What is an ICO File?
ICO is Microsoft's icon file format used for application icons and favicons. Unlike PNG files, ICO files can contain multiple images of different sizes and color depths within a single file.
ICO files were initially developed by Microsoft for icons in Windows operating systems, but they're now commonly used as website favicons too.
Converting PNG to ICO
- Visit ConvertICO.com
- Click on the "Choose File" or "Browse" button
- Select your PNG image from your computer
- Click the "Convert" button
- Once conversion is complete, click "Download" to save your ICO file
Choosing Icon Layer Sizes
When creating an ICO file, selecting the right icon sizes is crucial. ConvertICO.com allows you to choose which icon dimensions to include in your final ICO file.
On ConvertICO.com, after uploading your PNG, you'll see a "Choose Icon Layer Sizes" section with checkboxes for different dimensions. This is where you can select which sizes to include in your ICO file.
The available sizes typically include:
- 16×16 pixels
- 24×24 pixels
- 32×32 pixels
- 48×48 pixels
- 64×64 pixels
- 128×128 pixels
- 256×256 pixels
- 512×512 pixels
For most purposes, you should select multiple sizes to ensure your icon displays properly across different contexts. If you're unsure, keeping default selected sizes ensures maximum compatibility.
Recommended Icon Sizes for Windows
For best compatibility across Windows applications, include these standard sizes:
Special Note About 512×512 Icons:
512×512 pixel icons are primarily used for:
- High-resolution and Retina displays
- Modern Windows systems (Windows 10 and 11)
- macOS application icons
- Windows Store applications
- Touch-enabled devices where larger icons improve usability
This size has become increasingly important as display resolutions continue to increase. Including a 512×512 pixel layer in your ICO file helps ensure your icon scales beautifully on high-DPI monitors and remains crisp on large-screen devices.
When creating icons for modern applications, including this larger size helps future-proof your design as displays continue to improve in resolution.
Best Practices for Icon Design
- Maintain clarity at small sizes: Ensure your icon is recognizable even at 16×16 pixels
- Use appropriate color depth: 32-bit (24-bit color + 8-bit alpha) is recommended for modern icons
- Consider transparency: ICO files support transparency, which helps icons blend well with different backgrounds
- Design for scaling: Your icon should look good at all sizes, not just the largest dimension
Final Tips
- Start with a high-resolution PNG (at least 256×256 pixels) for best results
- For website favicons, including 16×16 and 32×32 sizes is usually sufficient
- If you need your icon to display well on high-DPI displays, include 48×48 and larger sizes
Once downloaded, your ICO file can be used for Windows applications, websites, or any other purpose requiring the ICO format.
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