How Do You Convert PNG to an ICO on Windows 11?

I also encountered the same problem, I tried some online conversion tools, but the results were average, especially the clarity and size of the icon were not ideal. Later, I used Any2Pic, which worked well, preserving the image quality and details. If you want to use it as an icon on Windows, remember to set it to 256x256 size, so that it will be clearer on the system.

Followed this tutorial (worked for me): 

https://www.osxcentral.com/batch-convert-png-to-ico

It is available for Windows and macOS. Highly recommend! 

This cloud converter worked for me. Simple and quick. 
Cloud convert worked for me.

TylerYu 

XConvert is a lifesaver! I used this tool to batch convert a large number of PNG images to ICO format. It was simple and intuitive to use and I got it done in just a few steps.

First, I added all the PNG files I needed to convert to XConvert. Then, I selected the ICO format in the output settings and adjusted the resolution and quality of each icon to make sure it was sharp but not too large. Finally, I clicked "Convert" and waited for it to finish processing.

The results are very good, and the quality of the converted icons is well maintained, saving a lot of trouble for manual adjustments. If you need to handle similar batch PNG to ICO conversion tasks, XConvert is definitely worth a try!

TylerYu 

Paintt.NET is also a good choice for converting PNG to ICO on Windows 11/10. It is a free image and photo editing software that supports conversions to various formats. Although the ICO format is not supported by default, you can download some plug-ins to enable this function. The operation is simple. Just open the PNG file and save it as ICO format through the plug-in.

1. Install Paintt.NET: If you haven't installed it yet, download and install Paintt.NET from the official website.
2. Download and install the ICO plug-in: Find the ICO plug-in for Paintt.NET on the Internet and install it according to the instructions.
3. Open the PNG file: Open the PNG file you want to convert in Paintt.NET.
4. Save as ICO: Click "File" > "Save as", select the ICO format, set the size and resolution of the icon, and then save it.

This way you can easily and quickly convert PNG files to ICO format!

TylerYu 

Converting PNG to ICO using GIIMP is a little more indirect, as GIIMP itself doesn't directly support opening PDF files as images for editing and exporting to ICO. However, you can achieve this conversion by following a few steps:

1. First, you need to export the images in the PDF to a supported format, such as PNG or JPEG. This can be done with Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reading software. Select the image page you want to convert to an icon and save it as an image file.
2. Launch GIIMP and open the image file you just saved. If it is a multi-page PDF, you may need to repeat this step to save multiple images.
3. In GIIMP , you can edit the image, such as adjusting the color, cropping, etc. to suit your needs. After that, an important step is to resize the image. Icons usually require specific dimensions, such as 16x16, 32x32, 48x48 or 64x64 pixels. Use GIIMP's image resizing tools to adjust the image size.
4. Once you have finished editing the image, select the "Export As" option under the "File" menu. In the pop-up window, select the ICO format, and the file extension should be .ico. Before exporting, you can set different options, such as color depth, to ensure the compatibility and display of the icon.
5. After exporting, you can test the icon file in Windows to see if it displays as expected.

With this method, GIIMP provides a free and powerful solution to customize and make ICO files. Although it takes a few steps to convert PDF file to ICO, the whole process gives you more control and editing flexibility. This method is particularly suitable for occasions where you need to make fine adjustments to the icon.

I've been there with online converters to convert PNG to ICO on my computer, and more often than not, they let me down. I remember using one for batch converting images, and when I tried to use the icons, they were all off-brand and looked like they belonged in the '90s. That is ridiculous.

If you're using Windows 7 or Windows 10, you can save the following code as a REG file and apply it to the registry. This will add an option to the context menu of PNG files labeled "Convert to ICO."

When you right-click on png file and choose this option from right click menu, an ICO file named file.png.ico will be created in the same directory. This is the easiest way to convert .png to .ico on Windows PC as far as I know.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Created with Default Programs Editor
; http://defaultprogramseditor.com/

; Edit Verb
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\pngfile\shell\ConvertToICO]
@="Convert to ICO"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\pngfile\shell\ConvertToICO\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Magick\\7.0.3-Q16\\convert.exe\" -background transparent \"%1\" -define icon:auto-resize=16,24,32,48,64,72,96,128,256 \"%1.ico\""
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\pngfile\shell\ConvertToICO]
"Icon"="C:\\Program Files\\Magick\\7.0.3-Q16\\convert.exe,0"

TylerYu  

I love GIMP! It's a powerful image editing tool that's completely free and you can use it as a png to icon converter to capable of handling ico files. When creating icons, make sure to include multiple sizes in the ico file, like 16x16, 32x32, and 256x256. This way, your icon looks sharp no matter where it's displayed.

How to Use GIMP:

1. Download GIMP from gimp.org.
2. Open GIMP and load your png image.
3. Go to Image > Scale Image and adjust the size (16x16 or 32x32 is ideal for icons).
4. Go to File > Export As.
5. Select ico from the file format options. Make sure to use .ico as the file extension.
6. Hit Export and choose the correct settings.

After you've done the conversion, test it out by applying your new ico to a shortcut or a folder. Right-click on the shortcut or folder, go to Properties, then Customize, and you can change the icon there. If it doesn't look right, double-check the sizes and transparency in your original png.

TylerYu  Watch out for online png to ico converters. Some of those don't convert your file to a proper windows ico format, but just a scaled-down png with a .ico format. This means the converted .ico file won't be working as app icons. This is the main reason why you should use a dedicated image converter instead. The conversion quality is much higher and you don't need to upload the PNG images to an unknown server.

In short, stay away from the online PNG to ICO Converter. The above command line is working fine if you are familiar with the Command Prompt utility.