PNG to ICO Converter
Convert PNG images to ICO format.
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About PNG to ICO
A favicon is the small picture a browser shows in the tab, in bookmarks and in the history list. The traditional way to provide one is a file called favicon.ico in the main folder of the website. Browsers ask for that address on their own when a page does not name another icon, which is why this old format is still in use.
Here is exactly what this tool produces. You get one .ico file that contains your image at 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 pixels. Each size is stored inside the file as a PNG with full transparency. Sizes that would be much larger than your source image are left out so the file is not filled with blurry enlargements: a logo of 100 by 100 pixels, for example, gives the sizes from 16 to 64 only. To get the full set, start with a PNG of at least 256 by 256 pixels.
The best source is square, has a transparent background and is simple. If your PNG is not square, it is not stretched or cropped. It is scaled to fit, placed in the centre, and the leftover space on the short sides stays transparent.
Why several sizes? A browser tab shows the icon at about 16 pixels, or 32 on sharp high density screens. Bookmarks, shortcuts and the Windows taskbar use larger versions. With every size in one file, each of those places can pick a version made for it instead of shrinking a big picture badly.
Design matters more than the conversion. At 16 pixels there is room for one shape and two or three colours. A full company name will turn into a grey smudge. Use the symbol from your logo or a single letter, and check the smallest size in the result before you publish it.
To install the icon, name the file favicon.ico and upload it to the main folder of your site, or point to it with a link tag of type icon in the head of your pages. Browsers keep favicons in their cache for a long time, so after replacing the file you may need a hard refresh or a private window to see the new one. Icons for phone home screens are a separate matter: those use PNG files, not ICO.
When Should I Use This?
Use it when you are setting up a website and need a favicon.ico, or when you want a Windows shortcut, folder or program to show your own logo. Start from the largest, cleanest square PNG you have.
How to Use PNG to ICO Step by Step
- Prepare a square PNG of your logo, ideally 256 by 256 pixels or larger, with a transparent background.
- Choose the file and press Convert to ICO.
- Download the .ico file and rename it to favicon.ico if it is for a website.
- Upload it to the main folder of your site, next to your home page.
- Open the site in a private window to check the tab icon, since browsers cache the old one.
Limitations
The tool does not redraw your logo for small sizes. It only scales it down, so fine detail will blur at 16 pixels. Sources smaller than 256 pixels produce fewer sizes. It makes ICO files only and does not create the separate PNG icons that phones use for home screen shortcuts.
Related Tools and Guide
- JPG to ICO builds the icon when your logo only exists as a JPG.
- ICO to PNG lets you check what is inside an existing favicon.
- Guide: Making and installing a favicon step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sizes are inside the ICO file?
16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 pixels, as long as your PNG is at least 256 pixels on its longer side. Smaller sources give fewer sizes, because enlarging would only make blurry copies.
How do I add the favicon to my website?
Name the file favicon.ico and put it in the main folder of the site. Most browsers find it there on their own. You can also point to it with a link tag of type icon in the head of the page.
I replaced favicon.ico but the old icon still shows. Why?
Browsers cache favicons for a long time. Try a hard refresh, a private window or another browser. Other visitors will see the new icon once their cache expires.
What happens if my PNG is not square?
It is scaled to fit and centred, and the empty space on the short sides stays transparent. Nothing is cropped or stretched, but the icon will look smaller than a square one.
Can I use the file as a Windows shortcut icon?
Yes. Right click the shortcut, open Properties, choose Change Icon, then browse to the .ico file.