What size should my PNG be before converting to ICO?

Use a square image at least 256×256 pixels. The converter creates a 256×256 ICO that scales down cleanly to smaller sizes like 48×48, 32×32 and 16×16. Starting from a non-square PNG can distort the icon, so crop it to a square first for a result that looks right in a browser tab and on the desktop.

Can I use the ICO as a Windows app icon, not just a favicon?

Yes. The ICO format is the native icon container on Windows, so the same file works as a website favicon and as the icon for a desktop application, shortcut or folder. Point your build tool, a shortcut's properties or the website's at it and Windows and browsers both read it directly.

Does the ICO keep my PNG's transparent background?

Yes. ICO supports an alpha channel, so a transparent background in the source PNG stays transparent at every embedded size. That is what lets a favicon sit cleanly on a coloured browser tab or a Windows taskbar without a white box around it.

Why does my favicon look blurry after converting?

This usually happens when the source PNG has fine detail or small text that does not survive being scaled down to 16×16. Favicons are tiny, so a simple, high-contrast shape reads far better than a detailed logo. Redraw the mark as a bold, minimal glyph for the sharpest result at small sizes.

Where do I put the favicon.ico file on my website?

Place it in your site's root folder and either name it favicon.ico — which browsers request automatically — or reference it in the page head with a tag. After uploading, clear your browser cache or open a private window, since browsers cache old favicons aggressively and may keep showing the previous one.

Can one ICO file hold several icon sizes at once?

Yes — that is exactly what the ICO format is for. A single .ico can bundle multiple resolutions so the operating system or browser picks the sharpest one for each context, from a 16-pixel tab to a large desktop icon. Providing several sizes avoids the blur that comes from scaling one size up or down.

What kind of image makes the best favicon?

A bold, simple symbol with strong contrast and few colours — a single letter, a monogram or a minimal logo mark. Photographs and detailed illustrations turn to mush at 16×16, so strip the design down to its most recognisable element. Keep some clear space around it so the shape does not touch the edges of the tiny canvas.

Convert PNG to ICO Online

Turn any PNG image into a favicon.ico for your website or an icon for a Windows app.

or drag & drop them here · images, video, audio and documents · up to 2 GB

How to convert PNG to ICO

Click "Choose Files" and select your PNG file, or drag & drop it onto the page.
Make sure ICO is selected as the target format.
Click "Convert" and wait a few seconds.
Download your new ICO file.

Why Converters.live?

Free and unlimited — convert as many PNG images to ICO as you need, one by one or in bulk.
Files up to 2 GB, with resolution and color quality preserved when converting PNG to ICO.
Your photos are deleted from the server immediately after conversion — nothing is stored.

Frequently asked questions

What size should my PNG be before converting to ICO?: Use a square image at least 256×256 pixels. The converter creates a 256×256 ICO that scales down cleanly to smaller sizes like 48×48, 32×32 and 16×16. Starting from a non-square PNG can distort the icon, so crop it to a square first for a result that looks right in a browser tab and on the desktop.
Can I use the ICO as a Windows app icon, not just a favicon?: Yes. The ICO format is the native icon container on Windows, so the same file works as a website favicon and as the icon for a desktop application, shortcut or folder. Point your build tool, a shortcut's properties or the website's <link rel="icon"> at it and Windows and browsers both read it directly.
Does the ICO keep my PNG's transparent background?: Yes. ICO supports an alpha channel, so a transparent background in the source PNG stays transparent at every embedded size. That is what lets a favicon sit cleanly on a coloured browser tab or a Windows taskbar without a white box around it.
Why does my favicon look blurry after converting?: This usually happens when the source PNG has fine detail or small text that does not survive being scaled down to 16×16. Favicons are tiny, so a simple, high-contrast shape reads far better than a detailed logo. Redraw the mark as a bold, minimal glyph for the sharpest result at small sizes.
Where do I put the favicon.ico file on my website?: Place it in your site's root folder and either name it favicon.ico — which browsers request automatically — or reference it in the page head with a <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico"> tag. After uploading, clear your browser cache or open a private window, since browsers cache old favicons aggressively and may keep showing the previous one.
Can one ICO file hold several icon sizes at once?: Yes — that is exactly what the ICO format is for. A single .ico can bundle multiple resolutions so the operating system or browser picks the sharpest one for each context, from a 16-pixel tab to a large desktop icon. Providing several sizes avoids the blur that comes from scaling one size up or down.
What kind of image makes the best favicon?: A bold, simple symbol with strong contrast and few colours — a single letter, a monogram or a minimal logo mark. Photographs and detailed illustrations turn to mush at 16×16, so strip the design down to its most recognisable element. Keep some clear space around it so the shape does not touch the edges of the tiny canvas.

About PNG and ICO

Key things to know before you convert PNG to ICO:

PNG

PNG is the lossless standard for web graphics: screenshots, logos, UI elements and anything with transparency. Pixel-perfect every time, but photos in PNG are 3-10x larger than JPG.

ICO

ICO is the Windows icon container, best known as the favicon.ico browsers request from every website. One file can hold several resolutions.

Related conversions

PNG→HEIC PNG→JPG PNG→WEBP PNG→AVIF PNG→BMP PNG→PDF PNG→GIF SVG→ICO