Answers to the most common questions about favicons
A favicon (favorite icon) is a small icon that represents your website. It appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, browser history, and search results. It's an essential part of your website's branding and helps users identify your site quickly.
For best results, use a square image with a minimum resolution of 512×512 pixels. The generator will automatically create all required sizes from your source image. Higher resolution sources produce better quality favicons.
The generator creates ICO files (16×16 and 32×32 combined), PNG files in various sizes (48, 64, 96, 128, 180, 192, 512), SVG for scalable vector support, and a web app manifest file.
The Apple Touch Icon is a 180×180 pixel PNG image used by iOS devices when users add your website to their home screen. It also appears in Safari's bookmarks and tab overview.
A web app manifest (site.webmanifest) is a JSON file that tells the browser about your web application. It includes the name, icons, and display preferences. It's required for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Android home screen icons.
For maximum compatibility, yes. Different browsers and devices request different sizes. At minimum, you should have favicon.ico (16×16 and 32×32), a 180×180 Apple Touch Icon, and 192×192 and 512×512 PNGs for Android.
No. All processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your images never leave your computer – no data is sent to any server.
Common reasons: browser caching (try hard refresh with Ctrl+Shift+R), incorrect file path in HTML, missing files on server, or the HTML code not being in the section. Clear your browser cache and verify the file paths.
Yes! PNG and SVG favicons support transparency. ICO files also support transparency. Transparent backgrounds work well for most favicon designs and adapt to both light and dark browser themes.
An SVG favicon is a scalable vector graphic that looks sharp at any size. Modern browsers support SVG favicons, which can also include CSS media queries for dark mode support. It's the most future-proof favicon format.
Upload the generated files to your website's root directory, then add the provided HTML link tags to the section of your HTML. The generator provides ready-to-use code that you just need to copy and paste.
While you can upload a JPG as your source image, favicons are generated as ICO, PNG, and SVG. JPG is not ideal for favicons because it doesn't support transparency and uses lossy compression that reduces quality at small sizes.
ICO is the traditional favicon format that can contain multiple sizes in one file – it's supported by all browsers including very old ones. PNG favicons are individual image files that offer better quality and transparency. Modern websites should include both.
WordPress has a built-in Site Icon feature under Appearance > Customize > Site Identity. Alternatively, you can generate favicons here and upload them to your theme's root directory, then add the HTML code to your header.php or use a plugin.
Blurry favicons usually result from using a source image that's too small or too detailed. Use a simple design with bold lines and high contrast. Make sure your source image is at least 512×512 pixels for best results.
Yes, with SVG favicons! SVG files can include CSS media queries like @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) to show a different design in dark mode. This is one of the key advantages of using SVG favicons.
Google uses a 48×48 pixel favicon (displayed as 16×16) in search results. They recommend providing a favicon that's a multiple of 48 pixels (48×48, 96×96, 144×144). Our generator includes these sizes by default.
Update your favicon whenever you rebrand or significantly change your logo. Browsers cache favicons aggressively, so users may see the old one for a while. Adding a version query parameter (favicon.ico?v=2) can help force updates.
Yes! The Favicon Generator is fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets. You can upload images, configure settings, and download the generated favicons on any device.
Yes, the Favicon Generator is completely free to use. There are no hidden costs, no registration required, and no watermarks on your favicons. Everything runs locally in your browser.