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PNG to ICO Converter

Turn PNG files into ICO in a couple of clicks. Lossless image format with full alpha transparency. Multi-resolution icon container for favicons and apps. The conversion is lossless — every pixel, sample or byte in the source is preserved.

On your deviceNever uploadedGone when you close the tabHow this works

Drop your files here

PNG files (.png) · up to 120 MB each

or paste files from your clipboard

Ready when you are

Drop a PNG file above and FileTools360 will turn it into ICO — right here on your device, without uploading anything.

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How to use it

  1. 1

    Add your PNG files

    Drag them onto the upload area, choose them from your device, or paste them from your clipboard. You can queue several at once.

  2. 2

    Adjust the settings if you want to

    The defaults suit most people. Open Advanced to control dimensions, rotation and metadata removal.

  3. 3

    Convert and download

    Press Convert. Everything happens on your own device — nothing is uploaded. Download files one by one, or grab them all as a ZIP.

PNG and ICO explained

PNG is a lossless raster format built to replace GIF. It stores every pixel exactly as given and supports a full 8-bit alpha channel, which means genuine partial transparency rather than the single transparent colour GIF offers.

ICO is a container that holds several versions of the same icon at different sizes, so the operating system or browser can pick the one that fits. It is capped at 256×256 pixels.

Where PNG files come from
Screenshots, exported logos and UI assets, and anything designed rather than photographed.
Where ICO is used
Website favicons and Windows application icons.

PNG vs ICO

The two formats solve different problems, which is why converting between them involves trade-offs rather than a straight upgrade.

PNG compared with ICO
PropertySourceTarget
CompressionLosslessLossy or lossless
TransparencyYesYes
AnimationNoNo
Introduced19961985
Browser supportUniversally supported.Browsers and Windows. Sizes are capped at 256×256.
PNG is stronger at
Completely lossless — re-saving never degrades the image. Full alpha transparency, including soft edges and shadows. Sharp text and hard edges stay sharp.
ICO is stronger at
Holds multiple resolutions in one file. The format browsers expect for favicon.ico. Supports transparency.

Why convert PNG to ICO?

People make this switch when they run into the limits of PNG: you are publishing photographs on the web, where it will be several times larger than it needs to be. ICO is the better fit when you are making a favicon or a Windows application icon.

PNG limitations that prompt the switch
Much larger than JPEG or WebP for photographic content. No animation in practice (APNG exists but support is inconsistent). No native support for CMYK or print colour workflows.
What you give up
Capped at 256×256. Not a general-purpose image format.

Does converting PNG to ICO reduce quality?

Both formats store the content without discarding data, so this conversion preserves it exactly. The file size may change because the two formats compress differently, but the content itself is unaffected.

Converting a JPEG to PNG does not improve its quality. It freezes the image exactly as it already is, artefacts included, in a larger file.

About these formats

Source

Portable Network Graphics

Lossless image format with full alpha transparency.

Extensions
.png
MIME type
image/png
Best for
Transparency · Graphics and logos · Screenshots
Compatibility
Universally supported.

Target

Windows Icon

Multi-resolution icon container for favicons and apps.

Extensions
.ico
MIME type
image/x-icon
Best for
Favicons · Windows application icons
Compatibility
Browsers and Windows. Sizes are capped at 256×256.

Icons are capped at 256×256 by the ICO format itself. Larger sources are downscaled.

Good to know

PNG to ICO Converter — questions

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FileTools360 by the numbers

521 converters and tools65 file formatsnothing ever uploaded.