Free Online Favicon Generator - Create Professional Website Icons
Our free favicon generator helps you create professional favicons for your website quickly and easily. Convert any image to favicon.ico format or PNG icons in multiple sizes (16x16, 32x32, 48x48, 180x180). Perfect for websites, web apps, and mobile applications.
Why Use Our Favicon Generator?
- ✅ Multiple sizes - Standard (16x16), High DPI (32x32), Desktop (48x48), Apple Touch (180x180)
- ✅ Multiple formats - ICO (multi-size) and PNG formats
- ✅ High quality - Preserve image quality with smart resizing
- ✅ Easy to use - Upload, customize, download in seconds
- ✅ Real-time preview - See all sizes before downloading
- ✅ Free & secure - No registration, all processing in browser
Perfect For All Your Website Needs
Every professional website needs a favicon - the small icon that appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and history. Our generator creates favicons that work across all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and devices (desktop, mobile, tablets).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a favicon and why do I need one?
A favicon (favorite icon) is a small 16x16 pixel icon associated with your website. It appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and history, helping users identify and remember your site.
What's the difference between ICO and PNG formats?
ICO format supports multiple sizes in one file and is the traditional favicon format. PNG format is for single-size icons and is commonly used for modern web apps and Apple touch icons.
What image formats can I upload?
You can upload JPG, PNG, SVG, and WebP images. The tool will automatically convert them to favicon format while maintaining quality.
What sizes should I download?
We recommend downloading the ICO format which includes all sizes, or download individual PNGs for 16x16 (browser), 32x32 (high-DPI), 48x48 (desktop), and 180x180 (Apple touch icon).
How do I add the favicon to my website?
Upload the favicon.ico file to your website's root directory and add the HTML code provided in our instructions section to your website's head section.
The Professional's Guide to Favicons: From Creation to Implementation
A favicon is far more than just a small browser tab icon. It's a critical piece of your website's identity, affecting branding, user experience, and even SEO. This guide will help you understand modern favicon requirements and best practices for 2025 and beyond.
Understanding the Modern Favicon Ecosystem
The simple 16x16 pixel ICO file is no longer sufficient for today's web. Modern websites need a suite of icons to appear correctly across various devices and platforms[citation:7][citation:8]. Here's what a complete favicon set includes in 2025:
📄
SVG Favicon
The modern standard for crisp display at any resolution[citation:7]
🍎
Apple Touch Icon
180x180px for iOS home screen shortcuts[citation:8][citation:10]
🤖
Android/Manifest
192x192px and 512x512px for Android/PWAs[citation:10]
🔗
Legacy ICO
32x32px for specific cases like PDF viewers[citation:7]
Complete HTML Implementation Code
Based on current best practices and compatibility research[citation:6][citation:8], here is the comprehensive HTML code you should use in your website's `
` section:
Complete Favicon HTML Markup
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any">
<link rel="icon" href="/icon.svg" type="image/svg+xml">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">
<link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
<!-- Meta tags for Windows tiles -->
<meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff">
<meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/mstile-144x144.png">
2025 Favicon Size Requirements & Best Practices
Creating effective favicons requires understanding both technical requirements and design principles. Here's what you need to know:
📐 Essential Favicon Sizes & Their Uses
| Size |
Format |
Primary Use |
Notes |
| 16×16 |
ICO/PNG |
Browser tabs (legacy) |
Minimum size for basic browser support[citation:6] |
| 32×32 |
ICO |
Taskbar shortcuts |
Standard ICO file should include this size[citation:10] |
| 180×180 |
PNG |
iOS Home Screen |
Apple Touch Icon (no rounded corners)[citation:8][citation:10] |
| 192×192 |
PNG |
Android Home Screen |
Also used in web app manifests[citation:10] |
| SVG |
Vector |
Modern browsers |
Crisp at any resolution; future-proof[citation:7] |
Pro Design Tips:
- Simplicity is key: Favicons are tiny - avoid complex details[citation:6]
- High contrast: Ensure visibility against various backgrounds
- Test multiple backgrounds: Check against light/dark browser themes
- Maintain brand consistency: Use your logo's core elements
- Avoid text: Most text becomes unreadable at small sizes
Browser Compatibility & Format Support
🌐 Modern Browser Support Matrix
| Browser |
ICO |
PNG |
SVG |
Notes |
| Chrome |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Full SVG support since v80[citation:6][citation:7] |
| Firefox |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Excellent modern format support[citation:6] |
| Safari |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Requires Apple Touch Icon for iOS[citation:8] |
| Edge |
✅ |
✅ |
✅ |
Chromium-based; similar to Chrome[citation:6] |
Key Insight: While all modern browsers support multiple formats, providing SVG alongside traditional formats ensures the best quality across high-DPI displays and future devices. The ICO format remains important for specific legacy cases like PDF viewer tabs[citation:7].
Performance Optimization & Implementation Checklist
⚡ Favicon Performance Best Practices
File Optimization
- Compress PNG files using tools like TinyPNG
- Optimize SVG files by removing unnecessary metadata
- Use appropriate compression for ICO files
- Average favicon size should be 3-6KB[citation:8]
Implementation
- Place favicon files in website root directory
- Use CDN for faster delivery
- Implement proper caching headers
- Use absolute paths in HTML links
Pre-Launch Favicon Checklist:
- ✅ SVG favicon created and linked
- ✅ 180×180 PNG for Apple Touch
- ✅ 192×192 PNG for Android/Manifest
- ✅ 32×32 ICO for legacy support
- ✅ All files properly optimized
- ✅ HTML markup validated
- ✅ Tested on multiple browsers
- ✅ Tested on mobile devices
The Evolution & Future of Favicons
📅
1999: The Beginning
Internet Explorer 5 introduced the 16×16 "favorites icon" for bookmarks, giving us the term "favicon"[citation:7].
📱
2007: Mobile Revolution
iPhone introduced Apple Touch icons, requiring larger resolution icons for home screens[citation:7].
🔮
2025 & Beyond: SVG Era
SVG format becomes the standard for crisp display on any resolution, from mobile to 8K displays[citation:7].