BGCODE File

What are BGCODE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BGCODE 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 BGCODE files.

What is a BGCODE file?

A .BGCODE file is a Binary G-code file.

Binary G-code is a format used by PrusaSlicer and compatible firmware for 3D printing to store G-code instructions in a compressed, binary container rather than as plain text. It is intended to reduce file size, improve transfer speed, and speed up parsing on the printer by encoding metadata and movements in structured blocks.

Files in this format are produced by PrusaSlicer via the libbgcode library, which can convert ASCII G-code (standard human-readable commands) into the binary format and back. Printer firmware (for example on Original Prusa MINI, MK4, XL) must support Binary G-code (from firmware version 5.1.0 onward) to use or execute files in this format.

The file is laid out as a container with distinct blocks, each block serving a specific purpose such as file metadata, printer metadata, print (job) metadata, slicer metadata, the core G-code data, and optionally a thumbnail image. Each block may be compressed (using algorithms like Deflate or Heatshrink) and/or encoded (for example using MeatPack) to reduce size. A checksum (e.g. CRC32) may be included for data integrity.

This format begins with a magic header of ASCII "GCDE" followed by version and configuration fields. The header identifies the version, the chosen checksum scheme, and the types of encoding and compression used for each block.

How to open BGCODE files

Important: Different programs may use files with the BGCODE file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your BGCODE 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 24, 2026

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