TIFF is a high-quality format used for scans, print and photo archives. Browsers can't display it directly, so converting is needed to use or share it on the web.
ICO is a container format for favicons and Windows icons. When you convert TIFF to ICO, you can open it in more places and it can be used as an icon or favicon. See the comparison below for what changes.
This converter reads the file itself to confirm it is TIFF, then converts it to ICO right in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
TIFF vs ICO: what's the difference?
| Item | TIFF | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossless |
| Transparent background | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Introduced | 1986 | 1985 |
| Support in programs and upload forms | limited | moderate |
| Shown directly in browsers | No | Yes |
| Photo file size (JPG = 1) | about 6× | n/a |
What is TIFF?
TIFF has long been used for scanners, publishing and print, and for archiving original photos. It is a flexible container that supports lossless compression as well as several other compression methods and high bit depths.
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 changes when you convert TIFF to ICO
Pixel values are preserved exactly
TIFF and ICO are both lossless, so there is no change in quality. Only the file structure, compatibility and size differ.
Multi-page TIFFs convert only the first page
A TIFF can hold several pages in one file. This converter turns the first page into an image.
It is fitted into a square of at most 256×256
ICO is limited to 256×256. Larger images are scaled down with their aspect ratio kept, and images that aren't square are centered with the leftover area left transparent.
ICO has no quality setting
ICO is lossless, so the quality slider doesn't apply. Instead, when converting from TIFF you can manage file size by resizing (exact width and height, or a percentage).
How the file size changes
ICO holds images of up to 256×256, so a large original shrinks a lot. If the image is already small, the difference is negligible.
ICO opens in more places
Support for TIFF in programs, document tools and upload forms is limited, while ICO is moderate. If you need to upload somewhere TIFF wouldn't open, try again after converting.
When to convert
- You need to upload to a program, messenger or upload form that can't open TIFF
- You want to use it on a website or blog but browsers can't display TIFF
- You're making a website favicon or a Windows shortcut icon
- You need to share a scanned or print-ready TIFF on the web or by messenger