Convert ARW to ICO on Mac
Select the ARW files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose ICO and press Return. FileFlip saves each ICO next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert ARW to ICO with FileFlip
Select the ARW files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from ARW. Type “ICO” to jump to it.
Choose ICO and press Return
The ICO files appear next to the originals with the same names. The ARW files stay as they are.
ARW and ICO
Raw files are large and most apps and websites can’t show them, so they have to be developed into a regular image before sharing. ICO is what Windows uses for icons and what browsers look for as favicon.ico.
What changes when you convert
- A raw file is unprocessed sensor data. Converting develops it into a finished image, so keep the ARW if you may want to edit it later.
- ICO images are at most 256 × 256 pixels, so large pictures are scaled down.
| Property | ARW | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sony Alpha Raw | Windows icon |
| Made by | Sony | Microsoft |
| Compression | Unprocessed sensor data, lossless or lightly compressed | Bitmap or PNG inside |
| Best for | Editing photos with the most room for adjustments | Windows icons and website favicons |
| Opens in | Raw editors such as Lightroom, plus Photos and Preview when macOS supports the camera model | Windows, web browsers and most image editors |
| File extension | .arw | .ico |
| In FileFlip | Opens | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Preview
Open the ARW in Preview, choose File → Export, pick Microsoft Icon from the Format menu and click Save. If Microsoft Icon isn’t listed, hold Option while you click the Format menu. For several files, open them together, select all thumbnails in the sidebar and choose File → Export Selected Images.
Works when macOS supports your camera model.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format ico DSC_0001.arw \
--out DSC_0001.icoBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about ARW and ICO
Can I convert many ARW files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose ICO. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Should I keep the ARW file?
Yes. The raw file holds more information than any finished image, so keep it if you may want to edit the photo again.
How big can an ICO be?
ICO images are at most 256 × 256 pixels. Use a square source image so nothing gets stretched.
Where is the ICO file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .ico extension. The ARW file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert ICO back to ARW?
No. FileFlip opens ARW files but doesn’t save them.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole shoot at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac