ICO format is required for website favicons (the small icon in browser tabs) and Windows application icons. Converting a PNG image to ICO is simple online — no software installation required. Here is everything you need to know.
When You Need PNG to ICO Conversion
- Creating a favicon.ico for your website
- Building a Windows desktop application that needs an icon
- Creating shortcut icons for Windows software
- Converting a logo for use as a browser extension icon
How to Convert PNG to ICO Free
Upload your PNG file to imgresizr.com. Your source PNG should ideally be 512×512 pixels for best results. Open the Convert tool and select ICO as the output format. The tool creates an ICO file containing multiple sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256px) all embedded in one .ico file. Download your favicon.ico and upload it to your website's root directory or use it as an application icon.
Favicon Setup for Websites
After converting your PNG to ICO, add it to your website by placing favicon.ico in the root of your web server and adding this code to your HTML head: <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico">. Modern browsers also support PNG favicons: <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon.png">.
ICO Size Requirements
| Size | Platform |
|---|---|
| 16×16 px | Browser tabs, bookmarks |
| 32×32 px | Windows taskbar |
| 48×48 px | Windows desktop shortcuts |
| 256×256 px | High-DPI displays |
Design Tips for Favicons
- Keep designs simple — complex logos are unreadable at 16×16px
- Test your favicon at actual 16×16 display size in a browser tab before finalising
- Use high contrast colours that stand out on both light and dark browser themes
Convert PNG to ICO for free at imgresizr.com — create multi-size favicon and icon files in seconds.