Free online KML to TCX converter
Convert KML paths and tracks into Garmin-compatible TCX activity files.
Convert KML to TCX online - free
TCX type
Activity is a recorded workout for Strava, Garmin Connect or TrainingPeaks. Course is a route to follow on a device. Auto picks Activity when the points have timestamps.
Sport
Used for activities only. Auto reads the sport recorded in FIT and GPX files.
Your file is processed instantly and never stored on our servers.
Import a file from a URL
Paste a direct link to the file. We download it to our server and it is converted exactly like an upload.
How it works
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Upload your .kml file
Click to browse to select your file you want to convert or simply drag & drop your file into selected area.
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Perform .kml to .tcx conversion
After successful file upload, click to convert when you are ready.
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Download converted .tcx file
Conversion result is ready to download.
How to convert kml to tcx file
- GPS navigation, maps, GIS
- No ratings yet.
101convert.com assistant bot
37m
What the KML format is
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML-based geographic format used for placemarks, routes, tracks, boundaries, and map overlays. Google Earth and Google Maps commonly create or export KML files; GIS applications, navigation software, and GPS planning tools also use them. A KML file can contain several geometry types, including Point, LineString, and time-stamped track data in gx:Track elements.
What the TCX format is
TCX (Training Center XML) is Garmin’s XML format for fitness activities, courses, and workouts. It can store an activity with laps and trackpoints containing latitude, longitude, elevation, timestamp, distance, heart rate, cadence, and related metrics. TCX is useful for importing a course or completed activity into Garmin Connect and compatible training applications, but it is not a general-purpose map format.
How to actually convert KML to TCX
For a desktop conversion, GPSBabel is a suitable choice because it supports KML input and Garmin Training Center XML output.
- Install GPSBabel for your operating system.
- Ensure the KML contains a route or track rather than only map pins. In Google Earth, select the path and use Save place as to create a KML file.
- Run this command from a terminal:
gpsbabel -i kml -f input.kml -o gtrnctr -F output.tcx
Replace input.kml with the source filename and output.tcx with the desired output filename. In the GPSBabel graphical interface, select KML as the input format, choose the source file, select Garmin Training Center XML as the output format, choose a destination, and start the conversion.
You can also convert the file on the 101convert.com website for free without installing software: select KML as the input format, select TCX as the output format, upload the file, start the conversion, and download the resulting file.
Quality and compatibility limitations
A KML path normally supplies coordinates and may supply elevation, but it often lacks workout timestamps, lap boundaries, heart rate, cadence, and recorded distance. The converter cannot reconstruct data that is absent. A route exported as a simple LineString may therefore become a TCX course or track with limited activity metadata rather than a complete recorded workout.
Open the resulting TCX in a text editor or import it into the target application to check that it contains TrainingCenterDatabase, trackpoints, valid latitude and longitude values, and usable elevation data. If the source contains multiple paths, convert the intended path separately when the destination application imports only one activity. Very large KML files, unsupported KML extensions, folders containing mixed geometry, or malformed XML may require cleanup before conversion.
Note: This kml to tcx conversion record is incomplete, must be verified, and may contain inaccuracies. Please vote below whether you found this information helpful or not.
KML vs TCX: format comparison
How the KML and TCX formats compare on the properties that matter most for this conversion.
| Property | .KML Keyhole Markup Language | .TCX Training Center XML |
|---|---|---|
| Data model | Vector | Vector |
| Attribute table | Yes | Yes |
| Coordinate system | Separate file | Embedded in the file |
| Plain-text readable | Yes | Yes |
| Operating system support | Wide | Wide |
| Typical file size | Small | Medium |
| Open standard | Yes | Partly open |
| Introduced | 2008 | 2007 |
| Developer | Open Geospatial Consortium | Garmin Ltd. |
| MIME type | application/vnd.google-earth.kml+xml | application/vnd.garmin.tcx+xml |
Frequently asked questions
Is the KML to TCX converter free?
Yes, converting KML to TCX on 101convert.com is completely free. No registration, email address or installation is required. If you need a higher file size limit or want to convert more files at once, see our plans.
How large can my KML file be?
You can upload KML files up to 50 MB and convert up to 20 files at once in a single batch.
What happens to my uploaded files?
Files are processed automatically and deleted from our servers within a few minutes after conversion. We never view or share your files.
Do I need to install any software to convert KML to TCX?
No. The KML to TCX conversion runs entirely online in your browser and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.
Did the conversion fail?
In most cases, the cause is an incorrect file format. Please upload a valid KML file for this KML to TCX conversion. Occasionally, the issue may be on our side. We analyze recurring conversion failures and disable or fix the converter if we detect a defect.