EMF to ICO Converter
Convert EMF to ICO online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.
Maximum file size is 1GB
How it works
Three steps to your converted file
Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.
Upload your file
Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.
Choose an output format
Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.
Convert & download
Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.
What is an EMF file?
The Enhanced Metafile (EMF) is a 32-bit vector graphics format developed by Microsoft as a successor to the 16-bit Windows Metafile (WMF). It stores a sequence of device-independent GDI (Graphics Device Interface) drawing commands, allowing graphics to be rendered seamlessly across different output devices like printers and high-resolution displays. EMF resolves the coordinate limit issues of WMF and is commonly used within the Microsoft Office ecosystem for clipart and vector data storage.
How to open an EMF file
EMF files are natively supported by the Microsoft Windows operating system and can be opened with Windows Photo Viewer, Microsoft Paint, and Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint). On macOS, Apple Preview can convert and display EMF files. Cross-platform editing is possible using LibreOffice Draw or Inkscape, which can interpret the GDI commands and convert them to standard SVG paths.
EMF Technical Info
- Full Name
- Enhanced Metafile
- Developed By
- Microsoft
- Initial Release
- 1993
- MIME Type
- image/emf
What is an ICO file?
The ICO format is an image container specifically designed for Microsoft Windows to store icons for executable files, folders, and applications. Introduced with Windows 1.0, it can encapsulate multiple raster images of varying dimensions and color depths (specifically BMP or PNG frames) within a single file to support dynamic scaling across different display resolutions. The structure comprises an ICONDIR header referencing one or more ICONDIRENTRY directory entries, allowing the operating system to select the appropriate 16x16, 32x32, or 48x48 pixel resource based on the current UI scaling settings.
How to open an ICO file
ICO files are natively supported by the Microsoft Windows operating system, which automatically renders them in the File Explorer and taskbar. On macOS, Apple Preview handles the format natively. For editing or detailed inspection of the contained bitmap layers, raster graphics editors such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop (via plugin), or Paint.NET are required. Web browsers also natively render ICO files when they are designated as favicons.
ICO Technical Info
- Full Name
- Microsoft Icon File
- Developed By
- Microsoft
- Initial Release
- 1985
- MIME Type
- image/vnd.microsoft.icon
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Why RunConvert
The fastest way to convert any file
Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.
Convert EMF to ICO in seconds
Every EMF to ICO conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.
Fast, cloud-powered
No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.
Secure & private
Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.
Free - no account needed
Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.
Developer API
Convert EMF to ICO via API
Automate EMF to ICO conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.
# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"tag": "emf-to-ico",
"tasks": {
"upload-file": {
"operation": "import/upload"
},
"convert": {
"operation": "convert",
"input": "upload-file",
"output_format": "ico"
},
"export-result": {
"operation": "export/url",
"input": "convert"
}
}
}'
# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.emf
# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.