Convert AI to ICO
Free, fast and secure — convert AI to ICO right in your browser.
Flatten your AI into a ready-to-use ICO
Converting AI to ICO rasterises your vector artwork into a fixed-size Icon (ICO) that opens in any app or browser — perfect when a tool will not accept the original vector.
How to convert AI to ICO
- 1 Drop your AI file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to ICO automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new ICO file instantly.
AI vs ICO
| Feature | AI | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Type | Vector | Raster |
| MIME type | application/illustrator | image/x-icon |
| Best for | Opening or previewing designer artwork — usually converted to PNG, SVG or JPG to share. | Website favicons and Windows app icons — usually made from a PNG or SVG. |
About the formats
Adobe Illustrator artwork
AI is Adobe Illustrator's native vector format, used by designers for logos, icons and illustrations. Modern AI files are PDF-compatible, so they can be rasterised to an image or, where supported, traced back to clean vectors.
Strengths
- Editable, resolution-independent vectors
- Industry standard for professional design
- PDF-compatible under the hood
Limitations
- Needs Illustrator or a converter to open
- Not viewable in browsers or most apps
- Overkill for everyday sharing
Best for: Opening or previewing designer artwork — usually converted to PNG, SVG or JPG to share.
Icon (ICO)
ICO is the Windows icon format, used for app icons and website favicons. A single ICO file can bundle several sizes so the right one is shown at each scale.
Strengths
- The standard for website favicons
- Bundles multiple sizes in one file
- Supports transparency
Limitations
- Tiny dimensions only
- Not for general photos
- Limited editor support
Best for: Website favicons and Windows app icons — usually made from a PNG or SVG.