Convert SVG to ICO — Free Online Converter

ICO (Windows Icon) is the dedicated icon format for Windows operating systems, containing multiple image sizes within a single file for different display contexts. Converting SVG to ICO is the standard process for creating Windows application icons, favicons, and shortcut icons from vector source artwork. Because SVG is resolution-independent, it is the ideal source format for generating the multiple size variants that an ICO file requires.

A properly constructed ICO file contains several embedded images — typically 16x16, 32x32, 48x48, and optionally 64x64, 128x128, and 256x256 pixels. Windows selects the appropriate size based on the display context: taskbar icons use 16x16 or 32x32, desktop icons use 48x48 or larger, and high-DPI displays use the largest available size. The converter rasterizes the SVG at each required size and packages all variants into the ICO container.

Windows requires ICO files for application executables, desktop shortcuts, and file type associations. No other format — not PNG, not SVG — can serve as a Windows application icon embedded in an .exe file. If you are developing a Windows application or need to customize a desktop shortcut icon, ICO is the only option.

For web favicons, ICO remains the most compatible format. While modern browsers support PNG and SVG favicons, ICO files are recognized by all browsers including Internet Explorer and work in bookmark bars, tab icons, and Windows pinned sites. Many web developers maintain an ICO favicon alongside modern SVG favicon declarations for maximum compatibility.