How do I convert BMP to ICO?

Upload your BMP file above. It is converted to ICO automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.

Does converting BMP to ICO lose quality?

Each icon size is scaled down from your image and stored without further compression, so small sizes stay crisp.

BMP stores pixels with no compression at all. Files are large, but very old or simple software that can’t read modern formats can usually read a BMP.

What sizes does the ICO file include?

The standard icon sizes of 16, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 pixels, skipping any larger than your image. Browsers and Windows pick the best size automatically.

Is the BMP to ICO converter free?

Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

Convert BMP to ICO — Favicons and Windows Icons

Convert BMP to ICO online to make a favicon or Windows icon in several sizes. No software to install. Preview one free or batch-convert with Premium.

Drop your BMP file or click to browse

Why convert BMP to ICO?

One ICO bundles the standard 16 to 256 px icon sizes (up to the size of your image), ready for a favicon.ico or a Windows shortcut.
Browsers show the ICO as your site’s tab and bookmark icon when you save it as favicon.ico.

What to expect when converting BMP to ICO

Icons are square, so a non-square image is centred on a transparent square. Sizes larger than your image aren’t created, so start from at least 256 × 256 pixels.
Your original BMP file isn’t changed: you download a new ICO copy.

BMP vs ICO

Feature	BMP	ICO
Full name	Windows Bitmap	Windows Icon
Origin	Created by Microsoft for Windows	Created by Microsoft for Windows icons
Compression	Uncompressed	Lossless images at several sizes
Transparency	No (in the 24-bit BMPs most apps read)	Yes — smooth, partial transparency
Animation	No	No
Colour	16.7 million colours (24-bit)	Full colour with transparency
Where it opens	Windows and macOS apps, older software and browsers	Browsers (as favicon.ico), Windows and icon editors
Best for	older Windows programs, embedded devices and tools that need raw pixels	website favicons and Windows app or shortcut icons
Main drawback	very large files and no transparency	icons are square and at most 256 × 256 pixels

In short: choose BMP for older Windows programs, embedded devices and tools that need raw pixels; choose ICO for website favicons and Windows app or shortcut icons.

BMP to ICO: turning a Paint drawing into a Windows icon

Drawing an icon in Paint and saving it as BMP is a classic route to a custom shortcut icon, but Windows wants an .ico file for that. The converter scales the drawing into the standard icon sizes from 16 up to 256 pixels, skipping any larger than the BMP, and bundles them in one file.

Paint's usual 24-bit BMPs have no transparency, so the background you painted becomes part of the icon and shows as a colored square on the desktop. For clear corners, remove the background and turn the transparent result into an icon on the PNG to ICO page. Draw at 256 × 256 or larger for a crisp big icon; a 32 × 32 drawing produces only the 16 and 32 pixel sizes.

Non-square drawings are centered on a transparent square. To get one .ico per size, or a hand-picked set, choose sizes in the ICO converter.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert BMP to ICO?: Upload your BMP file above. It is converted to ICO automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.
Does converting BMP to ICO lose quality?: Each icon size is scaled down from your image and stored without further compression, so small sizes stay crisp.
BMP or ICO: which should I use?: Use BMP for older Windows programs, embedded devices and tools that need raw pixels. Use ICO for website favicons and Windows app or shortcut icons. Keep in mind the main drawback of ICO: icons are square and at most 256 × 256 pixels.
What is a BMP file?: BMP stores pixels with no compression at all. Files are large, but very old or simple software that can’t read modern formats can usually read a BMP.
What sizes does the ICO file include?: The standard icon sizes of 16, 32, 48, 64, 128 and 256 pixels, skipping any larger than your image. Browsers and Windows pick the best size automatically.
Is the BMP to ICO converter free?: Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

What you can do with BMP to ICO

Review the main capabilities before you begin.

Convert BMP files to ICO online
Bundle standard icon sizes from 16 to 256 px in one file
Switch to any other output format in Settings
Batch-convert many BMP files into one ZIP
Preview the result before you download

Use this tool

Settings reference

Available controls for BMP to ICO.

Settings

Output formatDropdown: Chooses the file type you download. The page opens on its own output format; switch to any other format before converting.Options: JPGPNGWebPAVIFGIFTIFFBMPICOPDF
QualitySliderRange: 20–100 · Default: 90: For JPG, WebP, AVIF and image-to-PDF output: higher keeps more detail but makes a bigger file; 60–80 suits most photos. Documents (Publisher, XPS, EPS…) become PDFs with every page and sharp text, with no quality setting.
Lossless modeOn / Off: For WebP and AVIF output: keeps every pixel exactly (best for logos, graphics and transparency) at the cost of a larger file.
Background fillColor picker: For JPG, BMP and image-to-PDF output, which can’t store transparency: the colour that fills transparent areas (white by default).