BMP to ICO Converter
You drew or exported a logo as a BMP and now need an icon file for a website favicon, a Windows shortcut or a desktop app. This page wraps your picture into a standard ICO with several sizes inside, using only your browser. Choose the sizes, convert, and download.
How to convert BMP to ICO
- Add your BMP files by dropping them, clicking the drop zone or pasting.
- The output format is already set to ICO. Adjust quality or size if you need to.
- Press Convert and compare the original and new size for each file.
- Download each file or all of them as a ZIP.
When to convert, and when not to
- You need a favicon.ico or a Windows icon and your artwork exists as a bitmap.
- You want one ICO file that contains several sizes for different screens.
- Your source is square or close to it, so it fits the icon shape neatly.
- Do not use a detailed photograph; at 16 pixels it turns into mush.
What changes
- The icon can contain sizes from 16 up to 256 pixels. The default selection is 16, 32 and 48.
- Each size is stored as a compressed PNG image inside the ICO.
- Your picture is fitted inside a square without stretching. A non-square bitmap gets empty, transparent margins.
- Transparent areas are kept as transparent, although a plain BMP usually has none.
- Metadata is not copied, and there is no quality slider because the stored images are lossless.
How an ICO differs from a bitmap
A BMP holds one picture at one size. An ICO is a container that can hold the same artwork at several sizes, so the operating system or browser can choose the sharpest one for each place it is shown. That is why a single favicon can look good in a tab, in a bookmark list and on a high-density screen.
The tool draws your bitmap again at each size you tick, rather than stretching a single copy, which gives cleaner results than simple enlargement.
Picking sizes that make sense
For a website favicon, 16 and 32 pixels cover the browser tab, while 48 helps on some desktop shortcuts. Larger entries such as 128 or 256 are useful for Windows application icons but make the file bigger. Tick only what you need.
If your source bitmap is smaller than the largest size you choose, the picture will be enlarged and look soft. Start from artwork at least as large as your biggest target.
Preparing artwork that survives at 16 pixels
Tiny icons reward simple designs: one bold shape, strong contrast, little text. Check the result by viewing the ICO at its smallest size. If details disappear, redraw a simplified version of the logo and convert that instead.
Because the source is a bitmap, check its dimensions before converting. A tiny, blurry bitmap will produce a tiny, blurry icon at every size, and no setting here can repair it. If the original design exists as a vector or at a larger resolution, use that instead.
After converting, test the icon where it will be used. Put it in a test page as a favicon, or assign it to a shortcut, and look at it next to other icons. Backgrounds differ, so something that looked fine on white may disappear on a dark tab.
Privacy: your files stay on your device
- The tool decodes, resizes and encodes your pictures with your browser. The files are never sent to a server.
- To check it yourself: open the browser developer tools (F12), open the Network tab, convert a file, and look for any request that carries your image. You will see none.
Frequently asked questions
Which sizes should I include?
Sixteen and thirty-two pixels cover most browser tabs. Add forty-eight for desktop shortcuts and larger sizes only if you need them.
My bitmap is not square. What happens?
It is fitted inside a square without distortion, leaving transparent space around it.
Can I use the file as a favicon?
Yes. Save it as favicon.ico and reference it from your page, or place it in the site root.
Does the ICO support transparency?
Yes, the stored images can be transparent, though a typical BMP source is fully opaque.
Is my artwork uploaded?
No. The icon is built locally in your browser.