What is a PNG file?
PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics. It was created by the PNG Development Group and first released in 1996. PNG compresses without losing a single pixel, so screenshots and text stay razor sharp, but a photograph saved as PNG is often three to five times the size of the same photo as JPG.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | up to 16 bits per channel with a full alpha channel |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No |
| In a browser | opens in every browser and image viewer |
| Common uses | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| MIME type | image/png |
Which format should you convert PNG to?
- PNG to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- PNG to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- PNG to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
- PNG to ICO to use as a website favicon.
PNG is lossless, so converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller.
How to open a PNG file
Whether a PNG file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If PNG is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | PNG opens in every browser and image viewer. |
Want the technical details? See what a .png file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
PNG compared with other image formats
How PNG stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
| GIF | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
How to use the PNG converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your PNG files on the box, or press Choose PNG files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to AVIF, DDS, HEIC, HEIF, PCX, PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting PNG files without losing quality
PNG is lossless, so it is a good source for any conversion. Converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller, and converting it to another lossless format keeps every pixel.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert PNG files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common PNG conversion, to ICO, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.png output.icoChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
PNG converter FAQ
What is a PNG file?
PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics, an image format created by the PNG Development Group in 1996. PNG compresses without losing a single pixel, so screenshots and text stay razor sharp, but a photograph saved as PNG is often three to five times the size of the same photo as JPG.
How do I open a PNG file?
PNG opens in every browser and image viewer. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common PNG conversion?
PNG to ICO is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a PNG-based icon of up to 256 by 256 pixels.
Does converting PNG files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to AVIF, DDS, HEIC, HEIF, PCX, PSD uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the PNG converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert PNG files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your PNG files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several PNG files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.