Files with the extension .gp, .gpx or .gpg often become a headache for Android users. Unlike popular formats like .apk or .mp4, they are not opened by standard system tools, and their purpose depends on the context: it can be geodata for navigators, encrypted archives, or even projects for specialized software. In this article, we will look at all the current ways to work with such files on smartphones Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel and other devices.

The main problem is that Android does not associate GP formats with any application by default. Moreover, some of these extensions may relate to proprietary solutions (for example, project files Garmin or GoldenDict). We analyzed 15+ applications from Google Play and alternative sources to highlight the most reliable tools - from official utilities to universal viewers.

If you are looking for a solution for a specific file type, use the table of contents below. At the end of the article there is FAQ block answers to common questions, including compatibility and security issues.

1. What are GP files and why don’t they open on Android

Extension .gp is an “umbrella” term under which completely different types of data can be hidden. Here are the main categories:

  • 🗺️ Geodata: files .gpx (tracks, routes, points of interest for navigators Garmin, OsmAnd), .gpi (maps for Garmin).
  • 🔒 Encrypted archives: files .gpg (encryption GnuPG), .gp (less often - proprietary archives).
  • 📚 Projects apps: project files GoldenDict (.gp), GameMaker (.gmx, but sometimes mistakenly saved as .gp).
  • 🎮 Game saves: some emulators (for example, PPSSPP) use .gp for game states.

Android does not recognize these formats automatically for two reasons:

  1. Lack built-in support for niche extensions (as opposed to .jpg or .mp3).
  2. Association conflict: the same .gp may refer to different data types, and the system does not know which application to offer.

Before looking for a app to open, determine exact type of your file. To do this:

  1. Look at the source of the file (where you downloaded/received it from).
  2. Use a file manager (for example Solid Explorer) and check MIME type properties.
  3. Rename the extension to .txt and open in notepad - sometimes there is a signature at the beginning of the file (for example, for .gpx).
📊 What type of GP file do you need open?
Geodata (GPX, tracks)
Encrypted archive (GPG)
app project (GoldenDict, etc.)
Game saving
I don’t know what it is

2. Official applications for GPX and navigation files

If your file is related to geodata (routes, tracks, maps), the most reliable solutions are specialized navigators. They support formats .gpx, .kml, .loc and other standards for the exchange of geoinformation.

Application Supported formats Features Link
OsmAnd .gpx, .kml, .osm Offline maps, track recording, plugin support Google Play
Locus Map .gpx, .loc, .fit Advanced navigation, import/export of tracks Google Play
Garmin Connect .gpx, .fit, .tcx Synchronization with Garmin devices, activity analytics Google Play
Google Earth .kml, .kmz 3D viewing, but does not support .gpx directly Google Play

To open .gpx to OsmAnd:

  1. Download and install the application from Google Play.
  2. Move the file .gpx to the folder OsmAnd/tracks to phone (you can via Total Commander or FX File Explorer).
  3. Run OsmAnd, go to Menu → My places → Tracks.
  4. Select the desired file - the route will be displayed on map.

☑️ Preparing a GPX file for OsmAnd

Done: 0 / 4

Important: If the file .gpx is not displayed, check its structure. Some tracks contain errors in the XML markup. Use the service for validation. GPX Validator (available online).

⚠️ Attention: When importing large .gpxfiles (more than 50 MB) OsmAnd may slow down. Split the file into parts using GPX Editor on a PC.

3. Working with encrypted GPG files

Files .gpg or .gp (if these are encrypted archives) require specialized tools for decryption. On Android, the most reliable solutions are:

  • 🔐 OpenKeychain - open software for working with GnuPG-encryption. Supports .gpg, .asc, integrates with email clients.
  • 📦 Crypto Manager —a universal manager for encrypting/decrypting files (including .gpg).
  • 🔄 Andrognito —creates encrypted containers, but does not work with external .gpgfiles.

Instructions for OpenKeychain:

  1. Install the application from Google Play or F-Droid.
  2. Import private key (if you have one) via Menu → Key management → Import.
  3. Open the file .gpg via OpenKeychain (or select it in the file manager, specifying OpenKeychain as the default application).
  4. Enter the password (if the file is protected) and save the decrypted copy.

If you do not have a private key, recover the data from .gpg impossible - this is a feature of asymmetric encryption.. In this case, contact the sender of the file and ask:

  • Password (if symmetric encryption was used).
  • Private key (if asymmetric encryption).
  • Unencrypted version of the file.
⚠️ Attention: Do not store private keys in cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox). Use offline storage or specialized managers like KeePassDX.

