iformat

Free Online Favicon Generator

Create a favicon from any image. Upload a PNG, JPG or SVG and generate a multi-size ICO favicon (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) for your website.

Drop PNG files here
or click anywhere in this box to choose files

Up to 50 MB per file. Sign up free to convert files up to 100 MB.

PNG to ICO: creating multi-resolution icons

ICO files contain multiple renderings of the same icon at different resolutions. The conversion takes a PNG source image and generates scaled versions at standard icon sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256). Smaller sizes are downsampled using bicubic or Lanczos interpolation to preserve edge sharpness. The 256×256 size is stored as embedded PNG data while smaller sizes may use uncompressed BMP format for compatibility with older Windows versions.

Convert PNG to ICO when creating favicons for websites (place as favicon.ico in the site root) or desktop application icons for Windows. Start with a 512×512 or 256×256 PNG with a transparent background for the best downscaling results.

PNG vs ICO: Side-by-side

Technical comparison of the two formats, useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.

Property PNG ICO
Full name Portable Network Graphics Windows Icon
Year introduced 1996 1985
Developer / standard body PNG Development Group / W3C Microsoft
MIME type image/png image/x-icon
File extension .png .ico
Compression Lossless (DEFLATE) Lossless (PNG or BMP inside)
Color / data depth 24-bit truecolor + 8-bit alpha 1 to 32-bit
Max dimensions / size 2,147,483,647 × 2,147,483,647 px 256 × 256 px per layer
Transparency Yes Yes
Animation APNG extension only No
Standard / specification W3C / ISO/IEC 15948 Microsoft
Best for Logos, screenshots, graphics with transparency or sharp edges Favicons, Windows application icons

Frequently asked questions

What is PNG?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support, typically used for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. Converting it to ICO produces a file that opens on systems without PNG support.

PNG vs ICO - which format should I use?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support best for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. ICO is the Windows icon format best for favicons and application icons. Choose ICO when the site or application you are submitting to asks for it, or when you need several icon sizes packed into one file.

How do I open PNG files?

On Windows: Photos, or any browser. On a Mac: Preview, or any browser. Universally supported. PNG also carries transparency, which is why screenshots and logos use it.

PNG vs ICO - which format should I use?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support best for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. ICO is the Windows icon format best for favicons and application icons. Use ICO when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need several icon sizes packed into one file.

What PNG dimensions work best for ICO conversion?

Start with a 256×256 square PNG for the best results. The converter creates multiple icon sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) from your source. Non-square PNGs are center-cropped to square.

More converters

Browse all
From PNG
PNG to PDF PNG to JPG PNG to WebP GIF Maker

Image guides and fixes

How to Compress WebP Images: Quality Settings and Best Practices WebP is already smaller than JPG and PNG, but you can compress it further. Here are the optimal quality settings and when to use lossy vs lossless WebP. How to Compress PNG to 50KB for Web Without Losing Clarity PNG files are notoriously large. Here is how to get them under 50KB for web use without making them look terrible, plus when to ditch PNG entirely. Best Image Format for Email Attachments: JPG, PNG, or Something Else? Not every image format works in every email client. JPG is the safest bet for photos, PNG for screenshots. Here is when to use each and what to avoid. Free TinyPNG alternatives - 2026 comparison The best TinyPNG alternatives in 2026. Compress PNG, JPG, and WebP without the 20-file batch limit or the 5 MB file cap. Compared honestly, ranked by output quality.
Reviewed by Updated