Free online AVIF to ICO converter

Windows application icons, desktop shortcuts, and legacy favicon.ico files require ICO rather than AVIF. The conversion creates one or more small raster icon images that software can select at the required display size.

What the AVIF format is

AVIF is an image format based on the AV1 video codec and the HEIF container. It is used primarily for web images because it can produce smaller files than JPEG or PNG at comparable visual quality.

An AVIF file can contain lossy or lossless image data, transparency, wide-gamut color, HDR data, and sometimes multiple frames. You commonly encounter it after downloading images from modern websites, exporting from image editors with AVIF support, or receiving assets produced by web optimization pipelines.

Browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari can display AVIF, but older Windows programs, icon editors, and application build tools may not open it directly.

What the ICO format is

ICO is a Windows icon container format. A single .ico file can hold several versions of the same image at different pixel sizes and color depths.

Common icon sizes are 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 pixels. Windows uses the closest available embedded size for file associations, shortcuts, folders, application resources, and taskbar display.

Modern ICO files can contain PNG-compressed images with alpha transparency. This makes ICO suitable for icons with smooth transparent edges, although it is not suitable for preserving AVIF animation, HDR appearance, or large photographic detail.

How to convert AVIF to ICO

For a quick conversion, upload the AVIF file to the converter on 101convert.com, select ICO as the output format, convert it, and download the resulting .ico file. Use a square source image when possible; non-square artwork needs empty transparent margins or cropping to work as an icon.

For desktop conversion, ImageMagick can read AVIF when it was built with AVIF or libheif support. Check support with magick -version; the listed delegates should include AVIF, HEIC, or libheif support.

Create separate square icon layers so the ICO contains usable sizes instead of one scaled image:

magick input.avif -background none -resize 16x16 -gravity center -extent 16x16 icon-16.png

magick input.avif -background none -resize 32x32 -gravity center -extent 32x32 icon-32.png

magick input.avif -background none -resize 48x48 -gravity center -extent 48x48 icon-48.png

magick input.avif -background none -resize 256x256 -gravity center -extent 256x256 icon-256.png

magick icon-16.png icon-32.png icon-48.png icon-256.png output.ico

The -resize option preserves proportions, while -extent adds transparent canvas around a non-square image. Replace none with a color such as white if the destination does not support transparent icon backgrounds.

GIMP can also be used when its installation supports AVIF import. Open the source file, use Image → Scale Image to prepare a square version, then choose File → Export As, enter an .ico filename, and select the required icon sizes in the ICO export dialog.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

ICO conversion cannot add detail missing from the source. A 32×32 AVIF enlarged to 256×256 will create a valid icon but will look soft at large sizes.

Small icons need simplified artwork. Fine text, thin outlines, and low-contrast details often disappear at 16×16 pixels; edit the smallest layer separately if it must remain recognizable.

Transparency should be checked against both light and dark backgrounds after conversion. AVIF alpha normally converts to ICO alpha, but very old Windows software may display transparency less accurately than current Windows versions.

If the AVIF contains multiple frames, conversion normally uses a single frame rather than producing an animated ICO. Flatten HDR or wide-gamut artwork to standard SDR color before export if the icon will be used in typical Windows interfaces.