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Convert PNG to ICO for a Windows icon

Windows icons are not a single image — a good .ico bundles several sizes so Explorer can pick the right one. This tool builds that file from your PNG.

Drop a PNG here to make an ICO One square PNG. 256×256 or larger gives the best result.

    Live privacy check

    How to png to ico

    1. Drop in a square PNG of at least 256×256.
    2. Click Create ICO. The tool writes several sizes into one file.
    3. Download the .ico and use it for an application icon or shortcut.

    Why this image tool is private

    Building an ICO is assembling PNG data into a container, which is done in your browser. The file is never uploaded.

    Other tools in this category upload your file to a server, process it in the cloud, and return a download link. That means your document sits on someone else's disk — often with a retention window measured in hours. Here, the file is read by your browser, transformed in memory, and saved straight back to your disk. You can watch it happen in the live check above: the counter for files uploaded stays at zero.

    Frequently asked

    Which sizes go into the ICO?
    16, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 pixels. Windows selects the appropriate one for each context, from a small tree-view icon up to a large thumbnail.
    Does it need to be square?
    Yes, ideally. A non-square source would be distorted, so use a square PNG. 256×256 or 512×512 is the sweet spot.
    Will transparency be preserved?
    Yes. PNG alpha is carried into the ICO, so the icon will not have an ugly white box behind it on the desktop.
    Can I use this for a website favicon?
    You can, though a plain PNG linked in your HTML head is generally better for modern browsers. An ICO is most useful for Windows applications and file-type associations.

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