PNG to ICO Converter

An ICO file is a small container that holds several versions of the same icon at different sizes. Windows picks the one that fits the place the icon is shown: 16 px in a title bar or browser tab, 32 px on the taskbar, 48 px in a folder and 256 px for large previews. Packing them together is why an icon looks crisp everywhere, instead of a single image being stretched or shrunk. This ICO maker draws each size straight from your image and writes them all into one file.

The icons inside are stored as PNG images, the modern form of the format that Windows has supported since Vista and that every browser reads. That keeps full 32-bit colour and smooth transparency, so a logo with a see-through background keeps its edges instead of getting a white or black box around it. It also means the file is a faithful copy of your artwork, not a reduced palette version.

For the best result start from a square image that is at least as large as the biggest size you choose, ideally 256 px or more. If the picture is smaller than a size you tick, the tool tells you that size will be enlarged and may look soft. Very detailed artwork often needs simplifying to read clearly at 16 px, so check the small previews before you download.

This icon converter works on your device. The image is read and resized by your browser, the .ico is assembled in memory, and nothing is sent to a server. You can use the file as a website favicon, for a Windows shortcut or application, or anywhere an .ico is required.