Favicon

A favicon is the small icon that represents a website in browser tabs, bookmarks and Google search results. It is usually a simplified logo. A favicon is not a ranking factor, but a clear, recognisable icon helps your listing stand out and makes your brand easier to spot on the results page.

Written by Paul Hoda, SEO consultant since 2005. Last updated 8 November 2026.

Where favicons appear

  • Browser tabs, bookmarks and history lists.
  • Home screen shortcuts on phones, when people save a site.
  • Google search results, next to your site name above the title link on both mobile and desktop.
  • Some other search engines and AI tools that cite sources with icons.

In Google, the favicon sits alongside your site name and URL at the top of each search snippet, so every result from your site carries it.

Why favicons matter for SEO

Google does not use favicons to rank pages. Their value is visual, because every result on a crowded search results page competes for attention.

A distinctive icon helps people recognise a brand they already know, which can support click-through rate. A missing favicon shows a generic globe icon, which can look unfinished or less trustworthy.

Favicons also support brand consistency. When the same icon appears in search results, browser tabs and app shortcuts, it reinforces recognition over time, especially for people who see your site repeatedly in branded search.

Google’s favicon requirements

Google’s documentation sets out several rules:

  • Add a <link rel="icon"> tag in the head of your homepage, pointing to the icon file.
  • Use one favicon per site, defined at the root of the domain or subdomain.
  • The icon must be square, and Google recommends using an image larger than 48 by 48 pixels so it looks sharp on all screens.
  • Use a supported file format, such as ICO, PNG, SVG or other standard image types.
  • Keep the file URL stable and crawlable: Google needs to fetch both your homepage and the icon.
  • The image should represent your brand. Google may replace favicons that are inappropriate, such as offensive symbols, with a default icon.

How to set up a favicon

  1. Create a simple square version of your logo that still reads clearly at very small sizes.
  2. Export it at several sizes, such as 48, 96, 180 and 192 pixels, or as an SVG.
  3. Upload it to your site and add the link tags to your homepage head. Most CMS platforms have a “site icon” setting that does this for you.
  4. Add an Apple touch icon and web app manifest icons for phone home screens.
  5. Check the icon loads at its URL and is not blocked by robots.txt.

Google picks up changes when it recrawls your homepage, so a new favicon can take days or weeks to appear in results.

Common mistakes

  • Using a full logo with small text that becomes unreadable at 16 pixels.
  • Non-square images that get distorted or cropped.
  • Different icons on different subdomains without meaning to.
  • Changing the favicon frequently, which undermines recognition.
  • Transparent icons that disappear against dark mode backgrounds.

Further reading: Google on favicons in search results.

Key Takeaways

  • A favicon is a small icon that represents your website.
  • Google shows favicons beside your site name in search results.
  • Favicons do not affect rankings but can help clicks and recognition.
  • Use a square icon larger than 48 by 48 pixels.
  • Make sure Google can crawl both your homepage and the icon file.

Related Terms

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