If I show you this image , what name pops into your head?

SEMrush! Right?

That’s the power of a favicon. This tiny icon—known as a favicon—shows up in your browser tab, bookmarks, or even search results, and helps users instantly recognize a brand. The image you just saw? That’s SEMrush’s favicon. Simple, but memorable.

Favicons might be small, but they play a big role in brand identity. A single 16×16 pixel image can make your site look more professional, trustworthy, and easy to spot in a sea of open tabs.

So, what is a favicon exactly? It’s that little image next to your page title in the browser. Usually, it’s a mini version of your logo, initials, or any graphic that represents your brand.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about favicons—what they are, why they matter, how to create one, and how to add it to your site.

Let’s get started.

What Is a Favicon?

A favicon (short for “favorite icon”) is the small icon you see next to a website’s name in your browser tab. It also shows up in bookmarks, browser history, and sometimes even in search results.

It’s usually a tiny version of your logo, initials, or a symbol that represents your brand.

While it’s just a small image, a favicon adds a professional touch, makes your site look complete, and helps users recognize your brand faster.

Why Do We Need Favicons?

Favicons might seem tiny, but they contribute significantly to the way users identify and engage with your site. Consider them your website’s little logo that shows up in browser tabs, bookmarks, mobile previews, and search results.

Here’s why favicons matter:

1. They make your site look professional: A website without a favicon looks unfinished. Even a simple favicon icon adds polish to your site and shows attention to detail.
2. They improve brand recognition: People may not remember your domain name, but they’ll remember your favicon logo. A unique fav icon helps users quickly spot your site among many open tabs or bookmarks.
3. They boost user experience: When visitors have multiple tabs open, a clear favicon image makes it easier to switch back to your site.
4. They can build trust: A well-designed website favicon gives your site credibility. Users tend to trust websites that look complete and well-branded, even at the tiny icon level.

A favicon isn’t just for looks. It helps your brand stand out, makes navigation easier for users, and adds a layer of trust to your online presence.

Favicon File Formats and Sizes

Before designing a favicon, selecting the appropriate file size and type is essential to ensure that your favicon icon appears properly on all browsers and devices.

Best Practices:

• Keep it simple and recognizable
• Avoid detailed graphics or small text
• Use your brand logo or symbol
• Stick to standard favicon dimensions to avoid display issues

This combination ensures your website favicon is clear, fast-loading, and looks consistent everywhere—whether it’s a browser tab, a search result, or a mobile shortcut.

How to Make a Good Favicon (Step by Step)

Your favicon is more than just a small image—it’s a part of your brand identity. Here’s how to design one that looks great and works well on all browsers and devices.

1. Start with Something Unique

Your favicon needs to remind people of your brand immediately. That implies that it must be something unique, not merely a shape or someone else’s icon copy.

Consider what distinguishes your brand. Is it a loud letter, an unusual color, or a symbol that corresponds to what you do?

Examples:

• Twitter uses a small bird.
• YouTube uses a play button.
• Your brand could use the first letter of your name, a symbol from your logo, or something visual that reflects your niche.

This tiny image needs to do a big job, so make sure it’s something people can instantly recognize as “you.”

2. Keep It Simple

Favicons are tiny—usually just 16×16 or 32×32 pixels. That doesn’t leave room for fancy details or complex graphics. The simpler your design, the better it will look across all browsers and devices.

Stick to one icon, one color (or two at most), and avoid clutter. Think clean lines and clear shapes.

Why simplicity works:

• It scales better across tabs, bookmarks, and mobile browsers.
• It loads faster.
• It stays sharp and recognizable even in the smallest sizes.

A clear, simple favicon stands out more than a busy one, just like the minimal icon you click to exit full screen on Mac: small, direct, and instantly understood.

3. Use Your Brand Colors

Colors are a big deal. They make your brand stick in people’s minds. Think of McDonald’s. The red and yellow combo? You spot it and know exactly what it is—even before you read the name.

That’s color psychology in action. It creates familiarity and builds trust over time.

Take this favicon for example: 

At Outreach Monks, we use the same color palette in its favicon that’s found across its website and branding. This makes it easy to recognize, no matter where it shows up—whether in a tab, search bar, or bookmark.

Tips to apply it to your favicon:

• Stick to your primary brand colors (1–2 is enough).
• Use high contrast so it stays visible at small sizes.
• Match your favicon style with your website design for a unified look.

Color makes your favicon more than just an icon—it makes it part of your brand memory.

4. Skip the Tiny Text

Once your design and colors are sorted, avoid one big mistake—don’t use small or detailed text in your favicon.

Favicon graphics are very small (generally 16×16 pixels), and even the most legible font would be fuzzy or unrecognizable at that point. Rather than jamming in your company name or slogan, opt for something clear and concise.

Take Netflix, for example.

