Convert JPG to ICO
Turn JPG photos into ICO icons for favicons and Windows. Everything happens in your browser, so your photos never leave your device.
Why convert JPG to ICO?
JPG is everywhere, but its lossy compression and lack of transparency aren't right for every job. ICO is the format browsers look for at /favicon.ico and the one Windows uses for app and shortcut icons.
The background stays as it is
JPG has no transparency, so the ICO keeps the same solid background. ICO supports transparency, but a converter can't tell which pixels are "background". To get a transparent ICO, remove the background in an editor first.
Favicons and Windows icons
Browsers still request /favicon.ico from websites, and Windows uses ICO for application and shortcut icons. Icons are square and the ICO format tops out at 256 × 256 pixels, so a square, simple JPG works best; fine detail disappears at 16 × 16.
JPG and ICO compared
| Property | JPG | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Typical file size | Small (a phone photo is usually 1–5 MB) | Tiny |
| Best for | Photos, sharing, uploads | Favicons, Windows icons |
| Support | Universal | Browsers (favicons), Windows |
Questions
Will converting JPG to ICO make the background transparent?
No. JPG has no transparency, so the ICO keeps the same solid background. Remove the background in an editor first if you need a transparent ICO.
Will converting JPG to ICO reduce quality?
ICO stores icons losslessly, but the format tops out at 256 × 256 pixels, so start from a square JPG at that size or below and keep the design simple enough to read at 16 × 16.
Is JPG the same as JPEG?
Yes. JPG and JPEG are the same format; the shorter .jpg extension dates from older versions of Windows that only allowed three-letter extensions. Format Hero accepts both.
Are my JPG photos uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs in your browser, on your own device, so your photos are never sent to a server. Once the page and converter have loaded, it keeps working even if your connection drops.