Free online WEBP to ICO converter

A Windows shortcut, application asset, or legacy favicon setup may require an ICO file when the available artwork is WEBP. An ICO file can package several icon sizes so the target software can choose an appropriate version.

What WEBP is

WEBP is a raster image format developed by Google for web delivery. It supports lossy and lossless compression, alpha transparency, animation, and ICC color profiles; websites, browsers, Android applications, and content-management systems commonly serve WEBP images to reduce transfer size.

A WEBP file may be a still image or an animation. ICO is normally used for static icons, so converting an animated WEBP generally uses only one frame.

What ICO is

ICO is an icon container format used primarily by Microsoft Windows and also supported for website favicons. One .ico file can contain multiple raster images at different dimensions and color depths, allowing Windows to use a small image in lists and a larger image on high-resolution displays.

Useful icon sizes are 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 pixels; 64×64 and 128×128 entries are optional. Modern ICO files can contain PNG-compressed images with alpha transparency. Very old software may only accept bitmap-based ICO entries, but current Windows versions support PNG icon entries.

Convert the file

Upload the WEBP file to the converter on 101convert.com, choose ICO as the output format, run the conversion, and save the resulting .ico file. No software installation is required. If icon-size settings are available, include at least 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 rather than creating a one-size icon.

For repeatable local conversion, ImageMagick can generate a multi-size ICO file. With a current build that includes WEBP support, run:

magick input.webp -define icon:auto-resize=256,128,64,48,32,16 output.ico

ImageMagick retains the source alpha channel when present. Start with a source at least 256×256 pixels; enlarging a small WEBP creates larger entries but cannot restore missing detail.

GIMP is suitable when the artwork needs editing first. Open the WEBP file, use Image → Scale Image or Image → Canvas Size to make a square icon canvas, then use File → Export As and save with the .ico extension. To make a multi-size ICO in GIMP, create separate layers at the required pixel dimensions before export and select the option to save layers as icon images when offered.

Quality and compatibility limits

Icons should normally be square. For a rectangular source, place it on a transparent square canvas instead of stretching it; this preserves proportions. Keep alpha transparency for non-rectangular artwork, but verify the result on backgrounds similar to the target application.

Text, thin lines, and photographic detail often fail at 16×16 pixels. Inspect the smallest embedded size and simplify the design or create a separate small-size layer when necessary.

For a traditional favicon, include 16×16 and 32×32 images and publish the file as /favicon.ico or reference it with a <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico"> element. Browsers also support PNG and SVG favicons, but ICO remains useful for older favicon conventions and Windows shortcut icons.