Convert PNG to ICO
Free, fast PNG → ICO. No watermarks, no sign-up.
How to convert PNG to ICO
1. Upload PNG
Drop your PNG file into the converter above.
2. Confirm ICO
Output is already set to ICO. Adjust only if you need to.
3. Download
Convert and download your ICO file instantly.
Format Details
PNG
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a widely-used lossless raster image format created as an open, patent-free alternative to GIF. It supports 24-bit color, full 8-bit alpha channel transparency, and highly efficient lossless compression. PNG is the preferred format for images with sharp edges, text overlays, logos, and any content where pixel-perfect lossless quality is essential, and it is universally supported in every browser and application.
imageICO
ICO is the Windows icon file format used to display icons for applications, files, folders, and shortcuts in the operating system. It can contain multiple image sizes and color depths within a single file, ensuring icons look sharp at different display scales and DPI settings. ICO files are also used as website favicons — the small icon displayed in browser tabs, bookmarks, and address bars.
imageConverting PNG to ICO: what actually changes
PNG to ICO is one of the conversions this site performs, but the two formats are not interchangeable containers. Here is what the file keeps, what it loses, and how to get a result you can use.
What .PNG and .ICO each hold
.PNG is a image format built for sharing, editing or publishing a picture, storing pixels, dimensions and colour depth. .ICO is a image format built for sharing, editing or publishing a picture, storing pixels, dimensions and colour depth. Converting between them is a decision about which of those two jobs the result needs to do.
What changes in the conversion
Both files belong to the image category, so this is a like-for-like repackage: the same kind of content, stored in a different container. What changes is how .ICO encodes pixels, dimensions and colour depth — not what the file is about.
Quality and file size
Both .PNG and .ICO are lossless, so the content itself survives the trip intact. The main difference is how efficiently each format packages pixels, dimensions and colour depth — which is what changes the file size.
When this conversion is the right one
Reach for .ICO when the software, device or platform you are sending to expects it — the content is the same image, only the packaging differs. The reverse direction works the same way, so you can always convert back from .ICO to .PNG using the same tool.
Tips for a clean PNG to ICO conversion
Start from the original file
Convert the .PNG you started with, not an earlier .ICO output. Every extra round trip costs quality and can accumulate formatting drift.
Check the real type, not the extension
Image/png becomes image/x-icon. If a file was renamed rather than converted, it will fail to open — rename it back to its true extension before uploading and the conversion will recognise it.
Watch transparency and animation
If the .PNG has a transparent background or animation, confirm .ICO supports it. Where it does not, the background is flattened onto a solid colour and only the first frame survives.
Limits worth knowing
Uploads are capped per file (30 MB, or 100 MB for video) and processed temporarily — nothing is kept as a permanent copy. For huge image files, split or compress the source first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert PNG to ICO?
Upload your PNG file on Convertek, select ICO as the output format, then click Convert. Your ICO file will be ready to download instantly.
Is the PNG to ICO converter free?
Yes. Converting PNG to ICO on Convertek is completely free with no watermarks. Fair upload limits apply (typically 30 MB per file).
Is my file kept after conversion?
No. Files are processed temporarily and not stored permanently. Converted downloads are available only in your browser session.
What is the difference between PNG and ICO?
PNG and ICO are different file formats with distinct use cases. Converting between them lets you use your file in software or workflows that require the ICO format.