Convert TIFF to ICO
Turn your TIFF images (first page) into Windows icons and favicons. Perfect for branding and web development.
ToFormat — free online converter
Upload your files
Max file size: 30MB · Up to 20 files at once
Why ToFormat?
Multi‑Size ICO
Generate ICO files with multiple resolutions (16×16 to 256×256) from a single TIFF (first page). All sizes stored in one file — ideal for Windows icons.
Transparency Support
TIFF may contain alpha transparency; ICO fully retains it in 32‑bit icons. Your logos stay transparent.
Batch Processing
Upload up to 20 TIFF files at once. We'll convert each to ICO and package them in a ZIP for easy download.
About the Formats
📄 What is TIFF?
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a flexible, lossless format created in the 1980s. It supports multiple layers, pages, various color depths, and compression options. It is the standard for printing, scanning, and digital archiving. Multi‑page TIFFs can hold entire sequences.
All TIFF conversion tools →🖱️ What is ICO?
ICO is the icon format used by Microsoft Windows and for website favicons. It can store multiple image sizes in one file, with support for transparency (1‑bit and 8‑bit alpha). Created in the 1980s, it remains essential for branding.
All ICO conversion tools →How to Convert
Upload your TIFF
Drag and drop your TIFF files. You can upload up to 20 at once. For multi‑page TIFFs, the first page is used.
Choose icon sizes
Select which resolutions to include (16, 32, 48, 64, 128, 256). Default includes all standard sizes.
Download ICO
Your ICO files are ready. Download individually or as ZIP. Files auto‑delete in 10 minutes.
When to Convert TIFF to ICO
🌐 Website Favicon
Every website needs a favicon.ico. Convert your TIFF logo (first page) to ICO and place it in your site root — works in all browsers.
💡 For modern formats: try TIFF to PNG →💻 Windows Applications
Desktop apps require ICO icons for executables and shortcuts. Convert TIFF to ICO for professional software packaging.
💡 macOS icon: TIFF to ICNS →📁 Folder Icons
Customize folder icons on Windows. Convert any TIFF image to ICO and assign it via folder properties.
💡 Linux icon: TIFF to PNG →🎨 UI Design
Designers often need ICO exports for mockups and prototypes. Convert TIFF to ICO for client deliveries.
💡 Vector source: TIFF to SVG →Format Comparison
| Format | TIFF | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| File Size | Smaller | Larger |
ICO is specialized for icons. For general purpose images, TIFF to PNG or TIFF to JPG are better choices. For macOS icons, try TIFF to ICNS.
💡 Pro Tips
- Include 16, 32, and 48px sizes at minimum — they cover most Windows display settings and favicon use.
- For highest quality, start with a square TIFF image (first page). ICO works best with square proportions.
- ICO supports 8‑bit transparency (256 levels) in 32‑bit mode. We preserve full alpha from your TIFF (first page).
- If your TIFF is multi‑page or animated, only the first page will be used — ICO is static.
- Browsers request favicon.ico automatically. Place the file in your root directory for instant branding.
- For Retina displays, include 64×64 or 128×128 sizes — they scale better on high‑DPI screens.
- You can also convert ICO back to TIFF with our ICO to TIFF converter for archiving.
How TIFF to ICO Conversion Works
ICO files are containers holding one or more bitmap images in different resolutions. When you convert TIFF to ICO, our servers decode the first page of your TIFF to raw pixels, resize it to your chosen dimensions (preserving aspect ratio), and encode each size as a BMP‑like image inside the ICO container. Transparency from the TIFF (alpha channel) is mapped to an alpha channel in 32‑bit icons.
The result is a single ICO file containing multiple resolutions of your image, ready to be used as a Windows icon or website favicon. The process is fast and server‑side. Files are automatically deleted after 10 minutes.
TIFF vs ICO: Different Purposes
TIFF is a versatile format for high‑fidelity archiving, printing, and scanning – it supports pages, layers, and high bit depth. ICO is a container format specifically for icons and favicons. While TIFF is huge and feature‑rich, ICO is the only format universally recognized for Windows icons and website favicons.
Converting TIFF to ICO is useful when you need a static, multi‑resolution icon derived from your TIFF source. For multi‑page TIFFs, only the first page is used – for animations, you would need other formats like GIF or WebP.
Best Practices for ICO Creation from TIFF
Always include multiple sizes: 16×16 (small icons), 32×32 (standard), 48×48 (high‑DPI), and optionally 64×64, 128×128 for very high resolution. Modern Windows can scale down larger sizes, so including a 256×256 master ensures quality everywhere.
For favicons, 16, 32, and 48 are sufficient. Browsers will pick the best size automatically. If your TIFF has transparency, it will be preserved in the ICO when you choose 32‑bit mode. Explore our ICO tools for more icon utilities.