How do you convert PNG to ICO?
Upload your image
Square is ideal. If it is not, it gets centred without cropping.
Multi-size generation
Six versions (16 to 256 px) are created and packed into one .ico with its ICONDIR header.
Download the ICO
Upload it to your site root as favicon.ico, or use it as a Windows application icon.
Why Pictulab for PNG to ICO?
Completely free
Convert as many PNG files to ICO as you like — no sign-up, no watermarks, no daily cap.
Instant
Conversion runs on your own machine, so there is no upload, no queue and no server wait.
Private by design
Files never leave your browser. Nothing is uploaded, nothing is stored, nothing is shared.
Batch processing
Drag in dozens of files at once and download them all together when they finish.
An .ico is not an image, it is a container
This is the difference that makes so many favicons fail. The ICO format defines a structure: six bytes of header, sixteen bytes per included icon, then the data for each.
Renaming a PNG to .ico produces a file without that structure. Some browsers tolerate it out of leniency, but Windows will not accept it as an icon and favicon validators flag it as invalid.
Why the small sizes matter
A favicon is almost always seen at 16 or 32 pixels. At that size there is no room for detail: a logotype with the full company name turns into a smudge.
What works is the isolated symbol, with high contrast and thick shapes. It is worth looking at the result at 16 px before calling it done.
Generated locally
All six sizes and the container are built in your browser. The image is not uploaded anywhere.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Is it a real ICO?
Yes. An .ico is not a single image but a container with a header describing how many icons it holds and at what sizes. Many converters hand over a renamed PNG, which Windows and validators reject.
Why six sizes?
Because Windows and browsers pick whichever they need for the context: 16 px for the tab, 32 for the taskbar, 256 for large icon view. An .ico with only one size looks blurry everywhere else.
What image should I upload?
Square and at least 256 px per side, with simple shapes. A logo with small text is illegible at 16 px — use the symbol only.
Is transparency preserved?
Yes. Each size is stored as a PNG inside the container, alpha channel intact.
Where do I put the favicon?
At the domain root, as /favicon.ico. Browsers look for it there automatically even if you do not declare it in the HTML.
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