All favicon guides
Three guides that answer the questions people actually search for — before they ever look for a converter. Each one links straight to the tool you need.
Every size that matters — 16, 32, 48, 180, 192, 512 — what each one is for, the platform-by-platform checklist, and the common mistakes that make icons look blurry.
What Is a Favicon?The plain-English definition, where the word comes from, every place the icon appears, and a format comparison covering ICO, PNG, SVG, WebP and AVIF.
How to Add a FaviconFive steps from a square source image to a working icon: folder placement, the exact HTML, the web manifest, CMS instructions and cache troubleshooting.
Where should you start?
- Building a site right now? Go straight to how to add a favicon — it includes the generator and the code.
- Icon looks blurry or wrong size? Start with favicon sizes, specifically the section on why one size is never enough.
- Not sure what a favicon even is? Read what is a favicon — it is three minutes.
- Just need the file converted? Use a converter directly: WebP, JPG, SVG or AVIF to ICO.
Frequently asked questions
What is a favicon used for?
Identification. It is the small square icon browsers show for your site in the tab strip, bookmarks, history and — on phones — the home screen, so both new and returning visitors can recognise your site at a glance.
What size should a favicon be?
16×16 px is the classic minimum and 32×32 px is the practical default for modern high-DPI tabs. A complete set also includes 180×180 for iOS, and 192×192 plus 512×512 for Android and installable web apps.
How do I add a favicon to my website?
Generate the icon files, upload favicon.ico to your site root, then declare it in the <head> with <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any">. Hard-refresh afterwards, because browsers cache favicons aggressively.
Is an ICO file still necessary in 2026?
For modern browsers, no — a declared PNG works. But ICO still earns its place: one file holds several resolutions, so the operating system picks the right one for tabs, bookmarks and Windows shortcuts instead of stretching a single image.
Convert your image now
Everything on FaviconPal runs inside your browser — your files are never uploaded to a server. Pick the converter that matches your source file: