A favicon is the tiny icon you see in browser tabs, bookmarks and sometimes next to your site in Google’s mobile results. Without one, your site shows a blank or generic icon that looks unprofessional.
This guide shows how to turn your PNG logo into a favicon and add it to your site.
In this guide
- What size should a favicon be?
- Step 1: Prepare a simple square logo
- Step 2: Convert PNG to ICO
- Step 3: Add the favicon to your site
- Why isn’t my favicon showing?
What size should a favicon be?
- 16×16 and 32×32 – browser tabs
- 48×48 – Windows and Google search results (Google recommends a multiple of 48 px)
- 180×180 – Apple touch icon for iPhone home screens
- 192×192 and 512×512 – Android and web app icons
Start with a square PNG of at least 512×512 pixels with a transparent background.
Step 1: Prepare a simple square logo
Favicons are tiny, so use a simplified version of your logo — usually just the symbol or first letter. Fine details and long text become unreadable at 16 pixels.
Step 2: Convert PNG to ICO
- Open our free PNG to ICO converter.
- Upload your square PNG.
- Download the favicon.ico file.
Step 3: Add the favicon to your site
WordPress: go to Appearance → Customize → Site Identity → Site Icon and upload your 512×512 PNG; WordPress creates all sizes automatically.
Plain HTML: upload favicon.ico to your website root and add this in the <head>:
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any">
Why isn’t my favicon showing?
Browsers cache favicons aggressively. Try a hard refresh (Ctrl + F5), open the site in a private window, or check the file loads directly at yourdomain.com/favicon.ico. Google may take days or weeks to update the icon in search results.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use PNG instead of ICO?
Yes, modern browsers accept PNG favicons, but an ICO file in the site root gives the widest compatibility.
Does a favicon help SEO?
Not directly, but it appears in mobile search results and improves brand recognition and click-through.
Can I convert a JPG to ICO?
Yes, use our JPG to ICO converter, though PNG is better because it supports transparency.
