Convert ICO to PNG Online
Free, private ICO to PNG converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
Drag & drop files here
images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more
No Server Uploads
FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
Built for Privacy
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. They never leave your device.
How to convert ICO to PNG
Drop your ICO file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your PNG file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert ICO to PNG?
ICO and PNG serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a ICO file?
Icon File Format: ICO is the icon format used for favicons and Windows application icons. A single ICO file can contain multiple image sizes so the operating system picks the right one for each context.
Created by: Microsoft, introduced with Windows 1.0
Used for: Website favicons, Windows desktop icons, application icons
Technical details: Container format that stores multiple PNG or BMP images at different resolutions (commonly 16x16, 32x32, 48x48, 256x256). Limited to square dimensions.
Compatibility: Supported by all browsers for favicons and by Windows for desktop icons.
What is a PNG file?
Portable Network Graphics: PNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It was created as a patent-free replacement for GIF back in the mid-1990s and quickly became the standard for web graphics that need clean edges or see-through backgrounds.
Created by: PNG Development Group, first released in 1996
Used for: Web graphics, logos, screenshots, icons, anything that needs transparency or sharp text
Technical details: Lossless compression, so the image looks identical to the original. Supports 8-bit and 24-bit color with an alpha channel for transparency. File sizes tend to be larger than JPEG for photos but smaller for graphics with flat colors.
Compatibility: Every browser, operating system, and image editor supports PNG. It is one of the most universally readable formats.
ICO vs PNG
| Feature | ICO | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Icon File Format | Portable Network Graphics |
| Best for | Website favicons, Windows desktop icons, application icons | Web graphics, logos, screenshots, icons, anything that needs transparency or sharp text |
| Compatibility | Supported by all browsers for favicons and by Windows for desktop icons. | Every browser, operating system, and image editor supports PNG. It is one of the most universally readable formats. |
| Pros | Multiple sizes in one file, universal favicon support | Lossless quality, transparency support, universal compatibility |
| Cons | Only useful for icons, limited to square images | Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs, no animation support (use APNG or GIF for that) |