How do I convert GIF to ICO?

Upload your GIF 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 GIF to ICO lose quality?

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

Will the ICO keep the transparent background?

Yes. ICO supports smooth, partial transparency, so transparent areas stay transparent.

Will the animation be kept?

No. ICO can’t hold animation, so an animated GIF is saved as its first frame.

GIF is the original web animation format. Each frame can use only 256 colours, so it suits simple graphics and short loops rather than photos.

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 GIF 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 GIF to ICO — Favicons and Windows Icons

Convert GIF 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 GIF file or click to browse

Why convert GIF 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 GIF to ICO

ICO can’t hold this animation, so an animated GIF is saved as its first frame.
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.

GIF vs ICO

Feature	GIF	ICO
Full name	Graphics Interchange Format	Windows Icon
Origin	Introduced by CompuServe in 1987	Created by Microsoft for Windows icons
Compression	Lossless, but limited to 256 colours	Lossless images at several sizes
Transparency	On/off only (one transparent colour)	Yes — smooth, partial transparency
Animation	Yes	No
Colour	Up to 256 colours per frame	Full colour with transparency
Where it opens	All browsers, email apps and messaging apps	Browsers (as favicon.ico), Windows and icon editors
Best for	short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics	website favicons and Windows app or shortcut icons
Main drawback	only 256 colours and on/off transparency	icons are square and at most 256 × 256 pixels

In short: choose GIF for short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics; choose ICO for website favicons and Windows app or shortcut icons.

Turning a GIF into a Windows icon or favicon

Small GIFs make natural icons: many old site logos, buttons and pixel-art characters were drawn as GIFs at icon-like sizes. The converter takes the first frame, keeps its transparent pixels and packs every icon size the image can fill into one .ico file.

Size is the catch. Only the standard sizes up to the GIF's longest side are made, never enlarged, so a 32 × 32 GIF yields just the 16 and 32 pixel icons and a 100-pixel GIF adds 48 and 64. Windows shortcuts and high-density screens look best with a 256-pixel version, which needs a source at least that big. A non-square GIF is centered on a transparent square.

An animated favicon can't come out of this route, because only the first frame is used. For a full website set with PNG icons up to 512 pixels, build a favicon pack; to choose the sizes yourself or get one file per size, open the ICO converter.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert GIF to ICO?: Upload your GIF 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 GIF to ICO lose quality?: Each icon size is scaled down from your image and stored without further compression, so small sizes stay crisp.
Will the ICO keep the transparent background?: Yes. ICO supports smooth, partial transparency, so transparent areas stay transparent.
Will the animation be kept?: No. ICO can’t hold animation, so an animated GIF is saved as its first frame.
GIF or ICO: which should I use?: Use GIF for short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics. 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 GIF file?: GIF is the original web animation format. Each frame can use only 256 colours, so it suits simple graphics and short loops rather than photos.
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 GIF 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 GIF to ICO

Review the main capabilities before you begin.

Convert GIF 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 GIF files into one ZIP
Preview the result before you download

Use this tool

Settings reference

Available controls for GIF 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).