XPM to ICO Converter

Turn your XPM bitmaps into ICO format — fast and online

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Cross-Platform Access

Whether you are on a desktop, tablet, or phone — convert XPM to ICO from any device with a modern web browser.

Cloud Conversion

All XPM to ICO processing runs on Convertio servers — your device stays fast and free while the conversion happens in the cloud.

Lightning Fast

XPM files are small and convert to ICO in seconds. The cloud-based engine handles the transformation quickly so you can download right away.

How to convert XPM to ICO

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose ico or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your ico file right afterwards

About formats

XPM (X PixMap) is a color image format for the X Window System, developed by Arnaud Le Hors at GROUPE BULL beginning in 1989 as the color successor to the monochrome XBM format. Like XBM, XPM files are valid C source code — each file defines the image as a static array of character strings, where the header strings specify width, height, number of colors, and characters per pixel, the color definition strings map character codes to color values (supporting X11 color names, hexadecimal RGB, and symbolic color types like 'background' and 'foreground'), and the pixel strings encode each row as a sequence of character codes that index the color palette. This ASCII art representation makes XPM images human-readable: one can often see the image content directly in the text of the source file. The format went through three revisions: XPM1 (1989, compatible with X10), XPM2 (simplified syntax), and XPM3 (1991, the current version with the static char* syntax and extended color specification). XPM was the standard format for X Window application icons, splash screens, pixmap buttons, and themed UI elements throughout the 1990s and 2000s. One advantage is the combined benefits of being a valid C source file and a color image: XPM files can be compiled into applications, edited in any text editor, processed by text tools, and version-controlled, while supporting up to 256 colors with transparency (using the 'None' color keyword). The X11 ecosystem's reliance on XPM ensures broad tool support. XPM files are handled by all X11 toolkits, ImageMagick, GIMP, and web browsers (legacy support).
Initial release: 1989
ICO is the icon file format for Microsoft Windows), introduced with Windows 1.0 in 1985 and serving as the standard container for application icons, file type icons, and shortcut icons throughout the Windows ecosystem. An ICO file bundles multiple image variants within a single container — each at different sizes (16x16, 32x32, 48x48, 256x256, and others) and color depths (4-bit, 8-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit with alpha) — allowing Windows to select the most appropriate image for each display context, from tiny taskbar buttons to large desktop icons. The container structure consists of an ICONDIR header, an array of ICONDIRENTRY records describing each variant, and the image data itself. Since Windows Vista, ICO files support embedded PNG-compressed images for the larger sizes (typically 256x256), dramatically reducing file size while maintaining quality with full alpha transparency. One advantage is automatic size adaptation — Windows pulls the optimal resolution from the ICO container for each context (Explorer list view, desktop tile, Alt-Tab preview), ensuring crisp display without the application managing separate image files. The format's operating system-level integration is another core strength: ICO files serve as the identity mechanism for executables, file associations, and shortcuts across all Windows versions, and web browsers use favicon.ico for website identity in tabs and bookmarks. ICO creation and editing is supported by image editors like GIMP, Inkscape, and dedicated icon tools, and the format remains essential for Windows application development.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: 1985

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert XPM to ICO?

XPM is tied to X11/Linux desktops. Switching to ICO gives you icon format for Windows applications and websites and broad support across platforms, browsers, and devices.

How do I open an ICO file?

Software that handles ICO includes Windows Explorer, web browsers (as favicon), IrfanView, GIMP — giving you options on every major operating system.

How long does XPM to ICO conversion take?

Conversion is nearly instant for most XPM files. Since these are small images, the entire process — upload to download — takes only moments.

Does converting XPM to ICO affect quality?

Quality is maintained to the extent ICO supports. Since XPM is a color pixmap format for X Window System, the visual data transfers cleanly to ICO.

Is XPM to ICO conversion free?

You can convert XPM to ICO for free on Convertio. Premium plans are available if you need higher throughput or larger file allowances.

Can I convert multiple XPM files to ICO at once?

Convertio supports batch mode — drag in multiple XPM files and they all convert to ICO together, which is much faster than one-by-one.

XPM to ICO Quality Rating

4.7 (20 votes)
You need to convert and download at least 1 file to provide feedback!