ICO is a container format for favicons and Windows icons. Current browsers open ICO, but support in programs and services is uneven.
SVG is an XML-based vector format that stays sharp at any size. Converting ICO to SVG is not like changing the format of an ordinary file, though: it is tracing (an estimate) that redraws the image as shapes. It works well for simple images such as logos and icons but not for photos, so read the cautions below first.
This converter reads the file itself to confirm it is ICO, then converts it to SVG right in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
ICO vs SVG: what's the difference?
| Item | ICO | SVG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Vector (stored as math) |
| Transparent background | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | Yes |
| Introduced | 1985 | 2001 |
| Support in programs and upload forms | moderate | moderate |
| Shown directly in browsers | Yes | Yes |
| Photo file size (JPG = 1) | n/a | n/a |
What is ICO?
ICO is the format used for Windows icons and website favicons. Its distinguishing feature is that one file can hold several sizes, such as 16×16, 32×32 and 256×256.
What is SVG?
SVG stores lines, shapes and curves as math in text (XML) instead of pixels. It stays sharp however far you zoom, and a simple logo can be just a few KB.
What changes when you convert ICO to SVG
It is an estimate, not an exact copy
Converting ICO to SVG here means tracing: finding the outlines of areas of color in the image and redrawing them as shapes. It isn't an ordinary conversion that preserves the original pixels, so the result is not identical to your ICO file; edges may shift a little and small details can disappear.
Small icons can come out angular
ICO icons are usually small, from 16 to 256px, so there is little outline information. The shapes can look angular or crude, so convert from a larger original image to SVG if you can.
Colors are simplified to the number you set
SVG reduces the colors to a set number (2-64) to build the shapes. Subtle color differences in your ICO file disappear, and smooth gradients can split into bands. You can adjust the number of colors and the level of detail in the conversion options; for logos and icons, 4-16 colors is often enough.
Text becomes shapes, not a font
Text inside the ICO image is drawn as shapes in the SVG, not as text. You can't edit or search it later, and small or blurry text can be hard to read. If you need to edit the text, use the original design file.
Transparent backgrounds are kept
Transparent areas of the ICO stay transparent in the SVG. To fill them with a color, turn on "Fill transparent areas and margins with the background color" in the options.
How size and file size change
An SVG grows with the number of shapes. A simple logo can be smaller than the ICO original, but a complex image becomes much larger. After converting, the result screen compares the size with the original and tells you when it is larger. Tracing is done on an image reduced to at most 1024px on a side, and only the display size (width and height) of the SVG is set to the size you chose, so it stays sharp when enlarged.
When to convert
- You have a ICO logo or icon without an original vector file (AI, Figma and so on) and want a form that doesn't break when enlarged
- You want to change the color or size of a simple graphic with code on the web
- You need a base outline for a program that takes outlines (vectors), such as cutting, embroidery or laser tools; the result may need cleaning up
- You want to turn a favicon ICO into a vector you can enlarge; small icons can come out with rough outlines