Drop a PNG into the box above and it comes back as an ICO file, the icon format used for website favicons and Windows shortcuts. One ICO file holds several sizes of the same picture, so each place that shows it can take the size it needs instead of shrinking a large one on the fly. The converter makes all the standard sizes at once and keeps the transparent background. There's no signup or watermark.
What's inside the ICO file
| Icon size | Stored as | Included |
|---|---|---|
| 16, 24, 32 and 48 px | Bitmap | Always |
| 64 px | PNG | When the picture is at least 64 px |
| 128 px | PNG | When the picture is at least 128 px |
| 256 px | PNG | When the picture is at least 256 px |
The small sizes are the ones browser tabs, bookmarks and file lists show; the large ones serve desktops and high-resolution screens. Each size is shrunk from your picture separately, so the 16 pixel icon doesn't inherit jagged edges from a quick resize. For the best small icons, start from a simple, bold picture at 256 pixels or more: fine detail and thin lines disappear at 16 pixels.
Square pictures work best
An icon is always square. A picture that isn't gets centered on a transparent square, keeping its whole shape with empty space above and below or at the sides. To fill the icon edge to edge, open Crop, resize and file size and choose Crop to Square, which keeps the middle of the picture.
For a logo, removing the logo's background first gives a transparent PNG trimmed to the logo itself, which makes the cleanest icon. The logo page also explains why a tiny logo file looks rough when enlarged.
Using the ICO file as a favicon
A favicon is the little icon in a browser tab, bookmark list and history. To use the ICO file as one:
- Rename the download to favicon.ico.
- Upload it to your website's root folder, next to the home page.
- Optionally, add
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico">to the head of your pages, which some site builders do for you.
Browsers read the sizes inside and pick the one that suits the screen. After replacing an old favicon, a browser may keep showing the previous one for a while, because favicons are cached; a private window shows the new one. For the Apple and Android home screen icons as well, the favicon generator makes the whole set with the HTML to paste.
Other formats
The converter makes ICO files from JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP, HEIC and SVG pictures as well. An SVG is drawn at full size before the icons are made, so every size is sharp. To go the other way and turn a drawing into a PNG of any size, use the SVG to PNG converter.
Frequently asked questions
Which sizes are in the ICO file?
16, 24, 32 and 48 pixels always, plus 64, 128 and 256 pixels when your picture is at least that big. Sizes under 64 pixels are stored as classic bitmaps that any program reading ICO files understands, larger ones as compressed PNG.
How do I use the ICO file as a favicon?
Name it favicon.ico and put it in your website's root folder, or link it in the page's head with <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico">. Each browser picks the size it needs from the file.
Does the icon keep a transparent background?
Yes. Transparent areas of the PNG stay transparent in every size. A JPG has no transparency, so remove its background first for an icon that shows the page behind it.
What if my picture isn't square?
Icons are square, so the picture is centered on a transparent square at its full width or height. To fill the icon instead, choose Crop to Square before converting.
Can I convert JPG or SVG to ICO?
Yes. JPG, WebP, SVG and the other formats the converter opens become ICO files the same way. An SVG is drawn at full size first, so even its 256 pixel icon is sharp.
Are my images uploaded?
No. The icon is made inside your browser, so your pictures never leave your device, and there's no signup or watermark.