Images conversion
Convert ICO to PNG
Updated Jul 2026
ICO files hold one or more small icon images, used for favicons and Windows app icons, while PNG is the standard image format almost any app can open and edit. To convert ICO to PNG, open the icon in a converter and export it as PNG. Doing that on your own computer means the file never has to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .ico
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Favicons, app icons
- Transparency
- Supported
- Extension
- .png
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Screenshots, logos, UI assets
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert ICO to PNG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ICO to PNG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ICO file, or a whole folder of icons, at once.
- Choose PNG as the output format.
- Convert. The PNG is written next to the original, and nothing leaves your machine.
ICO vs PNG: what actually changes
| ICO | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, mostly limited to Windows icon slots and browser favicons | Yes, opens in virtually any image app or browser |
| Multiple sizes in one file | Yes, can bundle several resolutions (like 16x16 up to 256x256) together | No, a PNG is one image at one size |
| Editing support | Limited, most photo and design apps can't open it directly | Universal, every image editor supports it |
| Quality | Lossless | Lossless, no change in quality |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ICO to PNG when you want to edit an icon in a normal image editor, use it as a logo or UI asset, or need it to open somewhere that doesn't recognize the icon format.
Keep the ICO if it's still doing its job as a favicon or a Windows program icon, since those spots expect the ICO format, bundled sizes and all.
Why not just use an online converter?
Icon files often come out of software installers or internal company projects, and running one through a random web converter means uploading it to a server you don't control. Converting ICO to PNG on your own computer keeps the icon, and whatever it came from, off other people's servers. It works with your network disconnected too, since nothing needs to be sent anywhere.
Questions
Does converting ICO to PNG lose quality?
No. Both formats are lossless, so the pixels come through unchanged. If the ICO holds several sizes, the PNG is typically exported from the largest one.
Will I lose the other sizes bundled in the ICO?
Yes. An ICO can pack multiple resolutions, like 16x16 and 256x256, into a single file, but a PNG is one image at one size, so converting keeps one size and drops the rest.
Does the PNG keep transparency?
Yes. Both ICO and PNG support transparent backgrounds, so a transparent icon converts to a transparent PNG with no extra steps.
Can I convert ICO to PNG without uploading it?
Yes. Morphjet converts it right on your computer, so the icon file never travels over the internet, and you can do it with wifi off.
Why would I need PNG instead of ICO?
PNG opens in ordinary image editors, browsers, and design tools, while ICO is really only recognized in the specific spots it was built for, like a favicon or a Windows executable's icon.
Morphjet converts ICO, PNG, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.