PNG to ICO Converter
Use this PNG to ICO tool to turn a picture into a Windows icon file. Choose the icon sizes you need, and the tool builds one .ico file that holds a picture for each size. It is free, and you do not need to sign up.
- A size larger than your picture is enlarged and can look soft. The result panel lists those sizes.
- Renaming a PNG to .ico does not create an icon. Use the converter instead.
- Anonymous use needs a quick human check (Cloudflare Turnstile).
Drop an image here
PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP or TIFF, up to 5 MB
Complete the human check to enable the button.
Result
Your ICO will appear here.
The free web tool takes images up to 5 MB, 30 per day. Signed in, the limit is 10 MB.
Retention: web-tool results are deleted after 10 minutes and no history is kept. API results are kept 1 day on the free plan and 7 days on Starter and Pro (30 days on Business).
No account needed
30 images per day for free, no watermark.
Several icon sizes in one file
The .ico file holds one picture for each size you choose.
Deleted automatically
Web tool results are removed after 10 minutes.
Privacy: what you submit is used only to make this file. The working copy is deleted when the job ends, the result after 10 minutes. See the privacy policy.
Do this from your code
The same request, built from the input and options above. Create an account to get an API key.
curl -X POST https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/render \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $AIIPWORLD_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"html":"","output":"pdf","options":{}}'
# returns {"job_id": "...", "status": "queued"}; then poll:
curl https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs/JOB_ID -H "Authorization: Bearer $AIIPWORLD_API_KEY"Batches
The web tool handles 1 image at a time. The API takes one request per image, so you can script as many as your plan allows.
Retention
Web-tool results are kept 10 minutes; free API results 1 day; Starter and Pro results 7 days; Business 30 days. The web tool allows 10 conversions per minute and 50 per day per visitor.
In one sentence
A free online tool that converts a PNG or other picture to an ICO icon file holding the sizes you tick, from 16 to 256 pixels.
Key facts
- Input: PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP or TIFF, up to 5 MB in the free tool and 10 MB when signed in, and up to 16 MP (4096 x 4096); the type is read from the file content, and HEIC, SVG, PDF and camera RAW files are not accepted.
- Output: one .ico file with a square picture for each size you tick (16, 32, 48, 64, 128 or 256 px; default 16, 32 and 48), fitted inside the square or filled and cropped; sizes larger than your picture are enlarged and listed in the result. Transparency is kept by default.
- In our test a generated transparent logo of 1024 x 1024 px and 37 KB became a 3.7 KB ICO with the default sizes and a 20 KB ICO with all six sizes; the test pictures were generated by our scripts.
- The upload is deleted when the job ends and the result after 10 minutes; signed-in users pay 1 credit per image.
- Free without an account: up to 10 conversions per minute and 50 per day per visitor, no watermark. Signed in, each render costs 1 credit (100 free credits every month).
- Files are deleted automatically: 10 minutes after conversion without an account, 1 day with a free account.
- Developers can run the same render with POST https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/render and an API key (see the API docs page).
How it works
- Upload your PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP or TIFF picture.
- Check the sizes. The default is 16, 32 and 48 pixels. Tick at least one size.
- Choose "Fit inside the square" or "Fill the square".
- Leave "Keep transparency" on, or turn it off and pick a background colour.
- Convert, then download your .ico file.
Example output
Original PNG, 1024 x 1024 px, 37 KB
Converted ICO, six sizes, 20 KB
How to convert PNG to ICO
Upload your picture, tick the icon sizes you want, and run the conversion. The tool writes one .ico file that contains each size you chose. The default sizes are 16, 32 and 48 pixels, so you can convert right away with those.
The tool handles one image at a time. Start from a picture at least as large as the biggest size you tick. Results vary with the picture, so check the preview in the result panel before you use the file.
What PNG to ICO conversion does
A PNG to ICO converter reads your picture and stores a separate copy of it at each size you pick. These copies go into one single .ico file. This is the PNG-in-ICO format, and the tool builds the ICO container itself.
The tool is the same converter as our other converters, opened with ICO as the target. It does not use artificial intelligence. It is ordinary image processing.
- Output is a single .ico file.
- Each size you tick becomes one picture inside the file.
Choosing the icon sizes
You can pick 16, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 pixels. Each size is square. The default is 16, 32 and 48.
More sizes make the file bigger. In our tests, a transparent 1024 x 1024 PNG logo made a 3.7 KB ICO with the default sizes. With all six sizes it made a 20 KB ICO. Pick only the sizes you will use.
Small pictures get enlarged
If a size is larger than your picture, the tool enlarges the picture to that size. An enlarged icon can look soft or blurry. The result panel lists these sizes under "Enlarged sizes."
In one test, a 32 x 32 source with sizes 16, 32, 48 and 256 made a 53 KB ICO. The 48 and 256 sizes were listed as enlarged. For sharp icons, start from a picture at least as large as the biggest size you tick.
