How to Convert WebP to ICO Favicon: Complete Guide 2025

Published on August 23, 2025 | Updated: August 23, 2025 | Reading time: 10 minutes
Quick Summary: Favicons are essential for website branding, and while WebP is great for web images, favicons require the ICO format. This guide will show you how to easily convert your WebP images into ICO files, ensuring your website looks professional across all browsers and devices.

Table of Contents

What is a Favicon and Why ICO?

A favicon (short for "favorite icon") is a small icon displayed in the browser tab, bookmarks bar, and search results next to your website's name. It's a crucial element for branding and user recognition.

While modern browsers support PNG and SVG for favicons, the traditional and most widely supported format for favicons is .ico (Microsoft Icon format). The ICO format can store multiple images at different sizes and color depths within a single file, allowing browsers to pick the most appropriate icon for various contexts (e.g., 16x16 for browser tabs, 32x32 for taskbars, 48x48 for desktop shortcuts).

Since WebP is primarily a web image format and not designed for multi-resolution icon storage, you'll need to convert your WebP design into an ICO file to ensure universal favicon compatibility.

Favicon Format Pros Cons Compatibility
.ico Widely supported, multiple sizes in one file. Older format, requires specific tools. Excellent (all browsers, old & new)
.png Modern, good quality, transparency. Not supported by all older browsers. Good (modern browsers)
.svg Scalable, small file size, sharp at any resolution. Limited browser support, no multi-size support. Limited (very modern browsers)

Method 1: Online WebP to ICO Converters (Easiest)

Online tools are the simplest way to convert your WebP image into an ICO favicon. They are fast, free, and don't require any software installation.

1 Prepare Your WebP Image: Ensure your WebP image is square (e.g., 256x256 pixels) and has a transparent background if desired. This will ensure the best quality for your favicon.
2 Choose an Online Converter: Search for "WebP to ICO converter" on Google. Popular options include Favicon.io, Convertio, or ICOConvert.com.
3 Upload Your WebP File: Click the "Upload" or "Choose File" button and select your WebP image.
4 Generate and Download: The tool will typically generate various sizes (e.g., 16x16, 32x32, 48x48) within a single ICO file. Download the generated favicon.ico file.

Method 2: Desktop Software (GIMP, Photoshop)

For more control over the favicon creation process, especially if you need to fine-tune the image or create multiple sizes manually, desktop image editors are a good choice.

Option A: GIMP (Free & Open Source)

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful, free image editor that can handle ICO files.

1 Open WebP in GIMP: Launch GIMP and open your WebP file (File > Open... or drag and drop).
2 Resize (Optional): If your image is very large, resize it to a suitable dimension like 256x256 pixels (Image > Scale Image...).
3 Export as ICO: Go to File > Export As....
4 Select ICO Format: In the export dialog, type a filename with the .ico extension (e.g., favicon.ico) or select "Microsoft Windows icon" from the "Select File Type (By Extension)" list.
5 Choose Sizes: A dialog will appear asking which sizes to include in the ICO file. Select common sizes like 16x16, 24x24, 32x32, 48x48, and 64x64 for broad compatibility.
6 Export: Click "Export" to save your WebP image as an ICO favicon.

Option B: Adobe Photoshop (Paid)

Photoshop requires a plugin to save files as ICO. The most popular is the ICOFormat plugin by Telegraphics.

1 Install ICOFormat Plugin: Download and install the plugin into your Photoshop plugins folder.
2 Open WebP in Photoshop: Open your WebP file in Photoshop.
3 Save as ICO: Go to File > Save As... and select "ICO (Windows Icon)" from the format dropdown. You can then choose the desired sizes.

Best Practices for Favicons

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a WebP image directly as a favicon?

While some modern browsers might support WebP as a favicon (using <link rel="icon" type="image/webp" href="/favicon.webp">), it's not universally supported. For broad compatibility, especially with older browsers and devices, the ICO format is still recommended.

What are the recommended sizes for a favicon?

The most common sizes included in an ICO file are 16x16, 24x24, 32x32, 48x48, and 64x64 pixels. For modern devices and high-DPI screens, you might also consider larger sizes like 128x128 or 256x256 within the ICO file, or provide separate PNG icons for specific platforms (e.g., Apple Touch Icon).

Will a transparent WebP image convert to a transparent ICO?

Yes, if your WebP image has a transparent background, most good ICO converters will preserve this transparency when creating the ICO file. Always verify the output.

Final Takeaway: Converting your WebP image to an ICO favicon is a simple but essential step for professional website branding. Whether you use an online converter or desktop software, ensuring your favicon is in the widely supported ICO format will provide the best user experience across all platforms.

Need to Convert Your WebP File?

Use our free online tools for quick and easy conversions:

Bulk Converter