XPS to ICO Converter

Quick XPS to ICO conversion — free online tool

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Cloud-Powered

Conversion runs on remote servers — your computer stays fast and unloaded while XPS becomes ICO.

Cross-Platform

Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile — convert XPS to ICO from any device with a browser.

High-Quality Output

XPS to ICO conversion preserves your document content and layout with reliable fidelity.

How to convert XPS 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

XPS (XML Paper Specification) is a fixed-layout document format developed by Microsoft, first released with Windows Vista and .NET Framework 3.0 in November 2006. Conceived as Microsoft's alternative to Adobe's PDF, XPS uses XML-based page description markup within a ZIP-based Open Packaging Conventions container. Each page is described as a FixedPage element containing paths (vector shapes with fill and stroke), glyphs (text positioned at precise coordinates), images, and canvas groupings — all specified with exact coordinates for pixel-precise rendering. The format embeds all required resources: fonts are subset and included, images are stored within the package, and the complete rendering specification travels with the document. Windows includes the XPS Document Writer as a virtual printer, allowing any application to generate XPS output through the standard print dialog. One advantage is exact visual fidelity — XPS documents render identically on any compliant viewer because every element is positioned absolutely, with no interpretation variance. Native Windows integration is another strength: XPS viewing, creation, and printing are built into Windows without additional software, and the .NET Framework provides APIs for programmatic XPS generation. While XPS did not achieve the ubiquity of PDF as a universal document format, it remains used in Windows printing infrastructure, enterprise document workflows, and scenarios where the Windows platform provides native end-to-end support.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: November 2006
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 XPS to ICO?

ICO is the standard Windows icon format — convert XPS graphics to ICO for use as application or website icons.

What opens ICO files?

You can open ICO files with Windows Explorer, web browsers (as favicon), IrfanView, and icon editors.

How quickly does XPS to ICO conversion finish?

Most conversions complete within seconds. Larger files may take slightly longer, but cloud processing keeps it fast regardless of your device.

Can I convert multiple XPS pages to ICO?

Yes — each page of your XPS file can be converted to a separate ICO image. Upload and convert in one session.

Is XPS to ICO conversion free?

Yes, Convertio offers free XPS to ICO conversion. Premium plans provide more capacity for larger batches.

Does it work without installing software?

Absolutely — the converter is fully browser-based. No downloads, no plugins — just upload, convert, and download.

XPS to ICO Quality Rating

3.8 (2 votes)
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