ICO to PNG Converter
Convert ICO images to PNG format.
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About ICO to PNG
ICO is the icon format of Windows, and it is also the format of the classic favicon.ico file that websites use for the small picture in a browser tab. An ICO file is not a single picture. It is a container: a short list at the start of the file, followed by the same icon stored at several sizes, for example 16, 32, 48 and 256 pixels. Windows or the browser picks whichever size fits the place where the icon is shown.
That design is practical for the system and awkward for people. Phone galleries, many photo editors and most upload forms do not open .ico files, so you cannot simply look at one, edit it or put it in a document.
There are a few everyday reasons to pull the picture out. The original artwork of a logo has been lost and the favicon is the only copy left. You are writing a tutorial or a manual and want to show a program icon in it. You are redesigning an old application and need the current icon as a starting point. Or you just want to see what a downloaded icon looks like.
This tool reads the list inside the file and takes the widest image. If two entries have the same width, it takes the one with more colours. That image is saved as a PNG at its own size, with no enlarging. If the largest icon in the file is 48 by 48 pixels, you get a PNG of 48 by 48 pixels.
PNG is the natural target for an icon. It keeps the transparent background and stores flat colours and sharp edges exactly. In fact, many modern ICO files already store their largest size as PNG data on the inside.
If you are not sure whether a file is really an icon, the result will tell you. A real ICO file converts and shows a preview. A file that only has the .ico ending, such as an error page that was saved under that name, gives a message that it could not be opened.
A reminder about rights: the icons and logos of other companies are normally protected by copyright or trademark. Extracting your own icons, or looking at an icon for reference, is fine. Reusing somebody else's logo as your own is not.
When Should I Use This?
Use it when you need the picture from a favicon or a Windows icon as a normal image: to edit it, to place it in a document or a design, or to view it on a device that does not open .ico files.
How to Use ICO to PNG Step by Step
- Choose your .ico file. On a phone, the file picker may list all images, so pick the icon file by its name.
- Press Convert to PNG.
- Look at the preview and the size in the result row.
- Download the PNG. It keeps the transparent background of the icon.
Limitations
Only the largest image in the file is extracted, and the smaller sizes are not offered separately. The tool does not enlarge anything, so an ICO that holds only 16 or 32 pixel icons gives a very small PNG. Damaged or unusual icon files may fail to open, in which case you will see a message saying so.
Related Tools and Guide
- PNG to ICO packs your edited PNG back into an .ico file.
- ICO to JPG is an option when the place you need the icon accepts only JPG.
- Guide: What is inside an ICO file and how to get the picture out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which size do I get from the ICO file?
The largest one stored in the file. If the file holds 16, 32 and 256 pixel versions, you get the 256 pixel one.
Can I extract the other sizes too?
Not with this tool. It always takes the largest image. You can make smaller copies from that PNG in any image editor.
The PNG is tiny and looks blurry when I enlarge it. Can that be fixed?
No. Some ICO files contain only very small icons, and enlarging a small picture cannot add detail. You would need the original artwork.
Is a favicon.ico file a normal ICO file?
Yes. It is an ordinary ICO file that happens to be named favicon, and it converts in the same way.
Is the transparent background of the icon kept?
Yes. PNG supports transparency, so the icon keeps its shape with nothing added around it.