Transparency stays
ICO supports full transparency, so a PNG with a see-through background stays that way. Pick a solid colour if you want a backing instead.
Free converter · No sign-up
PNG to ICO converter
Turn a PNG into a multi-size .ico file for Windows shortcuts, apps and website favicons. JPG and WebP work too.
Converted in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
How to convert PNG to ICO
To convert PNG to ICO, drop the PNG into the converter above, keep the sizes you need (16 to 256 px) and download the .ico. AI Icon Creator builds the file in your browser, so the image is never uploaded and there is nothing to install.
- 01
Add your PNG
Drop it on the box, choose it or paste it. A square image of 256 px or more gives the sharpest result.
- 02
Choose the sizes
Keep all seven sizes for Windows, or just 16, 32 and 48 for a favicon. Images that aren't square can be padded or cropped.
- 03
Download the .ico
The file is built in your browser in a second. Use it as a favicon, or set it as an icon in Windows.
What to know about PNG and ICO
An ICO file is the Windows icon format: one file that holds several square images, usually 16 to 256 px, so Windows and browsers can pick the sharpest size for each place the icon appears.
Why 256 px matters
Windows shows icons at up to 256 px on high-resolution screens and in large icon views. Leave that size out and the icon looks blurry there.
One file, many sizes
An .ico holds several images and Windows or the browser picks the closest one. Each size is drawn separately, so small ones aren't just squeezed from the large one.
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Or turn your picture into a designed icon
Converting keeps your image exactly as it is. The AI tools redraw it as a proper app icon in a style you pick.
PNG to ICO: common questions
Short answers about formats, sizes and privacy.
Can I convert a PNG to an icon?
A PNG becomes an icon when it is saved as an .ico file with several sizes inside. Add the PNG to the converter above, choose the sizes and download the .ico. It works for website favicons, Windows shortcuts and folder icons, and a transparent background is kept.
How do I turn an image into an icon?
To turn an image into an icon, make it square and save it as an .ico with several sizes. This page does both: it pads or crops the image to a square and writes a 16–256 px .ico. To have the picture redrawn as a designed app icon instead, use the AI Image to icon tool.
What size should an ICO file be?
An ICO file for a favicon needs 16, 32 and 48 px. An ICO for Windows should include 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 px so every view has a sharp version. Start from a square image of at least 256 × 256 px.
Is this PNG to ICO converter free and safe?
The AI Icon Creator PNG to ICO converter is free, needs no sign-up and adds no watermark. The conversion runs in your browser, so the PNG never reaches a server and stays on your device. You can convert as many files as you like.
How do I use an .ico file in Windows?
To use an .ico file in Windows, right-click a shortcut, open Properties, choose Change Icon and pick the file. For a folder, open Properties, then Customise and Change Icon. For a website, put favicon.ico at the site root. Windows picks the size it needs from the file.
How can I convert PNG to ICO without installing software?
You can convert PNG to ICO without installing software by using a converter that runs in the browser, like this one. Drop the PNG in, pick the sizes and download the .ico. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS, including work computers where you can't install apps.
Convert your next PNG to ICO
Free, no sign-up, and your image never leaves your device.