People Also Use
Turn your ICO images into GIF right in the browser — this tool will re-encode each file and hand it back in seconds, with nothing uploaded to any server. ICO is the Windows icon and favicon format, holding one or more small square images up to 256×256. GIF is the classic animation format, limited to 256 colours per frame but universally supported for short loops. The conversion keeps your image faithful while switching it into the GIF container. Free, private, unlimited, and watermark-free.
How to Convert ICO to GIF
Add your ICO files
Drag and drop, or click to browse. You can convert several at once — they are processed together, right here in your browser.
Convert to GIF
Press Convert. GIF is limited to a 256-colour palette, so flat graphics stay crisp while photos may band.
Download
Save each GIF file, or grab them all as a ZIP. Nothing was ever uploaded, so nothing needs deleting.
Why convert ICO to GIF?
The main reason is simple animations and small graphics that fit inside 256 colours. ICO excels at favicons and Windows application icons, but when you need pixel-perfect quality, GIF is the better fit. This tool makes that switch instantly, right in your browser.
What happens to quality?
Converting to GIF reduces the picture to a 256-colour palette. Flat graphics and logos stay crisp, but photographs with smooth gradients can show visible banding, since GIF is built for simple graphics, not photos
A note on file size
File size will be broadly similar to your original ICO.
About ICO
ICO is the Windows icon and favicon format, holding one or more small square images up to 256×256. Best for favicons and Windows application icons, where a compact square with transparency is needed.
About GIF
GIF is the classic animation format, limited to 256 colours per frame but universally supported for short loops. Best for simple animations and small graphics that fit inside 256 colours.
Common Uses for ICO to GIF
- Converting ICO to GIF for a project that specifically requires Graphics Interchange Format files, where ICO is not accepted.
- Preparing images for design work that needs transparency support.
- Batch-converting a whole folder of ICO images to GIF at once, instead of doing them one at a time.
- Switching a Windows Icon export into GIF so it opens correctly in the tools your team actually uses.
- Archiving ICO images as lossless GIF so no further quality is lost over time.
ICO vs GIF: Key Differences
| Aspect | ICO | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparency | Supported | Supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Supported |
| Colour depth | 24-bit colour with transparency | limited to a 256-colour palette |
| Typical file size | Medium | Medium |
| Best used for | favicons and Windows application icons | simple animations and small graphics that fit inside 256 colours |
Tips & Things to Know
Check the file size after converting
File size will be broadly similar to your original ICO. If size matters for your use case, the before-and-after figures shown above tell you exactly what changed, so there are no surprises when you upload or share the result.
Transparency is preserved
Both formats support an alpha channel, so any transparent regions in your ICO stay transparent in the GIF — nothing is flattened onto a solid background.
Everything stays on your device
This converter runs entirely in your browser using your own processor. Your ICO files are never uploaded, stored, or seen by anyone, which makes it safe for private photos, client work, and confidential documents. When you close the tab, nothing remains.
The conversion is faithful
GIF is lossless, so every pixel is preserved exactly as it was in your ICO, meaning you do not have to worry about settings — just convert and download.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert ICO to GIF for free?
Add your ICO file above and press Convert. The GIF download appears in seconds. It is completely free, with no signup, no limits and no watermark.
Is my ICO uploaded to a server?
No. The entire conversion runs inside your browser using your device's own processor, so your images never leave your computer. That matters for private photos and confidential work.
Can I convert multiple ICO files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are converted in one batch, then offered individually or as a single ZIP download.
Will converting to GIF reduce quality?
For flat graphics, no. For photographs, GIF’s 256-colour palette can introduce visible banding, because GIF is meant for simple graphics rather than photos.
Does GIF support transparency?
Yes, GIF supports an alpha channel, so transparent areas in your image are preserved.
Why is my GIF file a different size than the ICO?
Different formats compress differently. File size will be broadly similar to your original ICO.
What is the difference between ICO and GIF?
ICO is the Windows icon and favicon format, holding one or more small square images up to 256×256. GIF is the classic animation format, limited to 256 colours per frame but universally supported for short loops. That difference is what this conversion is really about.
Is there a file size limit?
Because processing happens in your browser, very large images depend on your device's memory, but typical photos convert instantly. Nothing is capped by an upload limit.
Do I need to install anything?
No. This works in any modern browser on any device — Windows, Mac, Android or iPhone — with nothing to install.
Is this ICO to GIF converter really free?
Completely free, forever, with no account, no watermark and no hidden premium wall.
100% free · No signup · No watermark · Files never leave your browser
Last updated: July 18, 2026 · FlipMyFormat Convert ICO to GIF
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team · Runs entirely in your browser