PNG → ICO
Convert PNG to ICO/favicon – locally in your browser
Why PNG → ICO?
Convert PNG images to ICO icons – perfect for favicons and Windows icons. Directly in browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert PNG to ICO?
ICO is the standard format for favicons and Windows icons. Create a favicon from any PNG.
What sizes are created?
Standard ICO sizes are created: 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 64×64 pixels.
Are my images safe?
Yes, conversion happens entirely in your browser.
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.
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.
Why convert PNG → ICO?
PNG is a lossless raster format with full alpha transparency support, a web standard since 1996. It's excellent for screenshots, diagrams, and graphics with text elements. The downside: PNG files are significantly larger than modern compressed formats — often 3-5x larger than WebP at equivalent visual quality. Converting to ICO makes sense when you need to reduce file size for web or mobile use, require a format with lossy compression for photos, or want to use images in a system with limited PNG support. Switching to ICO noticeably reduces load times for web use.