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

Quick facts

Extension.xm

File typeXM Audio

MIME typeaudio/xm

CategoryAudio

Charset—

Compressible—

What is .xm

What is a .xm file?

A .xm file is a XM Audio. It is an audio format used to store music, voice and sound effects, either lossy or lossless.

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

Related entities: it maps to audio/xm and is used by Logos among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .xm files

Use VLC or Windows Media Player to open and edit .xm 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: audio/xm

Common software that reads/writes .xm:

VLCWindows Media PlayerAudacityQuickTime

Relation chain

.xmextension of

format

XM Audioserved as

mime type

audio/xmsent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

Related programming languages

Logos

.xm .x .xi

Common uses

Music and podcasts
Sound effects
Voice recordings

How to edit .xm files

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

How to create .xm files

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

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .xm files?

Common options include VLC, Windows Media Player, Audacity. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .xm file?

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

What is the relationship between .xm and the audio/xm MIME type?

audio/xm is the media type identifier used for .xm files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-08-18

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