AQM File

What are AQM files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AQM 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 AQM files.

What is an AQM file?

An .AQM file is an AlpineQuest Map file.

AlpineQuest Map files store full raster map data that AlpineQuest uses for offline display. These maps are created ahead of time using tools like Mobile Atlas Creator (MOBAC) or MAPC2MAPC. Users choose map sources (such as topo, satellite, etc.), zoom levels, and a geographic area, then export it as a map that remains fully stored on the device and available even without internet.

Because the data is pre-downloaded and packaged into a single file, map information such as tile images, geographic projection, bounds, zoom levels and imagery details are all contained inside. AlpineQuest reads these files "on-the-fly," meaning it renders map tiles directly from the file when panning or zooming, without importing into a separate optimized format. These maps do not support elevation data and cannot be converted into AlpineQuest's faster internal cache format (PGD) via import.

Files of this type begin with a recognizable signature and include internal metadata embedded among their contents. For example, they start with ASCII bytes "FLATPACK1" at offset zero, and also include strings like "VERSION", "PROJECTION", "XTOFFSET", "XTSIZE", "XTMIN", "YTMIN", "IMGFORMAT", "DATASOURCE", and "IEND" among others.

How to open AQM files

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

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested three different AQM openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of AQM files. Remember, different programs may use AQM files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about AQM file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.