Why convert PNG to ICO?
Windows requires ICO format for application icons and desktop shortcuts. Websites use favicon.ico at the site root, and ICO's ability to bundle multiple sizes (16, 32, 48, 256 px) in one file gives better results on taskbars, pinned tabs, and older browsers than a plain PNG. See the .ICO format page for full details.
How to convert PNG to ICO
IrfanView FREE
Open your PNG, choose File > Save As, select ICO from the format list, and click Save.
GIMP OPEN-SOURCE
Open your PNG, resize to a square via Image > Scale Image, then File > Export As with a .ico filename; the export dialog lets you choose bit depth and embed multiple sizes as layers.
Command line - ImageMagick CLI
Run magick input.png -resize 256x256 output.ico; add -define icon:auto-resize to embed multiple sizes in one file.
Programs that convert PNG
About these formats
.PNG
Portable Network Graphics
A PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless raster image format. Every modern OS, browser, and image app opens PNGs natively - just double-click. The most common questions are not about…
Open .PNG details →
.ICO
Windows Icon File
An ICO file is a Windows icon used for programs, files, folders, and browser favicons. One .ico holds the same image at several sizes (16x16 up to 256x256) so Windows picks the sharpest…
Open .ICO details →Quality & what to watch
- Start with a square image - if your PNG is not square, most tools will crop or stretch it to fit the ICO container.
- Transparency is preserved only at 32-bit color depth; choose 32-bit in your export settings to keep soft edges and partial transparency.
- A proper Windows icon embeds multiple resolutions (16, 32, 48, 256 px) in one file; a single-size ICO works but may look blurry when Windows scales it for different display contexts.
