Skip to content

ICO to PNG Converter

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

  • Free to use
  • No file stored beyond 1 hour
  • Encrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3
  • No watermarks

Drag and drop your files here or click to upload.

Maximum file size is 1GB

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

ICO to PNG

Why convert ICO to PNG?

ICO and PNG are both lossless formats. PNG opens on almost any device, while ICO often needs extra software.

  • Opens everywhere

    PNG opens in every browser, phone and computer, while ICO needs browsers as a site icon; Windows as an app icon.

  • Where PNG works best

    Logos, screenshots, graphics and images with text or transparency.

ICO vs PNG: what's the difference?

PropertyICOPNG
TypeImageImage
CompressionLossless (no quality loss)Lossless (no quality loss)
Transparent backgroundYesYes
AnimationNoNo
Opens inBrowsers as a site icon; Windows as an app iconEvery browser, phone and computer
Best forWebsite favicons and Windows iconsLogos, screenshots, graphics and images with text or transparency

What is an ICO file?

Microsoft Icon File

Developed By
Microsoft
Initial Release
1985
MIME Type
image/vnd.microsoft.icon

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.

What is a PNG file?

Portable Network Graphics

Developed By
PNG Development Group
Initial Release
1996
MIME Type
image/png

Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is a raster graphics file format that supports lossless data compression, created as a patent-free replacement for the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF). Standardized as ISO/IEC 15948:2004, PNG utilizes the DEFLATE compression algorithm (a combination of LZ77 and Huffman coding) and supports palette-based images, grayscale, and full-color non-palette-based RGB/RGBA images. A defining feature is its alpha channel support, allowing for variable transparency levels, unlike the binary transparency of GIF. It does not support animation but offers gamma correction and interlacing via the Adam7 algorithm.

How to open a PNG file

PNG files possess near-universal compatibility across all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS) and web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) without requiring additional software. Default image viewers such as Microsoft Photos, Apple Preview, and virtually all graphics editing software including GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, and Paint.NET natively handle the format.

More tools

More free image tools

All image conversions

Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

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

  • Convert ICO to PNG in seconds

    Every ICO to PNG 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 ICO to PNG via API

Automate ICO to PNG conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.

# 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": "ico-to-png",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "png"
      },
      "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.ico

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

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

Add to Preferred Sources