What is the ICO file format used for?

ICO is a Windows icon file format that contains multiple small bitmap or PNG images at different sizes and color depths, used mainly for application icons, website favicons, and UI elements.

Why convert ICO files to WBMP?

Converting ICO to WBMP creates very small, simple 1-bit monochrome images ideal for low-bandwidth, resource-constrained devices like early mobile phones or embedded firmware.

What information is lost when converting ICO to WBMP?

All color, grayscale, alpha transparency, and PNG compression data from the ICO are lost because WBMP only supports black-and-white 1-bit images.

Can WBMP images be used on modern smartphones?

WBMP has limited support on contemporary smartphones and browsers, making it largely outdated for modern applications.

Convert Your ICO File to WBMP Format Online

Easily convert ICO files, Windows icon format images containing multiple resolutions, into WBMP, a simple monochrome bitmap format designed for low-bandwidth and resource-constrained devices.

Upload Your File | Maximum Size Upto 25MB

Quick Access To 13 ICO File Conversion Pairs

What Is This Tool?

This online converter transforms ICO files—Windows icon files containing multiple image resolutions and color depths—into WBMP files, a monochrome bitmap format optimized for early mobile devices and low-bandwidth environments.

How to Use This Tool?

Upload your ICO file containing one or more icon images
Choose WBMP as the output format for a monochrome bitmap image
Click the convert button to start the conversion process
Download the resulting WBMP file optimized for low-bandwidth or simple UI displays

Key Features

Converts multi-resolution ICO icon files to a single 1-bit WBMP image
Produces very small monochrome bitmap files suitable for low-bandwidth or resource-limited devices
Fast and simple conversion process with no loss of basic icon shape
Browser-based and easy to use without installation
Supports icon files commonly used for Windows applications and website favicons

Examples

Convert a website favicon ICO containing multiple sizes to a single WBMP image for a legacy WAP mobile page
Extract and convert a small toolbar icon from an ICO to WBMP for use in embedded firmware
Transform application icons stored in ICO format to simple black-and-white images for feature-phone user interfaces

Common Use Cases

Creating tiny black-and-white icons for early mobile or WAP web pages
Preparing operator-branded images for push services on resource-constrained devices
Embedding simplified monochrome icons into firmware or minimal user interface environments
Adapting desktop or site icons to formats suitable for very limited hardware or legacy systems

Tips & Best Practices

Use this conversion when only a simple black-and-white icon is needed
Keep in mind that all color, grayscale, and transparency information will be lost
Choose icons with simple shapes and limited detail for best monochrome results
Avoid using this format for high-resolution or photographic images due to quality loss
Test the WBMP output on the target device or environment to confirm compatibility

Limitations

WBMP supports only 1-bit monochrome images, so all color and transparency data from ICO are lost
High-resolution and photographic ICO images reduce to black-and-white with loss of detail
PNG-compressed ICO images or transparency effects may not convert accurately
WBMP is largely obsolete and not widely supported on modern smartphones or browsers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICO file format used for?: ICO is a Windows icon file format that contains multiple small bitmap or PNG images at different sizes and color depths, used mainly for application icons, website favicons, and UI elements.
Why convert ICO files to WBMP?: Converting ICO to WBMP creates very small, simple 1-bit monochrome images ideal for low-bandwidth, resource-constrained devices like early mobile phones or embedded firmware.
What information is lost when converting ICO to WBMP?: All color, grayscale, alpha transparency, and PNG compression data from the ICO are lost because WBMP only supports black-and-white 1-bit images.
Can WBMP images be used on modern smartphones?: WBMP has limited support on contemporary smartphones and browsers, making it largely outdated for modern applications.

Key Terminology

ICO: A Windows icon file format containing one or more bitmap or PNG images at various sizes and color depths used for icons in applications and websites.
WBMP: Wireless Bitmap, a 1-bit-per-pixel monochrome image format designed for early mobile devices and low-bandwidth wireless clients.
1-bit monochrome: An image format depth where each pixel is represented by a single bit, allowing only black or white colors without grayscale or transparency.

Quick Knowledge Check

What color depth does the WBMP format support?

24-bit color

1-bit monochrome

8-bit grayscale

Which format can contain multiple resolutions and color depths in one file?

WBMP

ICO

JPEG

What is a common use case for converting ICO to WBMP?

Creating high-resolution photographic images

Producing tiny black-and-white icons for early mobile devices

Adding color transparency effects