Tips to open ICON file

Can't open the ICON file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ICON files as well as a list of programs that support ICON files.

ICON file extension

File Name Icon Image Format
File Category Raster Image Files

The ICON file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ICON files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ICON file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ICON file?

The ICON file has been categorized as Raster Image Files. Raster Image Files consists of 522 similar files. Icon Image Format is supported by 3 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Linux, Mac OS, Windows. The main program that supports this format is Adobe Photoshop. This was created by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Alternatively, you can use 11 other programs. GIMP, IconWorkshop, IconoMaker, Perfect Icon will apply when it is not possible to use Adobe Photoshop.

How to open ICON file?

The most common problem when using Icon Image Format is that a specific ICON is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open ICON, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ICON file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Adobe Photoshop

In this case, you should first verify that the Adobe Photoshop application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Adobe Photoshop in it. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open ICON files.

Step 2. Create association of Adobe Photoshop with ICON files

If, despite the installed application, the ICON file does not start in the Adobe Photoshop application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Adobe Photoshop application as the default for handling the ICON file.

Step 3. Update Adobe Photoshop to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Adobe Photoshop program with the Icon Image Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Adobe Systems Incorporated page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ICON file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the ICON file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the ICON file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected ICON file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the ICON file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged ICON files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact N/A
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted ICON files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move ICON to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the ICON file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.