Images conversion
Convert BMP to ICO
Updated Jul 2026
BMP is an old, uncompressed Windows image format, and ICO is the format Windows and apps use for icons and favicons. To convert BMP to ICO, open the file in a converter and export it as ICO. Doing this on your own computer means the image never has to leave your machine to be turned into an icon.
- Extension
- .bmp
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Legacy Windows images
- Transparency
- None
- Extension
- .ico
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Favicons, app icons
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert BMP to ICO on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert BMP to ICO
- Open Morphjet and drag in the BMP image you want to turn into an icon, or a whole folder of them.
- Choose ICO as the output format.
- Convert. The ICO file is written right next to the original, and nothing is uploaded anywhere.
BMP vs ICO: what actually changes
| BMP | ICO | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | General-purpose bitmap image | Icon and favicon format |
| File size | Large, mostly uncompressed | Small, built for tiny images |
| Quality | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparency | Limited, rarely used in practice | Yes, fully supported |
| Where it's used | Legacy Windows software and old scans | App icons, desktop shortcuts, browser favicons |
| Multiple sizes in one file | No, one image per file | Yes, can bundle several sizes together |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert BMP to ICO when you're turning a logo or image into a desktop app icon, a Windows shortcut icon, or a website favicon.
Keep the BMP if you just need a plain image to view or edit further, since ICO is built specifically for icon use and isn't meant as a general photo format.
Why not just use an online converter?
Icons often come from logos or images you haven't published yet, sometimes for an app or brand that's still under wraps. Uploading that BMP to an online converter puts it on someone else's server before you're ready to share it. Converting on your own computer keeps it private until you decide otherwise.
Questions
Does converting BMP to ICO lose quality?
No. Both formats are lossless, so the pixels come through unchanged. The main thing to watch is size, since icons are usually small and a large BMP will need to be scaled down.
Can one ICO file hold more than one size?
Yes. ICO files can bundle multiple resolutions, like 16x16, 32x32, and 256x256, in a single file so Windows can pick the right one depending on where the icon is shown.
Will my BMP image need to be square?
Icons are almost always square, so if your BMP isn't, it'll get cropped or padded during conversion. It's worth starting from a square image if you can.
Can I convert BMP to ICO without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally on your computer, so it never has to travel over the internet, even for a logo you haven't announced yet.
Morphjet converts BMP, ICO, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.