Convert ICO to BMP Online
Extract and convert Windows icon files to BMP format. This is useful for editing or use in legacy applications. ICO files often contain multiple image sizes in a single file. Our converter extracts the highest quality version. It saves it as a standard BMP image that works with any image editing software.
BMP (Bitmap) format stores uncompressed pixel data. This makes it ideal for editing without quality loss from repeated saves. BMP files are larger than compressed formats. However, they maintain perfect quality and work with older Windows applications.
Why Convert ICO to BMP?
ICO files are designed specifically for Windows icons. Most image editors don't support them. Converting to BMP gives you a standard image file. You can open, edit, and modify it in any software. This is useful for extracting icon artwork for documentation or design work.
BMP format is useful for legacy software requiring uncompressed image data. The format's simplicity ensures maximum compatibility. It even works with applications from the Windows 95 era.
Understanding ICO Files
ICO (Icon) files are container formats holding multiple images at different resolutions. Typical sizes are 16x16, 32x32, 48x48, and 256x256 pixels. Windows displays the appropriate size for each context. Small icons appear in file listings, medium on desktop, large in Start menu.
Modern ICO files may contain PNG-compressed images (especially 256x256 size). Older icons use BMP format internally. When converting, the extracted image preserves original quality and transparency information.
Common Use Cases
- Icon extraction — get editable images from application icons
- Documentation — include icon graphics in user manuals
- Legacy software — convert for older applications requiring BMP
- Image editing — modify icon artwork in standard editors
- Archive purposes — preserve icon designs in universal format
Transparency Considerations
Icons often have transparent backgrounds to blend with the Windows desktop. Standard BMP doesn't support transparency. Transparent areas become a solid color (typically white or black). To preserve transparency, convert to PNG format instead.
Technical Details
BMP files have predictable structure and fixed headers. Developers can easily parse BMP data. This simplicity makes BMP ideal for embedded systems and custom applications.
The uncompressed nature ensures fast loading times. No decompression algorithms are needed. Systems with limited processing power benefit from this directness.
Color depth options range from 1-bit to 32-bit. Choose the appropriate depth for your needs. Higher depths preserve more color detail from the original icon.
BMP stores pixels in bottom-up row order by default. Some applications expect this specific layout. Converting to BMP ensures compatibility with these requirements.
Related Tools
- ICO to PNG — convert with transparency support
- BMP to ICO — create icons from BMP images
- PNG to ICO — create icons from PNG images