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Favicon: add the small icon Google and browsers show

A favicon appears in browser tabs, bookmarks and next to your site in Google's mobile results. See the sizes you need and how to add one in WordPress, Shopify and HTML.

By the WebTools team · Published 2026-11-10 · 1 min read

The favicon is the small icon next to your page title in browser tabs, bookmarks and Google's mobile search results. Without one, your result shows a generic globe, which looks unfinished next to competitors.

The favicon files a modern site needs: a 48 pixel icon, an SVG icon and a 180 pixel Apple touch icon
Favicon sizes that cover every device

What you need

  • A square icon, simple enough to recognise at 16 pixels: usually your logo mark, not the full logo.
  • At least 48 × 48 pixels for Google; 512 × 512 as your source file.
  • An apple-touch-icon of 180 × 180 pixels for iPhone home screens.

How to add it

  • WordPress: Appearance → Customize → Site Identity → Site Icon (upload 512 × 512).
  • Shopify: Online Store → Themes → Customize → Theme settings → Favicon.
  • Wix and Squarespace: in the site's general or design settings.
  • HTML: add link tags with rel="icon" (for your PNG or SVG) and rel="apple-touch-icon" in the page head.

Check it

Open your site in a new tab and look at the tab icon. The SEO audit checks that the homepage declares an icon.

Check this on your own siteThe free website checker tests this and 40 other things in about 30 seconds, and links each problem to its guide.
Check my site

Questions about this topic

Why doesn't Google show my favicon?

Google needs a favicon at least 48 × 48 pixels, on the homepage, that Googlebot is allowed to crawl. It can take a few weeks to appear after you add it.

Can I use an SVG favicon?

Yes, modern browsers support SVG favicons. Keep a PNG or ICO as a fallback for older browsers and for Google.

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