GIF to ICO Converter
Convert GIF to ICO in your browser. GIF files usually come from reaction clips, memes, old websites and screen recordings; ICO is the better fit for favicons and Windows icons. You get a multi-size ICO with PNG-compressed icons (16, 32, 48 and 256 px by default). Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
GIF expected · other image formats also work
How to use GIF to ICO
- 1
Add your GIF files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Choose the icon sizes to include.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .ico files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for gif to ico
Where the ICO goes next
ICO opens in every browser (as a favicon), Windows and most Linux desktops.
ICO next to GIF
Both sides are lossless, so the size depends on how well the ICO encoder handles this picture compared with the GIF's lossless LZW over a palette of at most 256 colours.
Written without a lossy pass
The ICO is written losslessly, so the pixels decoded from the GIF arrive unchanged.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
GIF vs ICO
What changes from GIF to ICO
Encoding: the GIF uses lossless LZW over a palette of at most 256 colours; ICO uses each size stored as a headerless BMP or as a complete PNG, and the download is a multi-size ICO with PNG-compressed icons (16, 32, 48 and 256 px by default).
Bit depth: 8 bits per pixel, as indexes into a palette in the GIF; ICO allows 1 to 32 bits per pixel, set per size, and the ICO written here has 32 bits per pixel.
Colour: an indexed palette of up to 256 colours per frame in the GIF; ICO supports RGB or a palette, per image, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the GIF stores it as one palette entry marked transparent, so each pixel is either fully shown or fully hidden; the ICO keeps it as 8-bit alpha in 32-bit and PNG entries, or a 1-bit mask in old icons.
Animation: image blocks with their own delay and disposal method, looped by the NETSCAPE2.0 extension; the ICO holds one image, so only the first frame is converted.
Metadata: the GIF can carry comment and application extension blocks, but no EXIF; ICO can carry only a directory of the sizes inside, with no EXIF, but nothing is copied across.
About GIF
GIF is the classic animated image format. It is limited to 256 colours per frame and 1-bit transparency, so photos look grainy and files are large, but it plays everywhere.
A GIF starts with 'GIF89a' (or the older 87a), a logical screen descriptor and an optional global colour table, then image blocks, each preceded by a graphic control extension that sets its delay and transparent colour.
GIF files usually come from reaction clips, memes, old websites and screen recordings.
About ICO
ICO is a container that bundles several sizes of the same icon (16, 32, 48, 256 px) into one file. It is still the most compatible format for website favicons and Windows app icons.
An ICO starts with a 6-byte ICONDIR (type 1 for icons) and a 16-byte entry per image giving width, height, colour count and offset. Each image is either a BMP without its file header plus an AND mask, or a complete PNG.
When converting GIF to ICO makes sense
ICO is the better choice for favicons and Windows icons, while GIF suits short animations and reactions that must play everywhere.
ICO strengths: Multiple sizes in one file; Required by Windows and supported by every browser as a favicon. Drawbacks to weigh: Max 256×256 per image; Not for photos.
Limitations
- The 256-colour palette is already applied, so a full-colour target cannot bring back gradients the GIF flattened into bands.
- Each size inside the ICO is scaled from your image, and detailed artwork loses legibility at 16 and 32 px, so simplify logos first.
- Non-square images are centred on a transparent square for each icon size.
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Strip EXIF, GPS, XMP, IPTC and comments losslessly. Pixels are never re-encoded for JPG, PNG and WebP.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting GIF to ICO lose quality?
ICO is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded.
Is transparency kept in the ICO?
Yes. GIF stores it as one palette entry marked transparent, so each pixel is either fully shown or fully hidden, and the ICO is written with an alpha channel, so transparent areas stay transparent.
Will my animated GIF stay animated?
No. ICO holds a single image, so only the first frame is kept. Convert to animated WebP, APNG or GIF to keep the motion, or export every frame with the GIF Frame Extractor.
Which icon sizes are included?
16, 32, 48 and 256 px by default, the set Windows and browsers expect. You can choose other sizes. Non-square images are centred on a transparent square.
Which apps open ICO files?
Every browser (as a favicon), Windows and most Linux desktops.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.