Convert TIFF to ICNS on Mac
Select the TIFF files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose ICNS and press Return. FileFlip saves each ICNS next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert TIFF to ICNS with FileFlip
Select the TIFF 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 TIFF. Type “ICNS” to jump to it.
Choose ICNS and press Return
The ICNS files appear next to the originals with the same names. The TIFF files stay as they are.
TIFF and ICNS
TIFF files are very large and web browsers and many apps won’t show them. ICNS is what macOS uses for app and folder icons.
What changes when you convert
- Both formats are lossless, so the image itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
- ICNS holds icon sizes up to 1024 × 1024 pixels, so a square source image of at least that size works best.
| Property | TIFF | ICNS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tagged Image File Format | Apple Icon Image |
| Made by | Aldus, now Adobe | Apple |
| Compression | Usually lossless or uncompressed | Usually PNG inside |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Printing, scanning and archiving | Mac app, folder and file icons |
| Opens in | Preview, Photoshop and most image editors; most web browsers don’t display it | macOS; rarely anything else |
| File extension | .tiff, .tif | .icns |
| 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 TIFF in Preview, choose File → Export, pick ICNS from the Format menu and click Save. If ICNS 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 icns scan.tiff \
--out scan.icnsBuilt into macOS. Use a square image; run sips --formats to check what your macOS version supports.
Questions about TIFF and ICNS
Does converting TIFF to ICNS lose quality?
Both formats are lossless, so the image itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
Can I convert many TIFF files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose ICNS. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
What size should the source image be?
Square, and ideally 1024 × 1024 pixels, the largest size an ICNS file holds.
Where is the ICNS file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .icns extension. The TIFF file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert ICNS back to TIFF?
Yes, FileFlip converts ICNS to TIFF 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