GIS

KMZ → KML

Learn about the formats: What is KML? What is KMZ?

Quickly unpack and convert your KMZ geodata archives into standard KML text files. Ideal for GIS applications that do not natively support zipped archives.

KMZ is essentially a zipped archive containing a primary KML file along with any associated custom icons, overlays, and 3D models. When you convert KMZ to KML, the tool extracts the root XML-based KML markup so it can be read directly by legacy mapping software and spatial databases that require uncompressed geographic markup.

The conversion between KMZ and KML is entirely lossless. Because KML is the core text format inside the KMZ container, no geographic coordinates or metadata are degraded during the process.

Tips

Ensure your KMZ file is not password-protected before uploading.
If your KMZ includes custom images or icons, remember they are stored separately within the archive and might require manual path adjustments in the extracted KML.
Use KML when you need to inspect or edit the raw XML geographic coordinates in a text editor.

Common use cases

Preparing Google Earth archived routes for import into desktop GIS software like QGIS or ArcGIS.
Editing raw placemark coordinates and XML tags inside a text editor.
Sharing spatial data with legacy mapping platforms that only accept uncompressed KML inputs.

Why ConvertX stays free — forever

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Every converter on ConvertX is free to use: no trials, no premium tiers, and no credit packs. We will never put core conversion features behind a subscription. Whether you convert one photo or a hundred files a week, the price stays zero.

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Many image, audio, and video conversions run entirely in your browser. Your files never leave your device for those jobs. When server processing is required for documents or specialized formats, uploads are handled securely and removed automatically — typically within one hour.

File formats: what to choose

A quick guide to strengths and trade-offs of popular formats — so you pick the right one before converting.

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GIS & maps

Geographic and spatial data layers.

Common extensions: GeoJSON, KML, SHP, GPX, GPKG

Advantages

+ GeoJSON is native to web maps
+ KML works with Google Earth
+ Shapefiles are common in GIS workflows

Disadvantages

− SHP needs multiple sidecar files
− Coordinate systems must match the target
− Large datasets need simplification

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Images

Raster and vector graphics for web, print, and photography.

Common extensions: PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, SVG, HEIC, TIFF

Advantages

+ WebP and AVIF offer excellent compression for the web
+ PNG keeps transparency and sharp edges
+ SVG scales without quality loss

Disadvantages

− RAW and TIFF files are large and slow to share
− JPEG loses quality on every re-save
− Some formats are not supported in older browsers

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Documents

Office files, PDFs, ebooks, and plain text.

Common extensions: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, EPUB, TXT

Advantages

+ PDF locks layout for printing and sharing
+ DOCX and ODT are easy to edit collaboratively
+ Plain text works on any device

Disadvantages

− PDF is hard to edit without special tools
− Complex layouts may shift after conversion
− Scanned PDFs need OCR for editable text

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Video

Clips, streams, screen recordings, and movies.

Common extensions: MP4, WebM, MOV, MKV, AVI, MPEG

Advantages

+ MP4 (H.264/H.265) plays almost everywhere
+ WebM is efficient for web embedding
+ MKV can hold multiple audio and subtitle tracks

Disadvantages

− High-resolution video needs lots of storage and bandwidth
− Re-encoding always takes time and may reduce quality
− Some codecs require licensing for commercial use

Frequently asked questions

No. The conversion is completely lossless, meaning all coordinates, polygons, and placemarks remain entirely intact.

The file size changes marginally because the ZIP compression wrapper (KMZ) is removed, leaving only the plain-text XML markup (KML).

KMZ is a compressed container for KML and assets. Converting extracts the KML text, so bundled assets may need to be handled separately if referenced locally.

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