How to Convert PNG to ICO
Most online converters take your image, resize it once, and hand back a file with an .ico extension. That technically works, but it misses the entire point of the format: an ICO is a container designed to hold several resolutions at once, so the operating system can pick the right one instead of scaling a single image badly. A 32-pixel icon stretched to 256 in Windows Explorer looks blurry, and a 256-pixel icon squeezed into a browser tab turns to mush. This tool builds the container properly. Drop in your image, choose the sizes you want, and each is rendered separately at its native resolution and packed into one file — modern PNG-compressed frames, so transparency survives at every size and the file stays small. The preview strip shows each rendering at actual size, which matters more than people expect: fine detail and thin text vanish completely at 16 pixels, and seeing that before you ship saves you shipping a favicon nobody can recognise. Non-square images are scaled to fit and centred rather than distorted. Below the download button you'll find the link tags to paste into your page head, including the modern SVG and Apple touch icon lines that a favicon.ico alone doesn't cover. Everything happens in your browser.
Add your image
Drop a PNG, paste it, or click to browse. Square works best.
Pick the sizes
Toggle which resolutions go into the file and check the preview.
Download & install
Save favicon.ico and paste the HTML into your page head.
What ICO Actually Is
A container, not an image
ICO is a Windows format that bundles several images of different sizes into one file, each with its own entry in a small directory at the start. Software reads that directory and picks whichever resolution fits the context it's drawing into.
PNG frames inside
Since Windows Vista, ICO files may store frames as PNG rather than raw bitmap data. That keeps large sizes like 256×256 compact and gives clean 32-bit transparency — which is exactly what this tool writes.
Common Use Cases
Website favicon
Build the favicon.ico that browsers request from your site root.
Windows application icon
Produce the multi-size icon an installer or executable expects.
Desktop shortcuts
Give a shortcut a custom icon that stays sharp at every view size.
Browser extension
Generate the icon set an extension manifest asks for.
Rebrand an existing site
Replace an old low-resolution favicon with a proper multi-size one.
Fix a blurry favicon
If yours looks soft on high-DPI screens, it's missing the larger sizes.
Internal tools
Give a dashboard or admin panel a recognisable tab icon.
Client deliverable
Hand over a favicon that works everywhere, not just in one browser.
Tips & Best Practices
Design for 16 pixels first
That's the size people actually see in a tab. If your logo is unreadable there, simplify it — a single letter or mark beats a full wordmark.
Start from a large square
Feed in at least 256×256 so every frame is downscaled rather than upscaled from something small.
Keep transparency
A transparent background lets the icon sit correctly on light and dark browser themes.
Avoid thin lines and gradients
Both disappear at small sizes. Bold shapes and flat colour survive the downscale.
Serve it from the site root
Browsers still request /favicon.ico directly, so place the file there even if you also declare it in HTML.
Add an SVG icon too
Modern browsers prefer a scalable SVG icon; the ICO remains the fallback. The snippet covers both.
Troubleshooting
My favicon isn't showing
Browsers cache favicons aggressively. Hard-refresh, or open /favicon.ico directly to confirm the file is being served.
It looks blurry on a big screen
The icon is missing larger frames. Include 128 and 256 and rebuild.
The 16-pixel version is unreadable
Too much detail. Use a simplified mark for small sizes — check the preview strip before downloading.
My image came out with bars
Non-square images are centred and scaled to fit rather than stretched. Crop to a square first for edge-to-edge coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert PNG to ICO for free?
Drop your PNG above, choose the sizes you want, and download a proper multi-resolution favicon.ico — free, no signup.
Does it create a real multi-size ICO?
Yes. Every size you select is rendered separately and packed into one file, which is how the format is meant to work.
Which sizes should I include?
16, 32, 48, 64 and 256 covers browsers and Windows. 16 and 32 are the ones you can't skip.
Is transparency preserved?
Yes. Frames are stored as 32-bit PNG inside the ICO, so alpha survives at every size.
Are my images uploaded?
No. The icon is assembled entirely in your browser and never leaves your device.
Can I use a JPG or SVG instead?
Yes. PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF and SVG are all accepted as the source.
What if my image isn't square?
It's scaled to fit and centred rather than stretched, so nothing is distorted.
Why does my icon look bad at 16 pixels?
Fine detail and thin lines can't survive that size. Simplify the mark — the preview strip shows exactly how it renders.
Where do I put the favicon file?
In your site root as /favicon.ico. Browsers request that path automatically.
Do I still need the HTML link tags?
Not strictly for the ICO, but they let you declare an SVG icon and an Apple touch icon too — the snippet covers all three.
Why is my new favicon not appearing?
Favicon caching is unusually persistent. Hard-refresh, clear the site cache, or check in a private window.
What is 256×256 for?
Windows uses it for extra-large icon views and tiles. Without it, those views upscale a smaller frame and look soft.
Does it add a watermark?
No. The file contains only your image, with no branding of any kind.
Is there a file size limit?
No. Nothing is uploaded, so the only constraint is your device's memory.
Can I convert ICO back to PNG?
Yes — use our ICO to PNG tool, which extracts every size stored inside the file.
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 · Built in your browser · Never uploaded
Last updated: August 2026 · FlipMyFormat PNG to ICO Converter
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team · Runs entirely in your browser