Is this TIFF to ICO converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple TIFF files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

Will the image quality change after conversion?

It depends on the formats involved. Converting to a lossless format like PNG preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy format like JPEG or WebP applies compression — we default to 85% quality, which looks identical to the original for almost all images. You won't notice a difference unless you zoom in pixel-by-pixel.

Do you support batch image conversion?

Yes — drop multiple images at once and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 at a time; Pro is unlimited. Download everything as a single ZIP when you're done.

Why is TIFF a good source for creating an ICO?

TIFF files are often high-resolution print masters, providing plenty of pixels to scale down cleanly to the small ICO frame sizes. Starting from a high-res source produces sharper icons than starting from a web-size image.

What happens to TIFF's CMYK colour profile when converted to ICO?

ICO uses RGB colour space. If your TIFF is CMYK, colours are converted to RGB during the process, which may shift some colours slightly — most noticeably in vivid magentas and cyans.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

TIFF to ICO Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

How to convert TIFF to ICO online

1
Drop your TIFF file
Drag and drop your Tagged Image File Format file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs Tagged Image File Format → Windows Icon Format entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your ICO
Your Windows Icon Format file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

TIFF vs ICO: format overview

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format

Aldus Corporation · 1986

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 32-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ Preserves maximum quality for archiving
✓ Supports multiple layers and pages
✗ Extremely large file sizes

ICO

Windows Icon Format

Microsoft · 1985

Compression: lossless
Transparency: Yes

✓ Multiple resolutions in a single file
✓ Required format for Windows app icons and favicons

TIFF magic bytes: 49 49 2A 00 (little-endian) / 4D 4D 00 2A (big-endian)

ICO magic bytes: 00 00 01 00

Why convert TIFF to ICO?

TIFF files sometimes serve as high-resolution source images for brand assets, scanned artwork, or design exports. When you need to create a favicon or Windows application icon from one of these TIFF assets, the format needs to be converted — browsers and Windows use ICO, not TIFF.

ICO is the container format that packages icon images at multiple resolutions into a single file. The browser or operating system then selects the appropriate size for the context: a tiny 16×16 pixel icon for the browser tab, a 32×32 for the address bar, or a larger 48×48 for taskbar pins. Converting TIFF to ICO handles the format translation and generates these size variants from the high-resolution source.

TIFF's high resolution is actually an advantage here — it gives the downscaling algorithm better source material to work from, resulting in sharper icon images at small sizes compared to starting from a lower-resolution source. For best icon results, the TIFF should contain a square graphic (logos and marks work better than photos) with the main subject centered. Complex illustrations with fine detail won't be readable at 16×16 pixels regardless of source quality, so keep the icon design bold and simple. After generating the ICO, test it in a browser across different devices before deploying to production.

Quality & file size: TIFF to ICO

Typical file sizes: TIFF 20–70 MB → ICO 10–100 KB.

Both TIFF and ICO use lossless compression, so no quality is lost in conversion. The output ICO file will be visually identical to the TIFF source.

Color depth: TIFF supports 32-bit, ICO supports standard color.

Transparency: TIFF supports transparency. ICO preserves transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your TIFFfiles are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.