How to Convert ICO to PNG
An .ico file is not a single image — it's a container holding several resolutions so that Windows and browsers can each pick the one they need. That matters when you convert, because almost every online tool hands the file to a standard image decoder, which picks one frame and silently throws the rest away. If the icon contained a crisp 256-pixel version and you got back a 32-pixel PNG, that's why. This tool reads the icon directory at the start of the file itself, walks each entry, and extracts every frame stored inside. Modern icons store their frames as PNG, so those come out byte-for-byte identical to what was embedded; older icons use a BMP-style bitmap, which is decoded and re-encoded as PNG. Each result is listed with its dimensions, colour depth and internal encoding, previewed against a checkerboard so transparency is visible, and shown without smoothing at small sizes so you see the actual pixels rather than a blurred guess. Take the size you need individually, or download every extracted PNG as one ZIP. Windows cursor files use the same container and are read exactly the same way. Nothing is uploaded — the file is parsed in your browser.
Add your ICO file
Drag and drop, paste, or click to browse. .cur files work too.
See every size
Each frame inside is listed with its dimensions and encoding.
Download
Save the size you need, or take all of them as one ZIP.
ICO vs PNG
ICO — a bundle of icons
Built for Windows, ICO packs multiple resolutions into one file so software can choose the right one. Great for favicons and application icons, but not a general-purpose image format — most editors and websites won't display it.
PNG — one image, everywhere
A single lossless image with transparency support that every browser, editor and operating system understands. Converting an ICO gives you each of its frames as a normal image you can actually work with.
Common Use Cases
Edit an existing favicon
Pull out the largest frame to redesign it in an image editor.
Recover a lost source file
The 256-pixel frame is often the closest thing left to the original artwork.
Inspect an icon
See exactly which sizes and colour depths a favicon actually contains.
Reuse an app icon
Extract a program's icon as PNG for documentation or a slide.
Audit a website favicon
Check whether a site's icon includes the larger sizes or just 16 and 32.
Convert cursor files
Extract the frames from a .cur file the same way.
Build a design system
Get every size as a separate asset for your icon library.
Use in documents
PNG drops into Word, Figma or a web page; ICO generally doesn't.
Tips & Best Practices
Take the largest frame to edit
It holds the most detail. Working from a 16-pixel frame gives you almost nothing to redraw from.
Check the encoding column
PNG frames are extracted losslessly; BMP frames are decoded, so a very old icon may look slightly different.
Don't upscale a small frame
Enlarging 32 pixels to 256 produces a blurry mess. Redraw instead.
Use the checkerboard to spot alpha
The transparent grid behind each preview shows immediately whether the frame has a real alpha channel.
Grab the ZIP for a full set
If you're rebuilding an icon, having every original size makes comparison much easier.
Rebuild with our PNG to ICO tool
Once you've edited the artwork, pack the new sizes back into a proper multi-resolution ICO.
Troubleshooting
Only one size was found
The icon genuinely contains only one frame. Many favicons ship with just 16 or 32 pixels.
A frame couldn't be decoded
Very old icons use uncommon bit depths that browsers can't read. Other frames in the same file usually still work.
The file wasn't recognised
Check it's a real .ico rather than a PNG renamed with an .ico extension — that happens surprisingly often.
The extracted image is tiny
That's the size stored inside. Icons don't contain a hidden large version; if 32 is the biggest, that's all there is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert ICO to PNG for free?
Drop your .ico file above and every size stored inside is extracted as a PNG. Download one or all as a ZIP — free, no signup.
Does it extract all the sizes?
Yes. The icon directory is parsed directly, so every frame comes out — not just the one a browser would pick.
Why do other tools only give one image?
They hand the file to a standard image decoder, which selects a single frame and discards the rest.
Are my files uploaded?
No. The file is read entirely in your browser and never leaves your device.
Is transparency preserved?
Yes. Alpha channels come through intact, shown against a checkerboard so you can see them.
Can it read .cur cursor files?
Yes. Cursor files use the same container format and are handled identically.
What does the encoding column mean?
Whether that frame is stored as PNG or as an older BMP-style bitmap inside the ICO.
Will the PNG match the original exactly?
For PNG-encoded frames, yes — they're extracted byte-for-byte. BMP frames are decoded and re-encoded.
Can I download every size at once?
Yes. The ZIP contains each extracted size as a separate PNG.
Why is the biggest frame only 32 pixels?
That's what the file contains. Icons don't hold hidden larger versions.
Can I make the image bigger?
Not without quality loss. Upscaling a small icon produces a blurry result — redraw the artwork instead.
How do I go the other way?
Use our PNG to ICO tool to pack multiple sizes back into a proper multi-resolution icon.
What is the 256-pixel size for?
Windows uses it for extra-large icon views. Icons without it look soft in those contexts.
Is there a file size limit?
No. Nothing is uploaded, so the only constraint is your device's memory.
Does it work with animated cursors?
Animated .ani files are a different format and aren't supported; static .cur files are.
Does it work offline?
Once the page has loaded it runs entirely in your browser, so it keeps working without a connection.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Android or iPhone with nothing to install.
Is this converter really free?
Completely free, forever — no account, no ads and no premium wall.
100% free · No signup · Read in your browser · Never uploaded
Last updated: August 2026 · FlipMyFormat ICO to PNG Converter
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team · Runs entirely in your browser