ICO → PNG
Convert ICO icons to PNG – locally in your browser
Why ICO → PNG?
Convert ICO icons to PNG – for modern web projects and better compatibility. Directly in browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ICO file?
ICO is the Windows icon format, commonly used for favicons and program icons.
Are my images safe?
Yes, conversion happens entirely in your browser.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free without sign-up.
About PNG
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was released in 1996 as an open standard and developed as a patent-free alternative to GIF after Unisys demanded licensing fees for the LZW algorithm used in GIF in 1994. PNG uses lossless compression based on the Deflate algorithm and supports up to 16 bits per channel as well as full-color transparency through a dedicated alpha channel. The format is particularly suited for graphics with sharp edges, text, logos, and screenshots – anywhere JPEG would produce artifacts through its lossy compression. PNG does not support animation; this gap is filled by the unofficial APNG format, which is supported by most browsers. The interlaced variant (Adam7) enables progressive loading where a coarse preview becomes visible even with minimal data transferred. PNG is the de facto standard for lossless web graphics and is supported by all browsers, operating systems, and image editing programs. For photography, however, PNG is inefficient since file sizes are significantly larger compared to JPEG or WebP, which is why PNG is primarily used for graphics and screenshots.
About ICO
ICO (Icon) is a Microsoft image format introduced in 1985 with Windows 1.0 and is primarily used for favicons and Windows application icons. An ICO file can contain multiple image sizes (typically 16x16 to 256x256 pixels) and color depths (4 to 32 bits) in a single file, with Windows automatically selecting the appropriate variant for the current context. The format supports transparency via 1-bit alpha or full alpha channels in PNG-encoded entries. ICO is based on the DIB format (Device-Independent Bitmap) and can contain both BMP and PNG-encoded images within the same file. For web favicons, ICO remains relevant due to its multi-size capability, although modern browsers also accept SVG and PNG. Windows applications use ICO for program icons at various sizes, and the format is deeply integrated into the Windows shell. Converting to PNG is straightforward since individual image sizes can be extracted as separate PNG files.
Why convert ICO → PNG?
ICO is a Windows-specific container format for favicons and application icons that bundles multiple image sizes (16×16 to 256×256) in one file. Modern web standards (HTML5, Web Manifest) prefer individual PNG or SVG files with size specifications. Converting to PNG enables use in modern browsers, CMS systems, as app icons across platforms, and in design tools that don't support ICO. For web projects, PNG is the recommended standard for icons and favicons today. PNG supports lossless compression and alpha transparency, making it ideal for graphics, screenshots, and images with transparent areas.