What is BMP File Format and how to Recover BMP Images? at Studio Theatre

What is BMP File Format and how to Recover BMP Images?

“I was working on a project for my client on some .bmp icons. The next day, during the date of submission, I could not find them in my system. Probably, I forgot to save them. Can I recover those lost BMP images on my PC?”

BMP is a commonly used image file format with a .bmp file extension used by photographers, graphic designers, etc., for storing high-quality digital images. Like any other media files, BMP images are also susceptible to errors, and one such error is missing BMP files. These images can go missing from your device due to accidental deletion or sudden power failure. Other factors include formatting, corruption, etc., which can cause permanent loss of BMP images and other media files. 

In this post, we’ll discover how to recover deleted BMP images from Windows. But first, let's learn more about the BMP file format. 

What is a BMP File?

Microsoft developed Bitmap (BMP) Image file, a raster graphic image format used to store Bitmap digital images. These uncompressed and device-independent files ensure consistent image quality across different devices and screens. 

This file format stores two-dimensional images, icons, and screen grabs. It is a highly versatile format that can handle multiple color depths, alpha channels, data compression, and color profiles. These files are compatible with various web browsers and software.

These image files can be opened with free programs like Windows Photo, Paint, and Apple Photos. Besides, many third-party programs can open BMP files, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator GIMP, IrfanView, XnView, etc.

However, like any other file, you can lose BMP images on your Windows for many reasons. 

Probable Reasons for Losing BMP Images

Some common reasons for losing BMP files are:

• Accidental deletion.

• Sudden interruption during ongoing file transfer.

• The file was not saved properly.

• Continued taking pictures with a low camera battery.

• Corruption in the memory card or hard drive.

• Misspelled file name or incorrect file extension.

• Virus/Malware infections.

How to Recover Lost BMP Images?

There are two ways to recover missing or deleted BMP images: a backup or a professional BMP Image Recovery software.

Before recovering BMP images, 

• Stop using the storage drive from where you deleted the images. 

• Don't save any new data on the drive to avoid overwriting data. 

Now, look at recovering lost or deleted BMP images from Windows PCs.

1. Recover BMP Images from Recycle Bin

Normally, the deleted BMP images in the Windows go to the Recycle Bin and stay there for approx. Thirty days unless removed automatically or manually. 

2. Use Windows Backup and Restore Utility

But what do you do if you cannot find BMP images in the Recycle Bin? Then, look for your files in the backup folder. 

If you have taken backups of your BMP images using various built-in Windows utilities such as Backup and Restore or File History, retrieve your files from those backups. 

Here’s how to retrieve deleted BMP images by using the Windows File History utility:

• Type Control Panel in the Windows search box and click Open to launch it. 

• Go to File History.

• Click Restore Personal files, and choose the backup folder that may contain your BMP images.

• Next, click Restore and save the recovered images at the desired location.

3. Recover Deleted BMP Images Using Software

If you can’t find your BMP images in the Recycle Bin or Backup, BMP photo recovery software is the only solution. A professional photo recovery tool, such as Stellar Photo Recovery, can easily recover deleted or lost BMP files. 

It can recover lost photos in all data loss scenarios, such as accidental deletion, file corruption, emptied Recycle Bin, drive formatting, etc. This easy-to-use tool is proficient at retrieving photos, videos, and audio files of any format, such as BMP, CR2, MP4, etc.

Steps to recover deleted BMP images

• Download, install, and run Stellar Photo Recovery on your Windows.

• On the software's home screen, select the location from where you want to recover lost images.

• Next, click on the hamburger icon at the top-left and click on Settings.

• Click the File List icon. Under Photo Format, tick the checkbox against BMP Images and uncheck all other checkboxes. Click Close.

• Now, click Scan from the Home screen to initiate the scanning process.

• Once the scan is completed, you can see the list of recovered photos. You can preview the found BMP photos, select which photo you want to restore, and click Recover.

• Next, click Browse and select a location on the drive to save recovered BMP images. 

Tips to Prevent BMP Image Files from Getting Loss

• Double-check before deleting BMP images.

• Maintain multiple backups of your BMP images in 2-3 places.

• Take regular backups of your BMP files using Windows' built-in feature or in cloud storage.

• Use good antivirus software to ensure the overall security of your PC from viruses.

Conclusion 

BMP image file recovery on a Windows PC is challenging if you cannot find your BMP files in the Recycle Bin folder or a backup. In such a situation, use a professional BMP image file recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery to recover lost or deleted BMP image files. This photo recovery tool retrieves BMP files from any storage media in all data loss scenarios, such as formatting, accidental deletion, virus attack, etc.