dialog despite the KML wording.

The track renders as a 3D path; click the path to see total distance and elevation. Google Earth's rendering is the strongest visual you can get for a GPX file outside a satellite-tile viewer, which is why long-distance hikers often share routes as screen-recorded Earth flyovers.

Detailed instructions and the differences between Pro and Web are in the Google Earth guide.

In Strava

Strava accepts GPX uploads as activities through the Upload page on strava.com. Sign in, click Upload Activity, choose File, and pick the .gpx file. Strava processes it as a regular activity within a few seconds.

Strava cannot import GPX from its mobile app — only the web upload works. After upload, the activity is editable like any other: change the title, sport type, gear, or visibility. Stats are recomputed from the GPX trackpoints, including segments where they apply.

For routes (planned paths) rather than activities, Strava's route builder accepts GPX via Import GPX inside the route designer. The full walkthrough with both flows is in the Strava guide.

In Garmin Connect

Garmin Connect on the web imports GPX through the Import Data page (connect.garmin.com/modern/import-data). Choose to import as an activity, course, or route, then drop in the .gpx file.

An activity goes into your training history as a completed workout. A course is a planned route you can sync to a Garmin device for turn-by-turn navigation. A route is similar to a course but structured for run/walk/cycle directions on supported devices.

The Connect mobile app cannot import GPX — only the web flow works. Once the course or activity is in Connect, sync your watch or Edge and the file pushes over the next time the device connects. The full Activity-vs-Course breakdown, mapping vs non-mapping device behavior, and step-by-step for both import paths are in Open GPX in Garmin Connect.

In Apple Maps

Apple Maps does not import GPX in any current iOS or macOS version. There is no Import button, no share-sheet target, no URL scheme that takes a GPX route. This is a long-standing limitation of the Maps app, not a setting you can change.

The closest workaround is to convert the GPX to a series of waypoint URLs and stitch them into Apple Maps directions one by one — fine for a 3-stop road trip, impractical for a recorded ride. For anything more than a few points, switch to an app that does open GPX: Gaia GPS, Maps.me, Komoot, AllTrails, or Strava.

For the full set of alternatives and the exact share-sheet flow on iPhone, see the Apple Maps guide.

In Komoot

Komoot imports GPX as both tours (recorded) and routes (planned). On the web, open komoot.com, click your profile, and pick Import from the activity menu — the dialog accepts GPX directly. On iOS and Android, share the .gpx file from Files or Mail and pick Komoot from the share sheet.

Komoot Premium adds an extra option: import a GPX as a planned tour and Komoot will re-route it on its own road network, smoothing elevation and adding turn-by-turn directions. The original route is preserved alongside the rerouted version.

The detailed walkthrough including share-sheet steps and the Premium reroute behavior is in the Komoot guide.

In AllTrails

AllTrails imports GPX through the website at alltrails.com via Plan > Import. Drop the .gpx file and AllTrails creates a custom map you can edit, save, and use offline on the mobile app.

One important gotcha: AllTrails requires at least one recorded activity on your account before the Import option appears. If you have just signed up, record a short walk in the app first (literally 30 seconds is enough), then the import button shows up.

The mobile app does not import GPX — only the web does. Once imported, the route syncs to all devices signed into the account. The full walkthrough including the activity-required gotcha and the mobile sync flow is in the AllTrails guide.

Sources

• TopoGrafix — GPX: the GPS Exchange Format
• Strava — Upload files to Strava from a GPS device
• Garmin — Importing files to Garmin Connect
• AllTrails — How to import a GPX or KML file
• Komoot — Import a GPX or FIT file
• Google — Import map data into My Maps