Decoding Base64 Images

Base64-encoded images can be converted back to viewable images using this decoder. Simply paste the base64 string or complete data URL, and the decoder will instantly display the image. This tool supports all common image formats including PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, SVG, and BMP. Data URLs containing both MIME type information and base64 data are automatically parsed and processed.

Data URL Format

Data URLs follow the pattern data:[MIME-type];base64,[encoded-data]. The MIME type tells the decoder what type of image data is encoded. Common MIME types include image/png, image/jpeg, image/gif, and image/webp. If you paste only the base64 string without a data URL prefix, the decoder will still process it, though the MIME type cannot be determined. Complete data URLs provide the best results and allow for accurate image type detection.

Image Preview and Download

After decoding, the image is displayed in the preview area. You can download the decoded image using the download button, which automatically generates a filename based on the detected MIME type. This feature is useful for extracting images from base64 strings in emails, API responses, or databases. The downloaded image maintains its original quality and format from the base64 encoding.

Common Use Cases

Decoding base64 images is essential when working with HTML emails that contain embedded images, API responses that return image data as base64 strings, and web applications that store images in databases as base64. Mobile applications often transmit images as base64 in JSON payloads, requiring decoding on the receiving end. This decoder helps verify image content, extract images from data URLs, and troubleshoot issues with embedded images in web development.

Browser Compatibility

This decoder works in all modern browsers that support the Blob API and Canvas element. The decoded images are displayed using standard HTML img tags, ensuring compatibility across desktop and mobile browsers. The download functionality uses the HTML5 download attribute for seamless file saving. Older browsers may have limited support for certain image formats or data URL operations.

Troubleshooting Invalid Base64

If decoding fails, the input may contain invalid base64 characters, incorrect padding, or malformed data URL syntax. Base64 strings must contain only alphanumeric characters, +, /, and = for padding. Ensure the data URL format is correct with proper MIME type specification. If copying from a source, verify that no extra whitespace or line breaks were included in the base64 string. Try removing any data URL prefix (data:...;base64,) if you're having issues with just the base64 string.

Security Considerations

While base64 is not encryption, treat base64-encoded images with the same security considerations as plain images. Only decode base64 from trusted sources to avoid malicious image data. This decoder processes images client-side in your browser—no data is sent to external servers. Be cautious with very large base64 strings, as decoding extremely large images may consume significant memory and browser resources.

Image Format Support

This decoder supports all image formats that modern browsers can display: PNG for lossless images with transparency, JPEG for photographs and complex images, GIF for animations and simple graphics, WebP for modern efficient compression, SVG for vector graphics, and BMP for legacy image data. The decoder automatically detects the MIME type from data URLs and applies appropriate rendering. Unsupported formats will produce error messages, but the decoder indicates which formats were attempted.