BT → ICO · Windows

Convert BT to ICO

Need BT data as ICO for someone without GIS software? reaConverter handles the conversion offline and in bulk.

reaConverter transforms BT files to ICO quickly and reliably. Drag in folders, set your options, click Convert, done. No cloud accounts, no file uploads, no complicated setup. Just install and start converting. No command line and no scripting, unlike the usual ogr2ogr route.

DownloadBT to ICO ConverterConvert
BT to ICO
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.bt.ICO
4.8

Converting files since 2001

Runs offline — nothing uploaded

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How to Convert Multiple .bt Files to .ico?

1. Download and Install reaConverter

First, grab reaConverter from the download button below. Installation is fast, and the software runs offline — no account or signup needed.

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Install reaConverter

2. Load your BT files

Load your BT files into reaConverter. You can add individual files or point to folders, and the software will queue everything automatically.

Select BTs from a folder or drag-and-drop them directly into the reaConverter window.

Load your BT files into reaConverter

3. Select ICO as output format

Pick ICO as output format and choose the destination folder where you want to save new .ico files.

Select ICO as output format

4. Start BT to ICO conversion

Press the Convert button and reaConverter takes care of the rest. Processing time depends on file size and volume.

Start Conversion

After processing, find all your new .ico files in the output location. The log shows details for each conversion.

Step by step

How It Works

reaConverter offers the fastest, simplest solution for converting your BT files into ICO without GIS software - all files processed on your PC for maximum privacy and speed.

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Technical note

How BT and ICO differ in practice

Every cell in a BT file holds a measurement rather than a colour, usually elevation in metres, running from sea level up to whatever the highest point in the tile happens to be. ICO stores brightness, so the conversion stretches that range across a grey or colour scale. What you get is a readable picture of the terrain, and it is the right thing for a relief map or a figure. What you no longer have is the data: sampling a pixel in the ICO returns a shade, not an altitude. Missing cells in an elevation grid, such as water, radar shadow or the edge of a survey, are not empty: they hold a sentinel value, -32768 in SRTM, -32767 in DTED and very often -9999 in ESRI grids. Counted as a real height, that value stretches the scale so far that the actual terrain collapses into a few near-identical shades. When an ICO output looks flat and washed out, a void treated as data is the usual cause.

Map Data Workflow

Turn GIS data into something anyone can open

Not everyone who needs to see BT data has GIS software. reaConverter renders it to ICO for a report, an email or a slide, and handles a whole folder in one run.

  • Render every file in a folder to ICO with the same size and settings
  • Set DPI and output dimensions before the run, not afterwards
  • Pick up new data automatically with Watch Folders, or script the job from the command line

Everything runs on your PC, which matters for cadastral, utility and client data that should not pass through an upload form.

GIS data conversion

User reviews

What people say after the first batch

Average User Rating:4.8
Last updated on September 13, 2026
An excellent program! I use it regularly in my work - it supports nearly every file format imaginable. The interface is intuitive and runs flawlessly every time.
Roger Cook
Roger Cook
Happy User
For agencies handling confidential data, reaConverter eliminates cloud-upload risks while delivering unmatched conversion reliability. Our team uses it both in-office and remotely with identical results.
Jamal Bailey
Jamal Bailey
Satisfied Customer
Our volunteer team uses reaConverter to prepare images for fundraising campaigns. The learning curve was minimal, and the results are professional-grade. The customer support team even helped us customize a workflow — fantastic service!
Jason P. Bailey
Jason P. Bailey
Non-Profit Coordinator
Your solution was buried deeper in search results than it should be. After struggling with unclear alternatives, I found your guides — finally, instructions that made sense for a first-time user like me. Excellent work!
Richard E. Miller
Richard E. Miller
Satisfied Customer
Converts files in seconds! Finally a tool that's both fast and simple to use.
Wei Chen
Wei Chen
Happy User
I'd been searching for reliable conversion software forever — reaConverter has everything I need! After installing and watching the tutorial, I had my files converted to the perfect format in minutes. Flawless experience!
Sanjay Mehta
Sanjay Mehta
Satisfied Customer

FAQ

BT to ICO Conversion

What are BT files?

BT is a binary terrain format developed by Ben Discoe for the Virtual Terrain Project (VTP) to store regular elevation grids used in 3D terrain visualization and simulation. A file of this type consists of a fixed 256-byte header followed by an uncompressed array of elevation samples, stored as 16-bit integers, 32-bit integers, or 32-bit floating-point numbers. The header carries the grid dimensions, sample size, horizontal units, geographic extents, datum, and, for projected data, a UTM zone, while a complete projection definition may be supplied in an accompanying .prj file. Elevation samples are written column by column, starting from the western edge and moving south to north within each column. The format is used to exchange digital elevation models between terrain-building tools and visualization software, and is often distributed in a gzip-compressed .bt.gz form.

What are ICO files?

ICO files contain the images used as icons for files, folders or programs on the Microsoft Windows platform. The icons appear on the desktop, in Windows Explorer or in the Start Menu and help identify each item. ICO images are generally of a small size, are scalable, and they can also serve as website logos or symbols that appear in the web browser next to the URL. The equivalent of ICO files on Mac computers is called ICNS.

Can reaConverter convert BT to ICO?

Yes! reaConverter instantly converts .bt to .ico with perfect quality preservation. With its batch processing feature, you can convert multiple files at once in just a few clicks. You can even convert images directly from Windows Explorer using the right-click menu — fast and convenient.

What is reaConverter used for?

reaConverter is a Windows converter for 800+ formats, GIS data among them. For BT to ICO it replaces the usual detour through QGIS, ArcGIS or ogr2ogr: add the files, pick the output format, and the whole batch converts offline. Surveyors, planners and engineering teams use it to pass data between GIS, CAD and everyday document formats.

Why choose offline conversion with reaConverter?

reaConverter is a software program that is used for offline files conversion. Your proprietary documents never leave your computer – essential for architects, engineers, healthcare and government contractors handling classified projects. Meets GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and corporate security policies by ensuring files never cross borders or third-party systems.

Can I convert BT to ICO online?

If you only need to convert a few BT files to ICO format, feel free to try our free online free online BT to ICO converter — perfect for small batches with no installation needed!

How can I turn BT files into ICO on my computer?

The best way to change BTs to ICOs on your PC is to install a quality piece of software, such as reaConverter. This software is extremely efficient in managing a wide range of batch files conversions, including conversion from BT to ICO.

How can I automate BT to ICO files conversion?

reaConverter supports all the most useful automation features such as right-click сonversion and Watch Folders for the most efficient automated files conversion in any software of this type.

Is there a way to convert BT files to ICO using the command prompt?

reaConverter provides full access to all its features via Windows command line, including a high-performance command-line bt to ico converter for batch processing.

What else can I do with reaConverter?

Convert RAW filesConvert raster to vectorChange bit depthConvert CAD formatsChange file creation date

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