ICO to GIF Converter

ICO to GIF Converter

This tool accepts ICO files, which contain one or more small icon sizes. The result is GIF, which stores at most 256 colours per frame: colours outside that palette are approximated, so smooth gradients turn into visible bands.

How to convert ICO to GIF

1. Select or drag ICO files into the upload area.
2. Confirm that the requested output format is GIF.
3. Start the conversion and review the status of each file.
4. Download each result once processing has finished.

Convert several files in one batch

The interface currently accepts up to 10 files per batch. Files are processed one after another; duplicates, mislabeled files and damaged files may be skipped or reported as errors.

File size after conversion

The size depends on the palette and on how many frames the result has, not on how detailed the source was.

Check the result

Look at skies, shadows and skin tones — those are the areas where a 256-colour palette shows banding most clearly. The result has the dimensions of the icon. Enlarging it afterwards only produces a blurred image, because the pixels are not there.

Limits worth knowing

This tool changes the file format. It does not guarantee that every piece of metadata, every format-specific property or every embedded object survives the conversion. Keep the source file and test the result in the application where you plan to use it.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the result look posterised?

Because the format keeps only 256 colours per frame and everything else is approximated to the nearest one.

Is this format a good choice for photographs?

No. Use it for short animations and flat graphics; a photographic or modern format suits photographs far better.

Can I get a large image out of an icon?

No. An icon holds very few pixels and enlarging cannot create detail that was never stored.

Is my original file replaced?

No. The file on your device is left untouched.