Favicon FAQ - Common Questions & Answers

A favicon is the small icon (usually 16×16 or 32×32 pixels) that appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and address bars. You need one because it helps users identify your site among dozens of open tabs, makes your site look professional, and improves brand recognition. Without a favicon, browsers show a generic placeholder icon.

It depends on what you're starting with. Use the Image Converter if you have a logo or photo file (PNG, JPG, etc.). Use the Text Generator for simple 1-2 letter favicons with custom fonts. Use the Emoji tool for quick, fun icons from 3600+ emojis. Use the Logo Generator for longer text (up to 20 characters) with gradients and effects. All tools generate the same 31-file package.

No. Everything runs 100% in your browser using JavaScript and the HTML5 Canvas API. Your images, text, and settings never leave your device. There's no server upload, no data collection, and no tracking. This means complete privacy and faster processing. You can even use the tools offline once the page loads.

Different devices and platforms need different icon sizes. The 31 files include: 3 browser favicons (16×16, 32×32, ICO), 10 iOS icons (57×57 to 180×180), 9 Android icons (36×36 to 512×512), 5 Windows tiles (70×70 to 310×310), and 4 config files (site.webmanifest, browserconfig.xml, HTML code, README). You don't need all of them—at minimum, upload favicon.ico and favicon-16x16.png for basic browser support. Add the rest for iOS home screen, Android, and Windows tile support.

Browsers cache favicons aggressively. Try these fixes in order: (1) Open your site in an incognito/private window (Ctrl+Shift+N or Cmd+Shift+N). (2) Clear your browser cache completely (Ctrl+Shift+Delete or Cmd+Shift+Delete). (3) Hard refresh the page (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R). (4) Check that the HTML code is in the head section, not body. (5) Verify all files are uploaded to the correct directory (usually the root folder). (6) Check the browser console (F12) for 404 errors. If you still have issues, see our troubleshooting guide.

ICO is the traditional multi-resolution format that works in older browsers like Internet Explorer 11. It can contain multiple sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48) in one file. PNG is the modern format that supports transparency and works in all current browsers. PNG files are smaller and higher quality than ICO. The ZIP includes both formats—upload both for maximum compatibility. Modern browsers prefer PNG, but ICO ensures legacy browser support.

Yes! If your source image (PNG) has transparency, it's preserved in the output. You can also set padding color to transparent in the Image Converter and Emoji tools. Transparent backgrounds work great for logos that need to look good on both light and dark browser themes. Note: JPG format doesn't support transparency—it fills transparent areas with white or black.

Three steps: (1) Upload all files from the ZIP to your website's root directory (same folder as index.html). (2) Copy the HTML code from html-code.txt. (3) Paste it in your website's head section (between the opening and closing head tags). For WordPress, use a plugin like Insert Headers and Footers. For Next.js, add the code to your layout or _document file. For detailed platform-specific instructions, check our installation tutorial.

Upload at least 512×512 pixels for the Image Converter. Larger is better—1024×1024 or even 2048×2048 works great. The tool scales down, which looks sharp. Scaling up from a small image creates pixelation and blur. If you have a vector logo (SVG, AI, EPS), export it as PNG at 1024×1024 or larger before uploading. For photos, crop to a square first for best results.

Yes, all generated favicons are yours to use however you like—personal or commercial projects, client work, products, etc. Just make sure you have the rights to any source material you use. For the Image Converter, you need rights to the image. For the Text Generator and Logo tool, check that the Google Font you selected allows commercial use (most do—they're open source). For the Emoji tool, Twemoji is open source under CC-BY 4.0, which allows commercial use.

Favicons are tiny (16×16 pixels), so fine details disappear. Common causes: (1) Starting image is too small—upload at least 512×512. (2) Design is too complex—use simple, bold shapes with high contrast. (3) Text is too small or thin—use 1-2 characters max with bold fonts. (4) Colors are too similar—ensure high contrast between foreground and background. The live preview shows exactly how it will look—if it's blurry at 16×16 in the preview, simplify your design.

Not required, but recommended for best results. Browsers don't automatically switch favicons based on theme. If your favicon has a white background, it might look bad on dark browser themes. Solutions: (1) Use a transparent background so the favicon adapts to any theme. (2) Use a colored background that works in both light and dark modes. (3) Test your favicon on both light and dark browser themes before deploying. The preview panel lets you test on light and dark backgrounds.

favicon.ico is a multi-resolution file containing 16×16, 32×32, and 48×48 sizes in one file. It's the traditional format that works in IE11 and older browsers. favicon-16x16.png is a single-resolution PNG file for modern browsers. Modern browsers prefer PNG because it's smaller, higher quality, and supports transparency better. Upload both files—modern browsers use the PNG, older browsers fall back to ICO. The HTML code in the ZIP references both.

Browsers cache favicons for days or even weeks. After uploading, you might not see changes immediately. For testing: open your site in an incognito/private window—you'll see the new favicon right away. For regular browsing: clear your browser cache or wait 24-48 hours. Mobile devices cache even longer—sometimes up to a week. If you're updating an existing favicon, consider renaming the files (e.g., favicon-v2.ico) and updating the HTML code to force browsers to fetch the new version.

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Some browsers support animated GIF favicons, but many don't (Safari, iOS). Animated favicons can be distracting and use more CPU, draining battery on mobile devices. They also don't work in the ICO format. If you need animation, use a static favicon and implement dynamic favicon changes with JavaScript (for example, showing notification badges or status indicators). Our tools generate static favicons for maximum compatibility.