PNG to ICO — Create Multi-Resolution Favicon Files
ICO is the classic favicon and Windows icon format that bundles multiple image resolutions into a single file. Converting a PNG to ICO correctly means embedding 16px, 32px, 48px, and 256px versions so every browser and operating system picks the right size automatically.
Output Sizes
| Size | Format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 16x16 | ICO layer | Browser tab, small icon view |
| 32x32 | ICO layer | Retina browser tab, desktop icon |
| 48x48 | ICO layer | Windows taskbar |
| 256x256 | ICO layer | Windows large icon view |
Conversion Details
Input
PNG
Output
ICO
Best Practices
- 1Start with a PNG source image of at least 256x256 pixels for the best downscaling quality.
- 2Include 16, 32, 48, and 256px sizes inside the ICO for maximum compatibility.
- 3Use PNG compression for the 256px layer and BMP for smaller sizes (standard ICO practice).
- 4Test the resulting ICO in multiple browsers and on a Windows desktop to verify all sizes render correctly.
Common Mistakes
- Creating an ICO with only one size — browsers and Windows need multiple resolutions in the same file.
- Using an online tool that simply renames .png to .ico — a valid ICO has its own container format.
- Starting from a small PNG (e.g., 32px) — always start from at least 256px and scale down for crisp results.
- Not PNG-compressing the 256px layer — uncompressed BMP encoding makes the ICO file unnecessarily large.
Convert PNG to ICO Now
Upload your PNG and get a properly formatted multi-resolution ICO file — perfect for favicons and Windows application icons.
Open GeneratorFrequently Asked Questions
How do I convert PNG to ICO?
Upload your PNG image to a converter that generates a proper multi-resolution ICO file. The ICO should contain 16x16, 32x32, 48x48, and 256x256 pixel versions of your image.
Is ICO the same as PNG?
No. ICO is a container format that can hold multiple image resolutions in one file. PNG is a single-image raster format. An ICO file often contains PNG-compressed images inside it.
What PNG size should I start with for ICO?
Start with at least a 256x256 PNG. The converter will create downscaled versions at 48, 32, and 16 pixels from your source image.