4. Alternative methods: conversion and cloud services

If there is no suitable app on Android, you can convert the file to a more common format on a PC or use cloud tools.

Option 1: Convert to PC

  • 🖥️ For .gpx: use GPSVisualizer (online) or QGIS (desktop) to convert to .kml.
  • 🔒 For .gpg: decrypt on PC using Gpg4win (Windows) or GPG Suite (macOS), then transfer the result to your phone.

Option 2: Cloud viewers

  • 🌍 GPX Viewer (web): upload .gpx to the site gpx.studio to view the track on the map.
  • 📊 Google My Maps: import .kml/.gpx to create your own map.

Option 3: PC emulation on Android

To run desktop apps (for example, GoldenDict for .gpprojects) you can use:

  • 🐧 UserLAnd — emulator of Linux environment (supports GnuPG, Pythonscripts).
  • 🖥️ Wine for Android — to run Windows apps (unstable).
💡

If the file .gp is a project GoldenDict, rename it to .zip and unpack it with an archiver. Often there are texts and pictures inside in a readable form.

5. Manual opening via terminal (for advanced users)

If you are familiar with ADB or Termux, you can try opening the file via the command line. This method is suitable for .gpg or text .gpfiles.

Method 1: Termux + GnuPG

  1. Install Termux from F-Droid (version from Google Play outdated).
  2. Update the packages and install GnuPG: 
    pkg update && pkg upgrade

    pkg install gnupg

  3. Copy the file to the folder ~/storage/shared (or use termux-setup-storage).
  4. Decrypt the file (if .gpg): 
    gpg --decrypt file.gpg > result.txt

Method 2: ADB to view the content

If the file is text (for example, .gpx in XML format), you can display its contents via ADB:

  1. Connect the phone to the PC and turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times, then For Developers → USB Debugging).
  2. Run command: 
    adb pull /sdcard/Download/your_file.gp

    notepad your_file.gp

⚠️ Attention: Commands ADB and Termux require superuser rights (root) for working with system folders. Without root you will only be able to view files in /sdcard.

6. Common errors and how to fix them

Even with the correct application opening .gp-files may end with errors. Let's consider typical problems and solutions:

Error Possible cause Solution
File damaged or Invalid format The file was not downloaded completely or has XML structure errors (for .gpx) Check the checksum (MD5) or restore the file via 7-Zip on PC
No permission to open The file is encrypted or protected by DRM (for example, cards Garmin) Use official software (Garmin Express) or request a key from the owner
The application does not see the file in the folder The file is hidden or located in an unsupported directory Move the file to /Download or /Documents and update the list in the application
Unknown extension The file has been renamed (for example, .txt → .gp) Check the real format via TrIDNet (Windows) or file (Linux)

A case from practice: The user tried to open the .gpfile as an archive, but got an error Unsupported compression method. It turned out that it was a project GoldenDict, and not GnuPG. The solution is to rename it to .zip and unpack.

💡

If the file cannot be opened in any way, check its origin. It may be a proprietary format that requires specific software (for example, Garmin BaseCamp for cards).

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Can I open a GP file without installing applications?

Yes, but only if it is a text file (for example, .gpx in XML format). Use any text editor (QuickEdit, Jota+) and open the file as text. For binary formats (.gpg, encrypted .gp) applications. are required.

Why does OsmAnd not show my GPX track?

Possible reasons:

  • The file is damaged (check via GPX Validator).
  • The track is outside the area of downloaded maps (download an offline map for this region).
  • The display of tracks is disabled in the settings (Settings → Map → Show tracks).
How to open a GP file from GoldenDict?

Project files GoldenDict (.gp) are archives. Do the following:

  1. Rename file.gp → file.zip.
  2. Unpack with an archiver (for example, RAR for Android).
  3. Inside there will be files .dds (pictures), .html (texts) - they can be opened using standard tools.

To edit the project, install GoldenDict on a PC.

Is it safe to open GP files from unknown sources?

No, especially if they are:

  • Encrypted archives (.gpg) - may contain malicious code.
  • Executable files (rarely, but .gp may be renamed .exe).

Check files through VirusTotal before opening. For .gpx the risk is minimal (this is a text format), but it is better to use trusted sources.

Is it possible to convert GP to PDF or JPEG?

Yes, but only for specific file types:

  • 🗺️ .gpx → .pdf: use GPSVisualizer (online) to generate a map with a track.
  • 📷 .gp (project GoldenDict) → .jpeg: unpack the archive and extract the images .dds, then convert via Paint.NET.

For .gpg conversion is possible only after decryption.