What a favicon is
A favicon is a small site icon in the browser tab, bookmarks, history and Google search results on mobile. It helps you find the right tab quickly and adds recognisability and trust to the site. A site without a favicon looks unfinished, and the browser will still request the /favicon.ico file and get a 404 error.
Which files the generator creates
- favicon.ico — the classic icon with three sizes at once: 16, 32 and 48 pixels.
- favicon-16x16.png and favicon-32x32.png — PNG for the browser tab, including Retina screens.
- apple-touch-icon.png — a 180×180 icon for iPhone, iPad and Safari.
- android-chrome-192x192.png and 512x512 — icons for Android, PWA and home screen shortcuts.
- site.webmanifest — a manifest that connects the Android and PWA icons.
How to add a favicon to a site
- Download the ZIP archive and unpack it.
- Put all the files in the site root so that
favicon.icoopens at/favicon.ico. - Paste the generated code between the
<head>tags on every page or into the site template. - Refresh the page with a cache clear: browsers keep the old icon for a very long time.
In WordPress the icon can also be set in the theme settings (Appearance → Customize → Site Identity), and Google will show it in search once it recrawls the site.
Tips for a good-looking icon
Favicon and Google search
Google shows a favicon next to the result in mobile search. The requirements are: the file must be available to the bot, square, at least 8×8 and preferably a multiple of 48 pixels, and the icon address should not keep changing. Make sure the page that sets the icon is not blocked in robots.txt and that the page’s HTML code is correct in the robot simulator.
Limitations of the generator
The generator creates ICO from PNG images of three sizes, and it does not support animated and vector icons (SVG favicon). If you need a complex icon with transparency and shadows, prepare it in a graphics editor and upload it as an image.
What else StayIndexed can do
This page is a free tool from the StayIndexed service. In your account you can save a list of sites and track their indexing, speed, links and technical state, while the service’s main job is to track how your pages do in Google.
How much it costs
The check is free, both on this page and in your account. Tokens are used to pay for the other services: indexing, speed and backlinks cost 3 tokens per check. 30 tokens are credited at sign-up, no card required.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a favicon for a site?
Enter a letter or an emoji or upload an image, pick a colour and a shape, then download the ZIP with all the files and paste the generated code into the head of your site.
What size should a favicon be?
The basic sizes are 16×16 and 32×32 pixels for the tab, 180×180 for iOS and 192×192 and 512×512 for Android. The generator creates all these sizes and assembles favicon.ico from three: 16, 32 and 48.
Why does the favicon not change after I replace it?
Browsers keep the old icon in the cache for a long time. Open the site in a private window or clear the cache, and in the link tag it sometimes helps to add a version parameter, for example favicon.ico?v=2.
Do I need favicon.ico if I have PNG?
Yes, preferably. Some browsers, RSS readers and services still request exactly /favicon.ico, and without it they get a 404 error.
Can I make a favicon from an emoji?
Yes: enter the emoji in the field and we will draw it on the chosen background. How an emoji looks depends on your system, so look at the preview.
How much does the favicon generator cost?
Nothing: the generator is free both on this page and in your StayIndexed account, and the image does not leave your browser.