Browsers still ask for favicon.ico by default, Windows still expects ICO for application and shortcut icons, and yet nearly every logo, glyph, or mark you export from a design tool comes out as a PNG. If you are shipping a website, packaging a desktop app, or just customizing a folder icon, the missing step is a PNG-to-ICO conversion — and it does not require Photoshop, a plugin, or a command-line tool. This converter handles it right in the browser: pick the file, get the ICO, done.
The conversion runs entirely on your own machine through WebAssembly. Your logo is never uploaded to a server, which matters more than it might seem — unreleased branding, client assets, and internal tooling icons are exactly the kind of files that should not sit in some converter's upload queue. There is no signup, no watermark, and no fee — the conversion happens in the tab, and the file goes straight back to your downloads folder.
Transparency carries over cleanly. ICO has supported full alpha channels for a long time, so a PNG logo with rounded corners or an irregular silhouette will render correctly against any background — browser tab, taskbar, or desktop. One format limit to know about: ICO tops out at 256×256 pixels. If your PNG is larger, the converter resizes it down to fit, so there is no need to pre-shrink the file yourself.
For the best result, start from a square image. Icons are square by definition, and a square source at 256×256 or larger gives the downscaler the most to work with. Simple, bold shapes survive the trip to small sizes far better than fine detail — if your full logo includes a wordmark, consider converting just the symbol. Once you have the ICO, drop it at your site root as favicon.ico or point your Windows shortcut at it, and you are set.
Why convert PNG to ICO?
- Browsers request /favicon.ico automatically — an ICO at your site root covers every visitor, including legacy browsers that ignore PNG favicons
- Windows application icons, shortcuts, and custom folder icons require the ICO format
- PNG alpha transparency is preserved, so rounded or irregular logos keep clean edges
- No icon editor or export plugin to install — the conversion runs client-side, right in the browser
How it works
- Step 1
Drop your files
Drag your PNG files into the converter above, or click “Choose files”. Batches are welcome.
- Step 2
Pick your settings
ICO is preselected. Adjust quality or size if you want, or keep the defaults.
- Step 3
Convert and download
Conversion runs locally in your browser. Download files individually or grab everything as a zip.
Frequently asked questions
- Does PNG transparency survive the conversion to ICO?
- Yes. ICO supports a full 8-bit alpha channel, so soft edges, rounded corners, and irregular shapes render cleanly over any background. You do not need to flatten your PNG onto a solid color first.
- What happens if my PNG is bigger than 256×256?
- The ICO format caps out at 256×256 pixels, so larger images are resized down to fit. Nothing breaks — you just do not need to shrink the file in advance. Starting from a square source gives the cleanest result, since icons are square by definition.
- Is my logo uploaded to a server during conversion?
- No. The converter runs as WebAssembly inside your browser, so the file never leaves your device. That makes it safe for unreleased branding and client work — there is no upload queue for your logo to sit in. It is also free, with no account required.
- Do modern browsers still need an ICO favicon?
- Modern browsers accept PNG favicons via a link tag, but most still request /favicon.ico as a fallback, and some tools — bookmark importers, older crawlers, feed readers — look for it specifically. An ICO at the site root is the lowest-effort way to cover everything, and it is the only option for Windows shortcuts and apps.