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How to convert icns to png?

I want to know how to convert a .icns to a .png file; not a .png to .icns


I have 40 of these ICNS and I can't figure out anyway to mass convert and renaming them to have the .png extension is helpless. It DOES show as a valid file but sites like https://pixlr.com/editor mark it as invalid.



MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Aug 4, 2019 3:12 PM

Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 5, 2019 5:31 AM

It is not documented, but the command-line sips tool can convert .icns to png and use the highest resolution (1024x1024x144 dpi) image from the .icns file. Tested on Mojave 10.14.6, but should also f(x) on High Sierra and earlier.


sips -s format png ~/Pictures/foo.icns --out foo.png


More from this MacWorld article.


Used in an Automator application's Run Shell Script action loop with arguments as input, and appropriate parameter substitution, one could drop a group of .icns files on it and convert them to .png.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 5, 2019 5:31 AM in response to Community User

It is not documented, but the command-line sips tool can convert .icns to png and use the highest resolution (1024x1024x144 dpi) image from the .icns file. Tested on Mojave 10.14.6, but should also f(x) on High Sierra and earlier.


sips -s format png ~/Pictures/foo.icns --out foo.png


More from this MacWorld article.


Used in an Automator application's Run Shell Script action loop with arguments as input, and appropriate parameter substitution, one could drop a group of .icns files on it and convert them to .png.

Aug 4, 2019 7:26 PM in response to Community User

I recommend you should use Automator; this app is pretty helpful for that.


It's located in the Applications tab on the sidebar in Finder

here's the directions.


  • Open Automator
  • Create an Application
  • Find the "convert to" under photos
  • Drop it
  • There should be a warning menu; click Add for that
  • Pick the directory by adding a new variable of where the output should go
  • Save
  • Quit Automator
  • Drop files onto the automator application you've made.


And you're done.


This does the function you want; take the highest quality image from the .icns file and convert it into a .png

How to convert icns to png?

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