How to convert XPM to ICO
- Add your .XPM file - drop it in the box above or click to browse.
- Convert it to .ICO in a few seconds.
- Download your new .ICO file.
What to expect
- An ICO built from a single XPM holds one image at the source's pixel size; Windows ideally wants several sizes (16 to 256 px) in one file, which a single-source conversion does not generate.
- Both formats are raster, so pixels and indexed colors copy over exactly, but the icon cannot become sharper than the original XPM.
- Transparency defined in the XPM carries into the ICO's transparency mask.
Frequently asked questions
Will the icon look the same after converting?
Both
XPM and ICO are raster formats, so the pixel grid and indexed colors copy over one-to-one with no quality loss. The result matches the source's dimensions and cannot gain detail beyond the original resolution.Why convert an XPM to an ICO?
XPM is an icon format from the X11/Unix world, while ICO is what Windows uses for program, folder, and favicon icons. Converting lets an X11 icon be used in a Windows context.
Where does the resulting ICO open?
Windows uses
ICO natively for application, folder, and favicon icons, and general image viewers such as IrfanView display them as well.Does transparency survive the conversion?
XPM's transparent color maps to the ICO's transparency, so transparent areas are preserved. What is not created is extra color depth or larger sizes beyond what the source contains.
