OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
ICO to PNG Converter
Extract Icons From an ICO File as PNGs, Transparency Kept, Zipped
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How the ICO To PNG works
Drop a .ico file into this ICO to PNG converter to save the largest image inside it as a PNG, or choose All sizes to get every size the icon holds as separate PNGs in one ZIP. Transparency is kept, and the icon is read in this tab, so nothing is uploaded.
How the ICO to PNG converter reads an icon
An ICO file is a small directory followed by one or more images, usually the same picture at several sizes so Windows and browsers can pick the sharpest one. Each image is stored either as a complete PNG or as a bitmap without its usual file header. PNG entries are copied out byte for byte; bitmap entries are decoded here, including their palette and transparency mask, and saved as new PNGs.
Sizes you will usually find inside
Common image sizes in ICO files and where they appear
| Size | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 16 × 16 | Browser tabs and the Windows title bar |
| 32 × 32 | Taskbar and desktop shortcuts at normal scaling |
| 48 × 48 | Windows Explorer medium icons |
| 64 × 64 | High-DPI taskbar and shortcuts |
| 256 × 256 | Large Explorer views, usually stored as PNG |
Transparency in old and new icons
Modern icons store 32-bit colour with an alpha channel, so edges fade smoothly. Older 1, 4, 8 and 24-bit icons use a separate one-bit mask that marks each pixel as fully see-through or fully solid. The converter applies whichever one the icon uses, so both kinds keep their transparent background in the PNG.
FAQ
How do I make an ICO from a PNG?
Use the favicon package generator. It takes a square PNG, JPG or SVG and builds a favicon.ico holding several sizes, plus the PNG icons and the HTML tags a website needs, all in your browser.
Why are there two files with the same size in the ZIP?
Some icons store the same size more than once at different colour depths, for example a 256 colour version for very old displays and a 32-bit version for current ones. Each copy is saved, and the extra ones are named with their bit depth so nothing is overwritten.
Does this work with CUR cursor files?
Yes. A Windows .cur cursor uses the same layout as an ICO, with a hotspot position in place of the colour details, so it converts the same way. The hotspot itself is not kept, because PNG has nowhere to store it.
Is my icon uploaded anywhere?
No. The icon is parsed and converted by JavaScript running in this tab, and the PNG or ZIP is created on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and closing the tab clears it.
See also: all Images tools, Units, Audio & Video, Documents, Data & Code.
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