Convert GIF to ICO on Mac
Select the GIF 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 GIF to ICO with FileFlip
Select the GIF 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 GIF. Type “ICO” to jump to it.
Choose ICO and press Return
The ICO files appear next to the originals with the same names. The GIF files stay as they are.
GIF and ICO
GIF is limited to 256 colors and makes large files. ICO is what Windows uses for icons and what browsers look for as favicon.ico.
What changes when you convert
- Both formats are lossless, so the image itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
- ICO images are at most 256 × 256 pixels, so large pictures are scaled down.
| Property | GIF | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graphics Interchange Format | Windows icon |
| Made by | CompuServe | Microsoft |
| Compression | Lossless, up to 256 colors | Bitmap or PNG inside |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Short animations and simple graphics | Windows icons and website favicons |
| Opens in | Everywhere, including browsers and chat apps | Windows, web browsers and most image editors |
| File extension | .gif | .ico |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | 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 GIF 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.
Good for a few files now and then.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format ico animation.gif \
--out animation.icoBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about GIF and ICO
Does converting GIF to ICO lose quality?
Both formats are lossless, so the image itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
Can I convert many GIF 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.
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 GIF file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert ICO back to GIF?
Yes, FileFlip converts ICO to GIF as well.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole folder of images at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac