Can You Open an ICO File in Photoshop?

An ICO file is a file used to store an icon, most commonly used on the Windows platform. ICO files contain one or more small images at multiple sizes and color depths, such that they may be scaled appropriately. ICO files usually contain 32-bit images and may also contain 8-bit images.

In Photoshop, you can open .ico files as Smart Objects. A Smart Object is a layer that contains image data from another file. When you edit a Smart Object, the changes are applied to the layer and to the source file.

To open an ICO file in Photoshop:

Launch Photoshop and click “File” > “Open.”
Select the ICO file you wish to open and click “Open.”
The ICO file will now be open as a Smart Object layer in your Photoshop document.

You can now edit the ICO file as you would any other layer in Photoshop. When you’re finished, save your document in the PSD format to preserve your changes.

PRO TIP: If you are trying to open an ICO file in Photoshop, you may receive a warning message saying that the file format is not supported. This is because ICO files are typically used for icon images and not photos. While you may be able to open the ICO file in Photoshop, it is not recommended as you may not be able to view the image correctly.

Can You Open an ICO File in Photoshop?: Yes, you can open an ICO file in Photoshop by opening it as a Smart Object.

Kathy McFarland