ICO to SVG Converter
To turn an ICO into an SVG, add the icon, choose black-and-white with a threshold or up to 8 colors, and press Convert. The largest size in the icon is traced into vector outlines, an approximation of the design; small icons can trace blocky. The ICO is uploaded to our servers over a secure connection, traced there and deleted within 30 minutes at the latest.
- Free, no sign-up
- Uploaded securely, deleted within 30 minutes
- Up to 50 MB per file
2 colors gives a black-and-white drawing. More colors create layered shapes in several colors and a larger file.
Decides which pixels count as black. Lower values keep only the darkest areas; higher values make the drawing heavier. It only applies to 2 colors.
The image is traced at up to 2048 pixels on its longest side; the SVG itself scales without losing sharpness.
Your file is uploaded to our servers over a secure (HTTPS) connection, converted there and permanently deleted within 30 minutes at the latest. Files are converted one after another.
How to convert ICO to SVG
Add your ICO image
Drag a logo, icon or drawing onto the upload area. Clear contrast and few colors trace best.
Choose the colors and the threshold
2 colors gives a black-and-white drawing whose threshold you can adjust; up to 8 colors creates layered shapes.
Trace and download
Press “Convert”. The image is uploaded to our servers, traced and deleted within 30 minutes at the latest; download the SVG when it is ready.
What is preserved?
Kept
- The overall shape, proportions and layout of the picture
- Sharp edges at any size: the SVG scales without turning into pixels
Changed
- The picture is redrawn as filled outlines, so fine detail, texture and gradients are simplified
- With 2 colors the result is black and white; with more colors (up to 8) each color becomes its own layer and the colors are approximated
- Transparent areas are filled with white before tracing
Not carried over
- Photographic detail, smooth gradients and soft shadows
- EXIF, location and camera data
When to use it
Rebuild an icon when the artwork is lost
If the original design file of an icon is gone, tracing the 256 pixel version gives you vector shapes to redraw and clean up from.
A scalable symbol for print
Simple symbols such as arrows, check marks or a single-letter logo stored as ICO can be traced and then printed at large sizes.
Limitations to know
- This is tracing, not a true conversion to vector: the SVG is an approximation of the picture, not the original drawing.
- Logos, icons and flat drawings give the best result; photographs trace badly.
- The picture is traced at up to 2048 pixels on its longest side. The file is uploaded to our servers, which accept up to 50 MB and about 100 megapixels per file.
About the formats
What is ICO?
ICO is an icon format that stores several square sizes (for example 16, 32 and 48 pixels) in a single file. It is used for Windows icons and for a website's favicon.ico; when a browser needs a small tab icon it picks the matching size from the file. It supports transparency, but cannot be larger than 256 × 256 pixels.
What is SVG?
SVG describes an image with shapes, paths and text in XML instead of pixels, so it stays sharp at any size. It is ideal for logos, icons and illustrations. When a program or website needs a pixel image, an SVG is rendered into a raster format such as PNG at a chosen size.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the traced icon so rough?
A 32 or 48 pixel icon has very few pixels for tracing to follow, so curves become steps or blobs. Icons that contain a 256 pixel version give much better results.
Which size inside the ICO is traced?
The largest one available, since it carries the most detail for the outlines.
Is ICO to SVG a good way to make a vector logo?
Only as a starting point. Expect to tidy the shapes in a vector editor; for professional use, redrawing from the original artwork is better.
Is converting ICO to SVG free?
Yes, completely free. There is no account, subscription or watermark; just add your files and convert them.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
Yes. This conversion runs on our servers, so your file is uploaded over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, converted there and permanently deleted within 30 minutes at the latest. It is stored under a random code instead of its name, and processing is fully automated. EXIF and location data are not added to the output.