ICO Converter

Convert PNG, JPG, SVG, WebP, and BMP images to ICO format for favicons and Windows applications.

Drop image or click to browse

Supports PNG, JPG, SVG, WebP, BMP, GIF (max 10MB)

Conversion Settings

What is an ICO File?

ICO (Icon) is a file format used for computer icons in Microsoft Windows. ICO files contain one or more small images at multiple sizes and color depths, such that they may be scaled appropriately for different display situations.

Key Features of ICO Format:

  • Supports multiple images within a single file (different sizes and color depths)
  • Essential for Windows application icons and website favicons
  • Supports transparency (alpha channel) for PNG-based icons
  • Can contain images from 1x1 to 256x256 pixels

Common ICO Sizes and Uses

16×16
Taskbar, Small Icons
32×32
Standard, Favicon
48×48
Medium Icons
64×64
Large Icons
128×128
Extra Large
256×256
High Resolution

How to Use ICO Files

1

Website Favicon: Rename to "favicon.ico" and place in your website's root directory. Add this code to your HTML <head> section:

<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
2

Windows Application Icon: Use in your application development (C++, C#, etc.) by specifying the ICO file as the application icon in your project settings.

3

Desktop Shortcut Icon: Right-click on a shortcut, select Properties, then Change Icon, and browse to your ICO file.

Supported Input Formats

PNG
.png
JPEG
.jpg, .jpeg
SVG
.svg
WebP
.webp
BMP
.bmp
GIF
.gif

Frequently Asked Questions

ICO files can contain multiple image sizes within a single file, allowing browsers to select the appropriate size for different contexts. PNG is a single image format. While modern browsers support PNG for favicons, ICO remains the most compatible format across all browsers and platforms, especially for Windows.

For a favicon, include at least 16×16, 32×32, and 48×48 pixels. For Windows application icons, include 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 pixels. Including multiple sizes ensures your icon looks good in different contexts (taskbar, desktop, file explorer, etc.).

Yes, our converter supports SVG to ICO conversion. The SVG will be rasterized (converted to pixel-based images) at the selected sizes. This is useful for creating crisp icons at multiple resolutions from a single scalable vector graphic.

This usually happens when the application is using a different size than what's optimal for the display context. Make sure your ICO contains multiple sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 64×64, etc.) so the operating system can choose the best one for each situation.

Yes, our converter accepts files up to 10MB. For best results with ICO conversion, we recommend using source images that are at least as large as the largest ICO size you want to create (e.g., use at least a 256×256 source image if you want a 256×256 ICO).