What Is a .b16 File? .b16 Format, MIME & How to Open

Quick facts

Extension.b16

File typeB16 Image

MIME typeimage/vnd.pco.b16

CategoryImage

Charset—

Compressible—

What is .b16

What is a .b16 file?

A .b16 file is a B16 Image. It is a raster or vector image format used for photos, web assets and design work.

In the mime-db registry it maps to image/vnd.pco.b16. When serving .b16 over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to image/vnd.pco.b16 — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .b16 files

Use Photoshop or GIMP to open and edit .b16 files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: image/vnd.pco.b16

Common software that reads/writes .b16:

PhotoshopGIMPPaintPreview

Relation chain

.b16extension of

format

B16 Imageserved as

mime type

image/vnd.pco.b16sent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

Common uses

Web graphics and photos
Design assets and icons
Print and photography

How to edit .b16 files

Open the file with Photoshop, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .b16 files

Create a new file and save it with the .b16 extension, or export this format from Photoshop.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .b16 files?

Common options include Photoshop, GIMP, Paint. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .b16 file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .b16 extension.

What is the relationship between .b16 and the image/vnd.pco.b16 MIME type?

image/vnd.pco.b16 is the media type identifier used for .b16 files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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