ICO Converter
Turn an existing image into a proper ICO file, the format Windows and older browsers expect for icons. Choose which sizes to include and download a single ICO with all of them packed in.
Drop images here or click to browse
Most image formats up to 50 MB each
Your images never leave your device
Most image formats, up to 50 megabytes each Your images never leave your deviceHow to use the ICO Converter
- Drop in your image, ideally square.
- Choose which sizes to include: 16, 32 and 48 pixels by default.
- Download the ICO file.
Features
- Packs multiple sizes, 16 up to 256 pixels, into one ICO file.
- Pads or crops automatically if your source image is not square.
- Warns you if the source is smaller than the largest size you selected.
- Also available as a ZIP of the individual PNG sizes.
Why does an ICO file need more than one size?
An ICO file can store several sizes of the same image in one package, and Windows or a browser picks whichever fits the context, a small taskbar icon versus a larger shortcut icon. Including a range from 16 up to 256 pixels means the icon looks sharp everywhere it appears.
What still specifically requires an ICO file rather than PNG?
A Windows desktop shortcut, an installed Windows application's icon and some older browsers still specifically expect the ICO format and will not accept a plain PNG in its place. Most modern browsers now read favicon.ico or a PNG favicon equally well, which is why the site's Favicon Generator produces both; this converter exists for the cases, mostly Windows software and desktop shortcuts, where ICO specifically is still the required format.
Which sizes are worth including beyond the default three?
16, 32 and 48 pixels, the defaults, cover a browser tab, a taskbar icon and a desktop shortcut. Add 64 or 128 pixels if the icon needs to look sharp in a larger file browser view, and 256 pixels specifically for a Windows application icon shown at full size in Explorer's large icon view, since Windows scales a smaller size up rather than down if the exact size it wants is missing from the file.
Frequently asked questions
What if my image is not square?
The tool pads it onto a square canvas, or you can crop it to square first with the Image Cropper for tighter control over what gets kept.
Do I need the full Favicon Generator instead?
Only if you also want the PNG sizes, Apple touch icon and web manifest that a full modern favicon setup uses. This tool is for when you specifically need just an ICO file.
Will the ICO open on a Mac?
Yes, macOS Preview and most image viewers can open an ICO file and show every size packed inside it.
Can I convert a JPG as well as a PNG?
Yes, this tool accepts most common image formats as a source; PNG is the better starting point if you need transparency in the final icon, since JPG never has any.
Does selecting more sizes make a noticeably bigger file?
The size difference is small in absolute terms, typically a few kilobytes even with every size selected, since icons are simple, low resolution images to begin with.
Can I get the individual PNG files instead of just the combined ICO?
Yes, selecting more than one size also produces a ZIP containing the separate PNG for each size alongside the combined ICO file.
