How do I open a TCX file?

Drag the .tcx file onto the TCX viewer on this page. It shows the route on a map, the summary, lap splits and heart rate, speed, cadence, power and elevation charts. You need no account and nothing is uploaded. A TCX file is plain XML, so a text editor can also open it, but you only see the raw tags.

Which apps export TCX files?

Garmin Connect (Export to TCX), Strava (export of your own activities), Polar Flow, Suunto, many treadmills and smart trainers, Zwift and older Garmin Training Center software. The viewer reads all of them, including files with several activities.

What is the difference between TCX and FIT?

Both store a workout with laps and trackpoints. TCX is readable XML text and larger; FIT is the compact binary format Garmin devices record natively and it holds more detail (device info, developer fields, running dynamics). Use the TCX to FIT converter when an app only accepts FIT.

Why does my TCX file fail to upload to Strava or Garmin Connect?

The most common causes are blank space or a line break before the , or an activity that already exists in your account. The troubleshooting section on this page explains each fix.

Can I edit a TCX file?

Yes, with the TCX file editor you can change the sport, start time and trackpoints, trim the activity and download a new TCX file. To get a FIT file, run the result through the TCX to FIT converter.

Is my TCX file uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is read with the XML parser built into your browser. Your routes and heart-rate data never leave your device.

100% Private - Files processed locally

TCX File Viewer

Open a TCX file online and see the route map, laps, heart rate, pace, cadence and power charts. Works with Garmin, Strava, Polar, Suunto and treadmill exports, right in your browser.

100% Private. Files are processed locally in your browser.

Open TCX File

Drag & drop or click to browse

Visualize Routes

Instantly view your GPS tracks on an interactive map. See exactly where you ran, cycled, or hiked without uploading to a third-party platform.

Analyze Metrics

Deep dive into heart rate, speed, cadence, power, and elevation data. Our charts help you spot trends and analyze performance.

Inspect Structure

Inspect raw TCX structure including activities, laps, and trackpoint details. Useful for troubleshooting files and validating data.

How to view a TCX file

1
Export the TCX file
In Garmin Connect open the activity, click the gear icon and choose "Export to TCX". Strava, Polar Flow, Suunto, Zwift and most treadmills offer a TCX export too.
2
Drop it into the viewer
Drag the .tcx file onto the upload area above, or tap it to pick the file on your phone.
3
Read the workout
Check the summary, the route on the map, the lap splits and the charts. Hover the chart to see the matching point on the map. If the file holds several activities, pick one from the list.
4
Edit or convert if needed
Fix the sport or start time in the TCX file editor, or convert TCX to FIT for apps and devices that only read FIT.

What the TCX viewer shows

Summary: distance, total time, pace or speed, heart rate, calories and elevation gain.
Map: the GPS track with start and finish. Indoor files without GPS show the charts only.
Charts: heart rate, speed or pace, cadence, power and elevation over distance.
Laps and trackpoints: every split from the file and the raw trackpoint values, useful to find a bad sensor reading or a gap.
Units: switch between metric and imperial.

What is inside a TCX file

TCX (Training Center XML) is a Garmin XML format. Unlike GPX, which mainly stores a route, TCX is built around laps, so it keeps splits, calories and heart rate per lap. The main elements are:

Element	What it holds
<Activity Sport="Running">	One workout. Sport is Running, Biking or Other. A file can hold several activities.
<Id>	Start time of the activity (UTC). Garmin Connect and Strava use it to detect duplicates.
<Lap StartTime="…">	One split: TotalTimeSeconds, DistanceMeters, Calories, AverageHeartRateBpm, Intensity, TriggerMethod.
<Track> / <Trackpoint>	The samples: Time, Position (latitude/longitude), AltitudeMeters, DistanceMeters, HeartRateBpm, Cadence.
<Extensions><TPX>	Garmin ActivityExtension: Speed, Watts (power) and RunCadence.

TCX file won't open or won't upload to Strava or Garmin Connect?

Strava: "Error parsing file" or an error about the XML declaration

Some exports put a blank line or spaces before <?xml. Open the file in a text editor, delete everything before <?xml and save. This viewer ignores the extra space, so it still opens the file. Converting the file to FIT also avoids the problem.

"Invalid TCX file: XML parsing error"

The file is incomplete, usually because a download or sync was cut off, so closing tags such as </TrainingCenterDatabase> are missing. Export the activity again. If the start of the file shows <!DOCTYPE html>, you saved a web page (often a login page) instead of the TCX file.

Garmin Connect or Strava says the activity is a duplicate

Both services match the start time in <Id> against your existing activities. Delete the old activity first, or change the start time in the TCX file editor if it really is a different workout.

The upload is accepted but shows no map or zero distance

Treadmill and trainer files have no <Position> elements. Check in the viewer whether DistanceMeters is present; if it is, convert the file to FIT, which keeps the indoor distance.

The file is a course, not an activity

TCX course files (<Courses>) are planned routes without recorded data. Import them as a course, or convert them with the TCX to GPX converter.

Private by design

The TCX file is parsed by your browser's own XML parser. It is not uploaded, stored or shared, and the viewer works without an account.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open a TCX file?: Drag the .tcx file onto the TCX viewer on this page. It shows the route on a map, the summary, lap splits and heart rate, speed, cadence, power and elevation charts. You need no account and nothing is uploaded. A TCX file is plain XML, so a text editor can also open it, but you only see the raw tags.
Which apps export TCX files?: Garmin Connect (Export to TCX), Strava (export of your own activities), Polar Flow, Suunto, many treadmills and smart trainers, Zwift and older Garmin Training Center software. The viewer reads all of them, including files with several activities.
What is the difference between TCX and FIT?: Both store a workout with laps and trackpoints. TCX is readable XML text and larger; FIT is the compact binary format Garmin devices record natively and it holds more detail (device info, developer fields, running dynamics). Use the TCX to FIT converter when an app only accepts FIT.
Why does my TCX file fail to upload to Strava or Garmin Connect?: The most common causes are blank space or a line break before the <?xml declaration, a file that was cut off during download (missing closing tags), trackpoints without <Time>, or an activity that already exists in your account. The troubleshooting section on this page explains each fix.
Can I edit a TCX file?: Yes, with the TCX file editor you can change the sport, start time and trackpoints, trim the activity and download a new TCX file. To get a FIT file, run the result through the TCX to FIT converter.
Is my TCX file uploaded anywhere?: No. The file is read with the XML parser built into your browser. Your routes and heart-rate data never leave your device.