Their favicon is just a big, bold red “N” on a black background. That’s it—and it works brilliantly. You instantly recognize the brand without reading a single word. It’s clean, high-contrast, and easy to see even on a crowded browser tab.

Why does this work?

Because at such small sizes, symbols or single letters with high contrast stand out better than complex images or text. So instead of stuffing your favicon with too much detail, go minimal—choose a strong, single visual cue that represents your brand clearly.

5. Use a Transparent Background

A background color with solid pixels may conflict with alternate browser schemes or user preferences. Employing a transparent background ensures your favicon integrates seamlessly, whether a person is viewing in dark mode, light mode, or an alternate browser theme.

Why This Matters:

• A transparent favicon looks cleaner and more professional.
• It avoids awkward borders or color clashes in tabs and bookmarks.
• It gives your icon more flexibility across platforms and devices.

When exporting your favicon (especially in .png or .svg formats), make sure the background is transparent unless your design absolutely requires a solid color.

6. Export It in the Right Format and Size

Once your favicon design is ready, it’s time to export it correctly so it shows up clearly across all browsers and devices.

What to Do:

• Save your design in several formats such as .ico, .png, and .svg. These are the most supported favicon formats.
• Use default favicon sizes: 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, or 96×96 pixels.
• If available, create a multi-resolution .ico file that holds all of the major sizes in one.

You can automatically create and download the correct sizes and formats of favicons using tools such as RealFaviconGenerator or Favicon.io.

How to Add a Favicon to Your WordPress Website

Adding a favicon to your WordPress site is simple—no need to touch code if you’re using the built-in tools.

Adding a favicon to your WordPress site is simple—no need to touch code if you’re using the built-in tools.

Steps Using the WordPress Customizer:

1. Go to Your WordPress Dashboard
2. Navigate to: Appearance → Customize → Site Identity
3. Upload Your Favicon: Look for the section labeled Site Icon. Click “Select site icon” and upload your favicon image.
4. Use the Recommended Size: WordPress recommends a square image at least 512×512 pixels for best display across all devices.
5. Save & Publish: Once uploaded, click Publish to save the changes.

Notes:

• Your favicon (or site icon) will now appear in browser tabs, bookmarks, and even on mobile shortcuts.
• WordPress automatically handles generating various sizes for different devices.

That’s it! Your WordPress website now has a favicon that boosts your brand’s identity and makes your site look polished.

How to Add a Favicon to Your Wix Website

Adding a favicon to your Wix website is quick and beginner-friendly. You don’t need to touch any code—just follow these simple steps:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log in to your Wix dashboard: Head over to wix.com and open your site.
2. Go to Site Settings: On the left-hand menu, click on Settings, then select Website Settings.
3. Click on ‘Favicon’: Scroll down to find the Favicon section under the “General Info” area.
4. Upload your favicon image: Click Upload Image and select your favicon file (ideally a square image, 512×512 px in PNG or ICO format).
5. Save and publish: Once uploaded, hit Save and then Publish your site. Your favicon will now appear on browser tabs, search results, and bookmarks.

Best Practices:

• Keep it clean and straightforward with a design—use a high-resolution square image, Wix suggests.
• Don’t use text, particularly small or intricate fonts, as it won’t be legible in small sizes.
• Make sure your favicon shows your brand—colors, icons, or initials are good.

How to Add a Favicon to Your Shopify Website

If you’re running a Shopify store, adding a favicon (short for “favorite icon”) helps your site stand out in browser tabs and builds brand recognition. Here’s how you can do it in just a few steps:

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Log in to your Shopify admin panel: Go to shopify.com and open your store dashboard.
2. Click on “Online Store” > “Themes”: From the left-hand menu, go to Online Store and choose Themes.
3. Customize your theme: Find your live theme and click the Customize button.
4. Go to Theme Settings > Favicon: In the theme editor, click on Theme Settings (usually at the bottom left), then select Favicon from the list.
5. Upload your favicon image: Click Select Image to upload a square image file (recommended size: 32×32 px or higher, ideally PNG or ICO).
6. Save your changes: After uploading, hit Save on the top right. Your favicon will now be displayed in browser tabs and bookmarks.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Shopify supports PNG, ICO, JPG, and GIF formats for favicons.
• Keep the design simple and recognizable—think initials, icons, or brand colors.
• Shopify favicons are theme-based. When you change themes, you will possibly have to re-upload the file.

Once implemented, your favicon is now an integral part of your store’s identity, be it desktop or mobile browsing by customers.

Conclusion

A favicon may be small, but its branding, trust, and user experience impact is large. From making your site appear more professional to enabling your users to identify your brand amidst a jungle of browser tabs, a designed favicon does more than you realize.

Make it pointed, keep it timely, and don’t approach it as an afterthought—because that small icon can make a lasting impression.

Small icon, big identity.

FAQs About What Is a Favicon