_IM File

What are _IM files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a _IM file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your _IM files.

What is a _IM file?

A ._IM file is an IBM Audio Visual Connection (AVC) Still Video Image file.

IBM Audio Visual Connection Still Video Image files contain individual still pictures created or captured by IBM's Audio Visual Connection (AVC) system under OS/2. These "AVC ._IM" files serve as static image assets used in documents, presentations, or multimedia work developed with the AVC authoring environment. They are useful for preserving non-animated visual content captured via video or screen input when using IBM tools of that era.

Programs that author files with this format typically let the user capture a frame from video input or the display, which is then stored as a ._IM image by the AVC IO Procedure. Once created, these still images are generally edited, displayed, or incorporated into larger multimedia presentations. The images are not video sequences themselves; they represent fixed images (single frames) rather than moving pictures.

Files of this type carry a recognizable header signature for automated identification. The file begins at offset 0 with the ASCII string +A+V+C+ (hex 2B 41 2B 56 2B 43 2B). This signature helps distinguishing ._IM AVC Still Video Images from other formats.

How to open _IM files

Important: Different programs may use files with the _IM file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your _IM file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 14, 2026

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