PNG to ICNS — Create macOS App Icons
ICNS is Apple's icon container format used by all macOS applications. It bundles multiple PNG resolutions from 16px to 1024px, including @2x Retina variants, into a single file. Converting your PNG source to ICNS correctly ensures your app icon looks sharp on every Mac display.
Output Sizes
| Size | Format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1024x1024 | ICNS (ic10) | App Store and Finder preview |
| 512x512 | ICNS (ic09) | 256pt @2x Retina |
| 256x256 | ICNS (ic08) | Finder icon @1x |
| 128x128 | ICNS (ic07) | Dock and list view |
| 64x64 | ICNS (ic12) | 32pt @2x Retina |
| 32x32 | ICNS (il32) | List view and sidebar |
| 16x16 | ICNS (is32) | Menu bar and small contexts |
Conversion Details
Input
PNG
Output
ICNS
Best Practices
- 1Start with a 1024x1024 PNG source with a transparent background for the best results.
- 2Ensure the converter generates all standard ICNS resource types (ic10, ic09, ic08, ic07, etc.).
- 3Test the ICNS file by using Get Info on a macOS app bundle to preview the icon at different sizes.
- 4Keep your source design simple and recognizable — it must work from 1024px down to 16px.
Common Mistakes
- Using a PNG smaller than 1024px as the source — the ICNS needs a full 1024px layer for App Store and Retina.
- Not including @2x Retina variants — Retina Macs will display blurry icons without them.
- Simply renaming a PNG to .icns — ICNS has a specific binary format that PNG files do not match.
- Manually adding rounded corners — macOS applies its own icon mask automatically.
Convert PNG to ICNS Now
Upload your PNG and get a complete ICNS file with all macOS icon sizes — from 16px menu bar to 1024px Retina.
Open GeneratorFrequently Asked Questions
How do I create an ICNS file from a PNG?
Use a converter that takes your PNG (at least 1024x1024) and generates a proper ICNS file with all required resource types from 16px to 1024px, including Retina @2x variants.
What is the ICNS format?
ICNS is Apple's icon container format for macOS. It stores multiple PNG images at predefined sizes in a single binary file that the operating system reads to display icons.
Can I use ICNS on Windows or Linux?
No. ICNS is macOS-only. Windows uses ICO files and Linux uses individual PNG files following the freedesktop.org specification.