WMF to ICO Converter

WMF to ICO — create icons from metafiles online

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Custom Icons Made Easy

Convert WMF clipart and vector graphics into ICO icons — perfect for application shortcuts, favicons, and UI assets.

Zero Signup Required

No login, no account creation. Open the page and convert WMF to ICO right away — completely hassle-free.

Processed in the Cloud

Conversion happens entirely on Convertio servers. Your device stays responsive while the files are transformed.

How to convert WMF 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

WMF (Windows Metafile) is a vector graphics format created by Microsoft, introduced with Windows 3.0 in May 1990 as the platform's native format for recording and replaying graphical operations. A WMF file captures a sequence of GDI (Graphics Device Interface) drawing commands — lines, rectangles, ellipses, polygons, text, and bitmap blits — in the order they were issued, serializing screen or printer output into a replayable file. The format uses a 16-bit coordinate space and organizes records as a linear stream of function calls with their parameters, preceded by a header specifying the bounding rectangle and resolution. WMF became deeply integrated into the Windows ecosystem as the default format for clip art collections, Office document graphics, and clipboard vector interchange during the 1990s — Microsoft Office shipped with thousands of WMF clip art images that defined a visual era of desktop publishing. One advantage is pervasive compatibility: virtually every Windows application from the past three decades can render WMF content, making it one of the most widely supported vector formats in existence. The lightweight recording model is another strength — WMF files are compact and render quickly because they replay native system drawing calls rather than interpreting a complex graphics language. While 16-bit limitations and lack of transparency and Bezier curves led Microsoft to develop EMF as a 32-bit replacement, WMF files remain ubiquitous in legacy documents and across current Windows software.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: May 22, 1990
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 WMF to ICO?

ICO is the standard icon format for Windows applications and websites. Converting WMF to ICO lets you repurpose vector clipart as usable icons.

What opens ICO files?

Windows handles ICO natively for application and folder icons. Image editors like GIMP, IrfanView, and online icon viewers also open them.

What icon sizes are supported?

ICO files can contain multiple sizes. Convertio generates common dimensions suitable for desktop and web favicon use.

Can I convert multiple WMF files to ICO?

Yes — batch upload is supported. Add several WMF files and convert them all to ICO in a single round.

Is WMF to ICO conversion free?

Standard conversions are free. Premium tiers are available for higher throughput and larger file sizes.

How fast is the conversion?

Most WMF to ICO conversions are done within seconds — powered by Convertio cloud servers.

WMF to ICO Quality Rating

4.8 (37 votes)
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