# I can't save a photo to my desktop without it being saved as a .BMP file

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 15, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921 "2005-01-15T22:57:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921/1 "2005-01-15T22:57:10Z")

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I tried looking in the “Save As Type” scrollbar when saving it to my desktop, but that reveals no options but “.BMP”. This happens with .GIF images, .JPG; you name it.

How do I fix it so I have these options?

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921/2 "2005-01-15T23:11:35Z")

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> [@Joe K](#):
>
> How do I fix it so I have these options?

That very much depends on what program you are trying to save the files from.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921/3 "2005-01-15T23:15:09Z")

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Assuming you mean attempting to save images when viewed in your web browser, you are probably using IE. Clear the IE cache as this often causes the problem.

For a permanent solution, dump IE for Mozilla or Firefox. You can thank us later.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921/4 "2005-01-15T23:19:16Z")

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[From the folks at M$](http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=810978)

Assuming, of course, you’re using IE.

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-save-a-photo-to-my-desktop-without-it-being-saved-as-a-bmp-file/284921/5 "2005-01-15T23:22:34Z")

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> [@Duckster](#):
>
> For a permanent solution, dump IE for Mozilla or Firefox.

That’s a permanant solution to quite a few problems, actually.