Fit inside or fill the square
"Fit inside the square" is the default. The picture keeps its proportions, and the empty space stays transparent. If transparency is off, the empty space takes the background colour.
"Fill the square" makes the picture cover the whole square. The overflow is cropped from the centre, so the edges of a wide picture may be cut off. Square pictures work best with either option.
Transparency in an ICO
Transparency is kept by default, so the transparent areas of your PNG stay transparent in the icon. This is the alpha channel. Transparency is useful for logos on a plain background.
If you turn "Keep transparency" off, the transparent areas are filled with the background colour. The default colour is white. You can change it to any colour you choose.
Why a renamed PNG is not an ICO
Changing the file name from .png to .ico does not change the file's contents. The file is still a PNG inside, so it is not a proper ICO file. You need a real ICO file with the correct structure.
This converter builds a proper ICO file from your picture. Use it instead of renaming the file.
What people use ICO files for
The ICO file format was designed by Microsoft for desktop icons on Windows systems. People use .ico files for Windows icons.
Some websites still serve a favicon.ico file. MDN says the use of ICO for website icons has subsided in favor of a PNG file and the link element. Check which format your site needs before you publish.
JPG to ICO and other inputs
The tool accepts JPG input, so you can use it as a JPG to ICO converter. You can also start from PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP or TIFF. Use the same steps for each input type.
For an animated GIF, WebP or AVIF, the tool reads only the first frame. For a TIFF with several pages, it reads only the first page.
Which files the converter accepts
You can upload PNG, JPG (including .jpeg and .jfif), WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP and TIFF. The tool does not accept SVG, PDF, HEIC/HEIF, BigTIFF or camera RAW files.
The free web tool takes up to 5 MB per image and up to 16 MP (4096 x 4096) per image. Signed-in users can upload up to 10 MB per image. Each visitor without an account can convert 30 images per day. Signed-in users pay 1 credit per image, plus 1 credit for each 5 MB of result after the first 5 MB.
If the result would be larger than 20 MB, the job fails with an "output too large" message. The tool does not return a cut-off file.
PNG to ICO from code
Send a POST request to https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/image-jobs. The body is the raw image bytes, not JSON or multipart. Set the Content-Type to match the image, such as image/png or image/jpeg.
Use op=image_convert with format=ico. You can set ico_sizes, using a comma list from 16, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256, and ico_fit as contain or cover. The API returns a job_id, and you poll GET /v1/jobs/:id until the job finishes. The API takes one request per image.
The API docs are at /docs/#image-convert. The page shows a ready cURL, Node and Python example below the tool.
Privacy: what happens to your file
Your image is sent to our server for processing. It is not processed in the browser. The uploaded image is used only to make the result and is deleted as soon as the job ends, whether it succeeds or fails.
The result from the free web tool is deleted after 10 minutes. No history is kept, and download links are short-lived. You must have the right to use any image you upload, as set out in our Acceptable Use Policy.
Questions
Can I convert PNG to ICO for free?
Yes, the free web tool converts PNG to ICO without a signup. Anonymous use needs a quick human check.
Which icon sizes should I pick?
Start with the default sizes of 16, 32 and 48 pixels. Add 64, 128 or 256 only if you need them.
Can I put several sizes in one ICO?
Yes, tick each size you want, and the tool puts one picture for each size into a single .ico file.
Why does my icon look blurry?
A size larger than your picture is enlarged, which can look soft. Use a source picture at least as large as your biggest size.
Is the transparency kept?
Yes, transparency is kept by default. Turn "Keep transparency" off if you want a background colour instead.
Can I rename a PNG to .ico?
No, renaming does not create a real icon file. Use the converter to build a proper ICO.
Can I convert JPG to ICO?
Yes, the tool accepts JPG input, so you can convert a JPG to ICO the same way as a PNG.
What if my picture is not square?
With "Fit inside the square," the picture keeps its proportions and the empty space stays transparent. With "Fill the square," the overflow is cropped from the centre.
How big is the ICO file?
It depends on the picture and the sizes you choose. In our tests, a transparent 1024 x 1024 logo made a 3.7 KB ICO with the default sizes and a 20 KB ICO with all six sizes.
Does the tool make a favicon for me?
The tool makes an ICO file that holds your chosen sizes. MDN notes that PNG and the link element are now more common for website icons, so check what your site needs.
Can I change a PNG to an icon?
Yes. You can change PNG to ICO here: the tool turns your PNG into an icon file (.ico) with the sizes you tick, which also works as a PNG to icon converter.
How long is my file kept?
The result from the free web tool is deleted after 10 minutes. Your uploaded image is deleted as soon as the job ends.
Can I convert PNG to ICO in code?
Yes, use the image convert operation of our API with format=ico. The API docs show cURL, Node and Python examples.
Need this in your app or in bulk?
This tool runs on the same platform as the API, so the same image is one HTTP request from your code. A free account includes 100 credits a month.