SoftOrbits Icon Maker is a desktop PNG to ICO program for Windows, Android, and iOS targets. Convert a single image or an entire folder in one pass.

1️⃣ Download Icon Maker.
2️⃣ Open the program.
3️⃣ Add PNG files.
4️⃣ Set output format and icon sizes.
5️⃣ Save the ICO file.

Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS each expect icons at specific pixel sizes and color depths. Renaming a PNG will not work: the OS needs a properly structured ICO (or ICNS / adaptive icon) container that bundles several resolutions into one file. A dedicated PNG to ICO converter reads the source image, generates every required size, and packages them together.
Icon Maker is PNG to ICO converter software built for that workflow. It ships with presets for standard Windows icon sizes (16 x 16 through 256 x 256), lets you batch convert a folder of PNGs in one pass, and handles transparency without extra steps. Below is the full walkthrough, followed by feature details and answers to common questions.

How to Convert PNG to ICO

Download and install the program

Grab the installer from the Icon Maker page. The setup takes under a minute on Windows 7 through 11.

Launch Icon Maker

Open the program after installation.

Import PNG files

Click Add Image (or Create Icon From Image) and select one or more PNG files. Drag-and-drop also works.

Choose the output format

In the Output Format section, pick ICO. For icon libraries, ICL is also available.

Set icon sizes

Use the Icon Size dialog to pick the dimensions you need, or click the Windows button to generate the full set of standard Windows sizes (16 x 16, 32 x 32, 48 x 48, 256 x 256) at once.

Convert

Click the conversion button. If the source PNG has a transparent background, Icon Maker carries it over into the ICO file automatically.

Save the result

Save the new ICO file to the desired location. The file is ready to use as a Windows shortcut icon, application icon, or favicon.

SoftOrbits Icon Maker

SoftOrbits Icon Maker Software helps you create icons from PNG images and other graphics for Windows, Android, and iOS.

Download for Free

Features

PNG to ICO conversion with full alpha-channel transparency
Multi-size ICO output: bundle 16 x 16 through 256 x 256 in a single file
Batch convert: process an entire folder of PNG files at once
ICL (icon library) export for packaging multiple icons into one library file
Built-in icon editor: crop, rotate, draw, adjust colors at the pixel level
Effects: sharpen, blur, shadows, glow, colorize, brightness and contrast
Auto-generate icon states (normal, highlighted, active, disabled) from one source
Import icons from EXE, DLL, and ICL files
Cursor (.cur) and animated cursor (.ani) creation
Reads PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and other raster formats as input
Runs on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11

Where ICO Files Are Used

Windows Desktop Icons

Windows expects ICO files for shortcuts, folder icons, and Control Panel entries. The OS picks the closest matching size from the bundled set: 16 x 16 for small list views, 48 x 48 for medium tiles, 256 x 256 for the large icon view in Explorer.

Favicons

Browsers still accept ICO for favicons (the small icon in the browser tab). A favicon.ico containing 16 x 16 and 32 x 32 variants covers most cases. Newer browsers also accept PNG, but ICO remains the most widely compatible format.

Application Icons

When you compile a Windows application, the build system embeds an ICO file as the program icon. This is the image that appears in the taskbar, Alt+Tab switcher, and file manager.

Icon Libraries (ICL)

Developers and UI designers sometimes collect related icons into an ICL file. Icon Maker can create and edit these libraries directly.

Batch Convert PNG to ICO

For projects that involve dozens or hundreds of icons (toolbar sets, themed icon packs, game assets), converting files one by one is slow. Icon Maker accepts an entire folder of PNGs and processes them into individual ICO files in one run. Each output ICO can contain the same set of sizes, so the batch stays consistent.

To batch convert PNG to ICO:

Click Add Folder and select the directory with PNG source files.
Set the desired output sizes and format (ICO).
Pick a destination folder.
Click Start. The program writes one ICO per source PNG.

This workflow helps when you are building a UI kit or refreshing all the icons in an application at once, without opening each file separately.

Tips for Clean PNG to ICO Conversion

Start With a Large PNG

An icon file bundles multiple resolutions. If the source PNG is only 32 x 32, the program has to upscale for larger sizes, and that adds blur. Starting with at least 512 x 512 (or 1024 x 1024 for Apple targets) gives the converter clean pixels to downsample from.

Use Transparency From the Start

If the icon needs a transparent background, make sure the source PNG already has an alpha channel. Icon Maker preserves it during conversion. Adding transparency afterward usually requires manual masking.

Test at Small Sizes

An icon that looks good at 256 x 256 can turn into an unreadable blob at 16 x 16. After conversion, open the ICO and check the smallest variant. Simplify the design or create a separate, less detailed version for the small sizes if needed.

Check Color Depth

Windows 10 and 11 expect 32-bit color (8 bits per channel plus alpha). Older systems may need 8-bit (256-color) variants. Icon Maker lets you set the color depth per size within the same ICO file.