GIF to ICO Converter
Drop a GIF, get a multi-size favicon.ico from its first frame. Useful for legacy logos and graphics that only exist as GIFs. Runs in your browser.
Drop your GIF file here
Converts to .ico — stays on your device
Why convert GIF to ICO?
- Turning an old GIF logo from a legacy site or document into a modern favicon.ico.
- Producing a favicon for a vintage-themed site where the brand asset is a GIF for stylistic reasons.
- Converting downloaded GIF icon packs from older icon archives into proper multi-size .ico files.
- Generating a favicon from an animated GIF (the first frame is used) for forum or community sites.
- Re-sourcing a Windows app icon when the only existing asset is a GIF from a legacy installer.
- Quick favicon creation when a JPG or PNG version of the logo isn't available.
How our converter works
Your GIF is decoded by the browser (only the first frame is used — ICO is a static format). The frame is rasterized to six standard favicon sizes — 16, 32, 48, 64, 128, and 256 px — and packaged into a single multi-resolution ICO file. GIF transparency (1-bit) is preserved across every size. Nothing is uploaded — the GIF never leaves your browser tab.
GIF vs ICO — what's the difference?
| Feature | GIF | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Animation | Yes — multiple frames | No — static favicons only |
| Transparency | 1-bit (single transparent color) | Full 8-bit alpha — preserved per size |
| Color depth | Up to 256 colors per frame | 32-bit RGBA per size |
| Best for | Short looping animations | Favicons, Windows app icons |
Frequently asked questions
What about animated GIFs — does the favicon animate?
No. ICO is a static format — only the first frame of an animated GIF is used. If you want an animated favicon, modern browsers support animated SVG via `<link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml">`, but no .ico file can animate.
Will GIF transparency work in the favicon?
Yes — GIF's 1-bit transparency (single transparent color) carries over cleanly. The output ICO has full 8-bit alpha per size, so the result is at least as good as the source.
Should my GIF be square?
Yes. Favicons are square by convention, and non-square sources get stretched to fit. Crop to 1:1 aspect before converting if your GIF isn't already square.
What sizes does the ICO contain?
Six: 16, 32, 48, 64, 128, and 256 px. The browser or OS picks whichever size best matches where the icon is shown.
Will the colors look the same?
GIFs are limited to 256 colors per frame. The rasterized output is full 32-bit color, but it can't add detail that wasn't in the GIF — what you started with is what you get, just at multiple sizes. For richer color, convert from a PNG, JPG, or SVG source.
Why not convert the GIF directly to a multi-frame ICO?
ICO does support multiple entries, but they're for different sizes — not animation frames. Browsers expect static favicons; an animated favicon would need a different format (SVG with `<animate>` tags or a video/lottie pipeline).
About the GIF format
GIF and ICO are both legacy formats with surprising staying power. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format, 1987) is the web's enduring meme/animation format despite a 256-color limit. ICO (Windows icon, 1985) is the favicon format that every browser still defaults to. Converting GIF to ICO is a niche but real workflow when your only available logo is an old GIF — common with historical sites, legacy installers, or downloaded icon packs from the 1990s/2000s. We use the first GIF frame, rasterize to six favicon sizes, and package into a clean multi-resolution ICO. For richer source quality, start from PNG, SVG, or JPG instead.