ICO icon maker · website favicon
Embedded PNG, transparency kept, 256 ceiling. Processed locally; nothing uploaded while signed out.
Making an ICO isn't just «saving in another format»: the same icon has to stay recognisable at 16, 32 and 48 pixels. At 16 there are only 256 dots to work with, and the nice gradients and thin lines of the original all collapse into mush at that size.
The ICO file embeds a PNG (the modern ICO format allows a PNG payload), so a transparent background survives and the file is far smaller than with an old-style bitmap payload. The ceiling is 256×256, and that is not a limit we imposed: the ICO format itself gives width and height 1 byte each in the directory entry, with 256 written as 0 — anything larger cannot be expressed. So on export, an image with a side over 256 is scaled down proportionally to fit within 256×256 automatically; you don't have to shrink it first. One more thing to be clear about: what you get is a single-size ICO, not the traditional kind that bundles 16/32/48 into one file. Modern sites do not really rely on multi-size ICO anyway — you declare several PNGs of different sizes with `link` tags in the HTML, and keep one ICO at the site root as a fallback for old browsers that request /favicon.ico directly. It all runs in your own browser; nothing is uploaded while you're signed out, and once you sign in your work is saved automatically to your own cloud projects.
Key features
Transparency survives
The payload is a PNG, so transparent and rounded corners come through intact.
Small file
A PNG payload is far smaller than an old-style bitmap one, so the favicon loads faster.
The 256 ceiling is the format's
ICO gives width and height one byte each in the directory entry; 256 is written as 0, and larger cannot be expressed. On export, anything larger than 256 is scaled down proportionally to fit within 256×256.
Runs locally
Processed in your browser. While you're signed out nothing is uploaded — only an automatic draft stays in this browser (clearing browser data deletes it); once you sign in, your work is saved automatically to your own cloud projects.
How to use
- 1 Add an imageA square one fits best. Drag it into the box.
- 2 Make it squareCrop to 1:1, then set the size to 32×32 or 48×48.
- 3 Export as ICOPick ICO as the format in the export dialog.
- 4 Put it at the site rootName it favicon.ico at the root — old browsers request it there directly.
FAQ
- Is this a multi-size ICO?
- No, single-size. The file embeds one PNG, which keeps it small and preserves transparency. If you need several sizes, export them separately — though modern sites more commonly declare several PNGs in the HTML and keep just one ICO as a fallback.
- What size should a favicon be?
- For a single ICO, 32×32 or 48×48 is the practical choice. Modern browsers mostly use the PNGs declared in your HTML instead (180×180 for the iOS home screen, 192 and 512 for PWA). The ICO mainly serves old browsers that request /favicon.ico directly.
- How large can an ICO be?
- 256×256. That is the ICO format's own rule — width and height each occupy 1 byte in the file's directory entry, with 256 written as 0, so anything larger cannot be expressed. It is not a limit we added. A bigger image still exports: it is scaled down proportionally to fit within 256×256.
- Is it free? Is my image uploaded?
- Free, no sign-up, no usage limit. It all runs in your own browser; nothing is uploaded while you're signed out, and once you sign in your work is saved automatically to your own cloud projects.
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