Camera RAW conversion
Convert ARW to ICO
Updated Jul 2026
ARW is the RAW photo format Sony cameras shoot in, and ICO is the small icon format used for favicons and app icons. To convert, open the ARW in a converter, pick the icon size you need, and export it as ICO. Doing this on your own computer keeps the original photo, and its metadata, off other people's servers.
- Extension
- .arw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Sony cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .ico
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Favicons, app icons
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert ARW to ICO on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ARW to ICO
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ARW photo you want to turn into an icon, or a whole folder of them.
- Choose ICO as the output format and pick the size you need, from 16x16 up to 256x256.
- Convert. The ICO is written next to the original ARW, and nothing leaves your machine.
ARW vs ICO: what actually changes
| ARW | ICO | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, tens of megabytes straight off the sensor | Tiny, a few kilobytes |
| Detail | Full sensor resolution, lossless | Reduced to a handful of pixels, 16x16 up to 256x256 |
| Compatibility | Needs raw-capable software or camera-specific tools | Opens natively as an icon on Windows and Mac |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Metadata | Yes, full EXIF including camera settings and often GPS | No, icon files don't carry metadata |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ARW to ICO when you've shot a photo on a Sony camera, maybe a headshot or a logo, and want to turn it into a small icon for an app, a folder, or a website favicon.
Keep the ARW original if you still need the photo for editing or printing, because shrinking it down to icon size throws away almost all of the resolution and detail permanently.
Why not just use an online converter?
ARW files carry full EXIF data, including the camera model, exposure settings, and often the GPS location if your camera tags it. Uploading one to an online converter means a stranger's server briefly holds your original high-resolution photo and everything embedded in it, even though all you wanted was a tiny icon. Converting on your own computer means that RAW file, and its metadata, never leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting ARW to ICO lose quality?
Yes, a lot, but that's expected. An icon is only a few dozen pixels across, so nearly all of the ARW's original detail is discarded on purpose. That's not a flaw, it's just what an icon needs.
Will the ICO keep the ARW's metadata?
No. ICO files store pixel data only, so the camera details, EXIF, and any GPS location from the ARW don't carry over.
What size should I pick for the icon?
32x32 or 16x16 is standard for a favicon. For an app icon, 256x256 gives it room to look sharp at every size Mac and Windows scale it down to.
Can I convert ARW to ICO without uploading the RAW file anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts on your own computer, so the original RAW photo, which can be tens of megabytes, never gets uploaded anywhere.
Morphjet converts ARW, ICO, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.