PNG to ICO Converter (Favicon Generator)

Where ICO files are needed

• Website favicons: The small icon shown in browser tabs and bookmarks. You can now specify PNG and SVG favicons with <link rel="icon">, but many browsers and tools look for /favicon.ico at the site root by default, so keeping one ICO is still the safe choice.
• Windows program and shortcut icons: Windows picks the most suitable of the sizes inside the ICO based on the File Explorer view size.

Choosing sizes

• Favicons: 16, 32, 48 (default selection). 32 and 48 are used on high-resolution screens.
• Windows icons: add 256 to the above. The maximum size for one image in an ICO is 256×256.

Each size is stored with PNG compression, so transparent backgrounds and semi-transparent edges are preserved. ICOs containing PNG open in Windows Vista and later and in all modern browsers.

Making it readable at small sizes

16×16 is only 16 pixels on each side, so thin text and fine patterns turn to mush. Cropping just the symbol or first letter instead of the whole logo gives a sharper result. For non-square logos, ‘Add padding’ keeps the proportions and ‘Crop center’ fills the square. An original of 256px or larger is best; enlarging a small original makes it blurry. An SVG logo is vector, so it stays sharp at any size. The ICO structure is covered in ICO format explained.