Convert PNG to ICO
Your files are processed on your device. We never upload them.
How to convert PNG to ICO
- 01A ▸Choose your PNG image, or drop it on the page. A square image of 256 pixels or more works best.
- 02A ▸Tick the icon sizes you need. The usual four are already ticked.
- 03A ▸Select Make ICO, then download the icon.
About PNG to ICO
Where PNG files come from
Logos and app artwork are usually designed and exported as PNG. Windows shortcuts and folders, desktop programs, and the classic favicon.ico file need the ICO format, which holds several sizes of the same icon in one file.
What changes
- The picture is drawn at each size you tick, from 16 to 256 pixels, and all sizes go into one .ico file.
- Transparency is kept in every size.
- Pictures that aren't square are fitted and centred, with see-through space around them.
- Each size is stored as a PNG inside the icon, which Windows Vista and later, and every browser, read.
Measured
A 1024 by 1024 pixel logo and our 12-megapixel sample photo, both PNG, made into icons with the 16, 32, 48, and 256 pixel sizes in Chrome on a laptop. Phone timings are still to be measured.
| Logo, PNG to ICO | 47 KB to 12 KB |
|---|---|
| Photo, PNG to ICO | 14 MB to 60 KB |
| Time for the logo in Chrome (laptop) | 0.1 seconds |
| Time for the photo in Chrome (laptop) | 0.3 seconds |
In your browser
Every current browser reads PNG and draws each icon size itself. The icon file is put together by the page's own code, so nothing extra is downloaded.
Limits
- An ICO file holds sizes up to 256 by 256 pixels. Modern app icons and Apple touch icons use PNG files instead.
- Programs older than Windows Vista can't read sizes stored as PNG.
- Detail and thin text vanish at 16 pixels. A simplified version of the logo makes a clearer small icon.
Other options
- PNG to SVG: a vector favicon that stays sharp at every size in modern browsers.
- Resize image: make a 180 pixel PNG for an Apple touch icon.
- JPG to ICO: the same tool for JPG images.
Questions
What sizes does a favicon.ico need?
16 and 32 pixels are the sizes browsers use for tabs and bookmarks. Adding 48 and 256 covers Windows desktop and file icons. The tool ticks those four for you; add 24, 64, or 128 if a program asks for them.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Your files are processed on your device. We never upload them.
Does the icon keep my transparent background?
Yes. Every size keeps the PNG's transparency.
My PNG isn't square. What happens?
The picture is shrunk to fit inside the square and centred, with see-through space filling the rest. Nothing is cropped.
How do I use the ICO as a favicon?
Name the file favicon.ico and upload it to the top folder of your website, or add a link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" tag to your pages.
How do I change a Windows folder or shortcut icon?
Right-click the shortcut or folder, choose Properties, then Change Icon, and pick the .ico file you downloaded.