ICO to XPM Converter

Free online ICO to XPM converter with instant results

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Beyond Icons

Extract the artwork from ICO containers and convert to XPM — making your icon imagery usable in design projects, documents, and web content.

Privacy Protection

Your uploaded ICO files are removed right after conversion, and XPM results are deleted from servers within 24 hours — your data stays private.

Any Device, Any OS

Run ICO to XPM conversion on desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Works on every operating system with a modern web browser.

How to convert ICO to XPM

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert ICO to XPM?

XPM produces a text-based X Window pixmap from your icon — editable with a text editor and usable as cursor or button graphics in X apps.

How do I open XPM files?

You can open XPM files with GIMP, Inkscape, X Window applications. Free alternatives are available for every platform.

Is batch ICO to XPM conversion available?

Absolutely — upload multiple ICO files simultaneously and convert them all to XPM at once. Batch mode saves considerable time on repetitive conversions.

Are my files safe during conversion?

Convertio uses encrypted connections for all transfers. Your ICO uploads are deleted immediately after conversion, and XPM downloads are removed within 24 hours.

Is the conversion process fast?

ICO to XPM conversion usually finishes in a few seconds. Larger files may take slightly longer, but the cloud-based processing keeps things efficient.

Does this work on mobile devices?

Yes — the ICO to XPM converter works in any mobile browser on iOS and Android. No app installation is needed — just open convertio.tools and upload your file.

ICO to XPM Quality Rating

4.8 (76 votes)
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