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How to Convert WebP to ICO for Your Website Favicon

March 10, 2025•6 min read

Creating a favicon for your website is an essential part of establishing your brand identity online. With the growing popularity of WebP images due to their superior compression and quality, you might find yourself needing to convert WebP images to ICO format for your website's favicon. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of converting WebP to ICO efficiently.

What is a WebP Image?

WebP is an image format developed by Google that provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web. WebP files are typically smaller than their PNG or JPEG counterparts while maintaining the same visual quality. This makes them ideal for web use, as they help reduce page load times and bandwidth usage.

What is an ICO File?

ICO is a file format used primarily for favicons in web browsers. An ICO file can contain multiple images at different sizes and color depths, allowing browsers to select the most appropriate version for display. Most commonly, ICO files include versions at 16×16, 32×32, and 48×48 pixels.

Why Convert WebP to ICO?

While WebP is excellent for general web images, browsers specifically require the ICO format for favicons. If you have a logo or icon in WebP format that you want to use as your website's favicon, you'll need to convert it to ICO format.

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting WebP to ICO

Method 1: Using Our Online Converter

The easiest way to convert WebP to ICO is using our free online converter:

  1. Go to the WebP to ICO Converter on our website
  2. Upload your WebP image by dragging and dropping it or clicking "Browse files"
  3. Adjust the conversion settings if needed (size, fit method, etc.)
  4. Wait for the conversion to complete
  5. Download your new ICO file

This method is fast, secure, and doesn't require any software installation. All processing happens in your browser, so your files never leave your computer.

Method 2: Using Image Editing Software

If you prefer using desktop software, you can convert WebP to ICO using image editing programs:

  1. Open your WebP image in an image editor like GIMP or Photoshop
  2. Resize the image to common favicon dimensions (16×16, 32×32, 48×48)
  3. Export or save the image as an ICO file

Note that not all image editors support the ICO format natively. You might need to install plugins or use additional software.

Best Practices for ICO Favicons

To ensure your favicon looks great across all devices and browsers, follow these best practices:

  • Include multiple sizes: Modern ICO files should include multiple image sizes, typically 16×16, 32×32, and 48×48 pixels.
  • Keep it simple: Favicons are small, so simple designs work best. Avoid complex details that won't be visible at small sizes.
  • Use transparent backgrounds: This ensures your favicon looks good on different browser themes.
  • Test across browsers: Check how your favicon appears in different browsers to ensure consistency.

Implementing Your Favicon

Once you've converted your WebP image to ICO format, you need to add it to your website:

  1. Name your ICO file "favicon.ico"
  2. Upload it to the root directory of your website
  3. Add the following line to the <head> section of your HTML:<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">

For more comprehensive favicon support, consider creating additional formats and sizes using the<link> tag with different rel attributes.

Conclusion

Converting WebP to ICO is a straightforward process that can be done quickly using our online converter. By following the steps and best practices outlined in this guide, you can create an effective favicon that enhances your website's brand identity and professional appearance.

Remember that while WebP is excellent for general web images due to its superior compression, the ICO format remains the standard for favicons due to its wide browser support and ability to contain multiple image sizes in a single file.