Convert ICO to GIF
ICO is the Windows icon format, used for favicons and application icons. GIF is the practical destination when ICO is the thing standing in the way, because GIF is built for simple animations, icons and flat graphics and almost every program opens it. The conversion runs entirely in your browser: there is no upload, no file size limit and no watermark on the result.
Drop your ICO files below and download GIF in seconds. Free, unlimited and completely private: the conversion runs inside your browser, so your files never leave your device and are never uploaded to a server.
No upload. Works with your network switched off. Check it yourself, or read what actually happens to your file.
Why convert ICO to GIF?
ICO files bundle one or more icon sizes into a single file that Windows and browsers use for favicons and app icons. Regular image viewers often refuse to open them, and most editors cannot save them, so a converter is the practical way in or out of the format.
GIF dates back to 1987 and is limited to a 256 color palette, which shows in photos but is fine for flat graphics. It remains everywhere thanks to animation support and universal compatibility. For still images, PNG or WebP almost always produce better quality at a smaller size.
ICO vs GIF at a glance
| ICO | GIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Windows icon | Graphics Interchange Format |
| Compression | Contains PNG or BMP data | Lossless, 256 colors |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Favicons and Windows application icons | Simple animations, icons and flat graphics |
What changes when you convert ICO to GIF
| What happens | |
|---|---|
| Image quality | Reduced. GIF holds at most 256 colours, so a photograph is quantised down to a palette. Flat graphics usually survive intact. |
| Transparency | Kept. GIF stores an alpha channel, so cut-out backgrounds and soft edges survive. |
| EXIF and GPS | Removed. The conversion goes through a pixel buffer, so camera data and location are not carried into the GIF file. |
| Colour profile | Not carried across. The image is handled in sRGB, which is right for the web and wrong for colour-managed print work. |
| Animation | Not applicable. ICO files here are single images. |
| File size | Varies with the content of the image. No figure is quoted here, because none has been measured on a documented test set. |
How to convert ICO to GIF
- Drop one or more ICO files into the box above, or click to browse.
- ImageConvert converts each file to GIF right on your device.
- Download a single file, or grab everything at once as a zip.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ICO file?
ICO is the Windows icon format, used for favicons and application icons.
What is a GIF file?
GIF is an older format limited to 256 colors, still popular for simple graphics and icons.
Is it free to convert ICO to GIF?
Yes. There are no limits, no watermarks and no account needed. Convert as many ICO files as you like.
Are my files private?
Completely. Your ICO files never leave your browser and are never uploaded to a server, so your images stay on your device.