How to Open ICO File

ICO Format Description
ICO files, which have the extension .ICO, are image files primarily used as icons for applications on Microsoft Windows. These files vary in size, color support, and resolution to fit the display requirements. A similar image file format on Microsoft Windows is CUR, which is used for cursor representation and defines the hotspot in the image header. On MacOS, ICNS files serve the same purpose as ICO files. There are numerous online websites and applications available that allow users to create such files and convert other image formats like BMP and PNG to the icon file format. The official IANA registered Internet media type for ICO files is image/vnd.microsoft.icon.

Windows XP was a significant milestone, as it became the first version to support 32-bit color icon images. This advancement enabled the addition of semi-transparent areas like shadows, anti-aliasing, and glass-like effects to icons. For Windows XP, Microsoft suggested using icon sizes up to 48x48 pixels.

With the launch of Windows Vista, further improvements were made. Windows Explorer now offered an icon view that displayed icons in a dimension of 256x256 pixels. Additionally, Windows Vista integrated support for the compressed PNG format, enhancing the icon experience.

As technology continued to advance and users started utilizing higher display resolutions and high DPI modes, it became increasingly recommended to use larger icon formats, such as the 256x256-pixel size.

In the realm of computer graphics, an ICO file typically comprises multiple small images, each varying in size and color depth. These diverse sizes allow for optimal scaling on different screen resolutions.


How to Open ICO File
With Handy Viewer software you can open ICO file with ease.
In addition to ICO format Handy Viewer allows you to view 150+ image and video formats.

Click here to download Handy Viewer

The software is completely free for personal and commercial use.