RunConvert
Sign In

HEIF to ICO Converter

Convert HEIF to ICO online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

Like RunConvert? Set us as a preferred source on Google.

Add to Preferred Sources

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.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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 a HEIF file?

The High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is a container format defined by MPEG-H Part 12 (ISO/IEC 23008-12) tailored for the storage of individual images and image sequences. It is based on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) and separates the container structure from the image encoding, allowing support for various codecs including HEVC (H.265) and AVC (H.264). HEIF supports computational photography features such as auxiliary image items (depth maps, alpha planes), burst photography, and audio metadata.

How to open a HEIF file

HEIF files are natively supported by modern Apple ecosystems (macOS Mojave+, iOS 11+) and Windows 10/11 via specific system extensions. While identical in structure to HEIC, files explicitly using the .heif extension may contain data encoded with codecs other than HEVC. To view these files on unsupported platforms, cross-platform viewers like XnView MP or image manipulation software like Adobe Photoshop (2020 release and later) are recommended.

HEIF Technical Info

Full Name
High Efficiency Image File Format
Developed By
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)
Initial Release
2015
MIME Type
image/heif

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

More tools

Related conversions

HEIF to AVIF

HEIF to BMP

HEIF to EPS

HEIF to GIF

HEIF to JPG

HEIF to PDF

HEIF to PNG

HEIF to PS

Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert HEIF to ICO in seconds

Every HEIF 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 HEIF to ICO via API

Automate HEIF 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": "heif-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.heif

# 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.