PSD to ICO Converter
Convert PSD to ICO in your browser. PSD files usually come from Photoshop and apps that save Photoshop documents, such as Affinity Photo, GIMP, Photopea and Krita; 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
PSD expected · other image formats also work
How to use PSD to ICO
- 1
Add your PSD 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 psd to ico
Where the ICO goes next
ICO opens in every browser (as a favicon), Windows and most Linux desktops.
ICO next to PSD
Both sides are lossless, so the size depends on how well the ICO encoder handles this picture compared with the PSD's raw or RLE (PackBits) channel data, ZIP in some 16 and 32-bit files.
Written without a lossy pass
The ICO is written losslessly, so the pixels decoded from the PSD arrive unchanged, apart from precision beyond 8 bits per channel.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
PSD vs ICO
What changes from PSD to ICO
Encoding: the PSD uses raw or RLE (PackBits) channel data, ZIP in some 16 and 32-bit files; 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, 16 or 32 bits per channel in the PSD; ICO allows 1 to 32 bits per pixel, set per size, and the ICO written here has 32 bits per pixel. 16 and 32-bit documents are reduced to 8 bits per channel.
Colour: RGB, CMYK, Lab, greyscale, indexed or multichannel in the PSD; ICO supports RGB or a palette, per image, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the PSD stores it as transparent layers plus extra alpha channels; the ICO keeps it as 8-bit alpha in 32-bit and PNG entries, or a 1-bit mask in old icons.
Other images: the PSD can hold layers, masks, adjustment layers and smart objects; only the main image is converted.
Metadata: the PSD can carry XMP, EXIF, IPTC and ICC in image resource blocks; ICO can carry only a directory of the sizes inside, with no EXIF, but nothing is copied across.
About PSD
PSD is Adobe Photoshop's layered working format. It keeps layers, masks and effects, but almost nothing outside Photoshop can display it, so finished designs are exported to PNG or JPG.
A PSD has five sections: a header ('8BPS', channel count, size, depth, colour mode), colour mode data, image resources (thumbnail, ICC, XMP, resolution), layer and mask information, and finally the merged composite image that the Maximize Compatibility option saves.
PSD files usually come from Photoshop and apps that save Photoshop documents, such as Affinity Photo, GIMP, Photopea and Krita.
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 PSD to ICO makes sense
ICO is the better choice for favicons and Windows icons, while PSD suits editing in Photoshop.
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 merged composite is converted, so hidden layers stay hidden and visible ones are flattened together.
- Files saved with Maximize Compatibility turned off may hold no full-size composite; then only the small embedded thumbnail is available.
- 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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Frequently asked questions
Does converting PSD to ICO lose quality?
ICO is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. 16 and 32-bit documents are reduced to 8 bits per channel. Not carried over: any layers.
Is transparency kept in the ICO?
Yes. PSD stores it as transparent layers plus extra alpha channels, and the ICO is written with an alpha channel, so transparent areas stay transparent.
Are PSD layers kept?
No. The flattened composite that Photoshop saves inside the file is converted, so the result looks like the PSD with all visible layers merged. Files saved without Maximize Compatibility fall back to the embedded thumbnail.
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.