How To Extract Icons from Windows EXE Files on Windows – Guide
Icons are usually saved in the ICO file format. The special feature of this format is that it is not a standard image format, but various image sizes and types, as well as different color depths, are built into the file. If the proper formats are included in the file, a symbol can look the same on 640 x 480 pixel displays as it does on 4K displays. So extracting a symbol from an EXE file is a difficult process. With a few simple clicks, you can convert any version of the symbol from an executable file to an image using a variety of programs. This post shows you how to do it.
How to Extract Icons from Windows EXE Files in Windows
1. Icon viewer
IconViewer is one of the oldest tools for extracting icons. It was last updated in 2008, but it is compatible with Win 10. Also, you need to install it, which is convenient for people who need to use it often. On the other hand, it can take up unnecessary disk space for those who only want to use it once or twice. To save the icon you need to do this: There is also an option to select multiple EXE files and when you repeat steps 1-3 you will see all icons embedded in the same window.
2. Icon extract
Unlike IconViewer, IconsExtract is a standalone EXE file that does not require installation. Just download it and launch it. Right after starting it, a “Scan for icons” window appears, where you have to select the files and cursors you want to scan. There is also an option to filter out unnecessary symbol sizes and select formats and color depth. You can search for a single file by typing its name in the field or by searching in File Explorer. There is also an option to scan entire folders and their subfolders for executable files. You can even perform a scan of entire hard drive partitions. However, this can take up lots of disk space and take a long time. To save the icons you must:
3. QuickAny2Ico
Quick Any2Ico is probably the friendliest program of the bunch. It has a simple interface and does not require installation. Just download it and launch it. When launching the tool, you will see three fields – one for selecting an executable file, one for selecting the destination of the extracted icon, and the third for the extraction options. There is also an option to extract the icon by simply dragging and dropping the executable file onto the tool. It will automatically find the file path and you can click “Extract” button button to start the process.
4. Thumb
This application is not limited to extracting icons from executable files. You can search for any file type and Thumbico will convert the file icon into an image. In addition, the application offers some features how to rotate/mirror the image, choose background color and size. In addition to the usual PNG and BMP formats, there is also the possibility of saving an image as a GIF and JPG. This app comes in a portable version that you can launch immediately after downloading. However, you can also get the installer which offers some additional features features.
Final note
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