Favicon Generator

Generate a complete favicon bundle from any image. Create all required favicon sizes and formats (ICO, PNG, Web Manifest) for your website. Non-square images are automatically cropped from the center. Perfect for web developers, designers, and website owners who need professional favicon packages.

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What is a Favicon?

A favicon (short for "favorite icon") is a small icon or image that represents a website or web application. It appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, browser history, address bars, and other places where websites are displayed. Favicons help users quickly identify and distinguish between multiple open tabs and bookmarked sites. The standard favicon file is typically 16x16 or 32x32 pixels, but modern web standards require multiple sizes for different devices and platforms, including mobile devices, tablets, and desktop browsers.

Who Invented Favicons?

Favicons were introduced by Microsoft in 1999 with Internet Explorer 5. The original favicon was a 16x16 pixel ICO file placed in the root directory of a website. The concept quickly gained popularity and became a web standard. Today, favicons are supported by all major browsers and are an essential part of web branding and user experience. The modern favicon ecosystem has evolved to include multiple formats (ICO, PNG, SVG) and sizes to support various devices and platforms.

Why Use Favicons?

Favicons are essential for several reasons:

  • Brand Recognition: Favicons help users quickly identify your website among multiple open tabs, improving brand visibility
  • Professional Appearance: A well-designed favicon makes your website look more professional and polished
  • User Experience: Favicons make it easier for users to navigate between tabs and find your site in bookmarks
  • Mobile Support: Modern favicons are used for home screen icons on mobile devices, creating an app-like experience
  • SEO Benefits: While not a direct ranking factor, favicons can improve click-through rates from search results and bookmarks
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Different sizes ensure your icon displays correctly on all devices and browsers
  • Progressive Web Apps (PWA): Favicons are required for PWA installation and home screen icons

How to Use This Favicon Generator

Our favicon generator makes it easy to create a complete favicon bundle:

  1. Upload Your Image: Click the file input or drag and drop any image file (JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG, etc.). The tool supports all common image formats
  2. Automatic Processing: If your image isn't square, it will be automatically cropped from the center to create a perfect square
  3. Generate Favicons: Click "Generate Favicons" to create all required sizes and formats. The tool generates:
    • favicon.ico (32x32) - Traditional favicon format
    • favicon-16x16.png - Standard browser favicon
    • favicon-32x32.png - High-resolution browser favicon
    • apple-touch-icon.png (180x180) - iOS home screen icon
    • android-chrome-192x192.png - Android Chrome icon
    • android-chrome-512x512.png - Android Chrome icon (high-res)
    • site.webmanifest - Web app manifest file
  4. Download: Download individual files or use "Download All" to get a ZIP file containing all favicon files with a timestamped filename
  5. Installation: Upload the files to your website's root directory and add the appropriate HTML tags in your site's <head> section

Frequently Asked Questions

What image formats are supported?

Our favicon generator supports all common image formats including JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG, WebP, and BMP. The tool automatically converts your image to the required favicon formats (ICO and PNG).

What if my image isn't square?

No problem! The tool automatically crops non-square images from the center to create a perfect square. This ensures your favicon looks balanced and professional across all sizes.

What sizes are included in the favicon bundle?

The generator creates a complete bundle with all standard favicon sizes: 16x16, 32x32, 180x180 (Apple), 192x192 (Android), and 512x512 (Android high-res). This covers all major browsers and devices.

How do I install the generated favicons on my website?

Upload all generated files to your website's root directory (the same folder as your index.html). Then add these HTML tags to your site's <head> section:

<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">
<link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest">

Why are the larger PNG files compressed?

The 192x192 and 512x512 PNG files are automatically compressed to reduce file size while maintaining visual quality. This improves website loading speed and reduces bandwidth usage. Smaller favicon sizes (16x16, 32x32) are not compressed as they're already small files.

Do I need all the generated files?

While you can use just the favicon.ico file for basic functionality, using all generated files ensures optimal display across all browsers, devices, and platforms. Modern websites should include all sizes for the best user experience, especially if you're building a Progressive Web App (PWA).

Can I use SVG favicons instead?

While SVG favicons are supported by some modern browsers, they're not universally supported. Our generator creates traditional ICO and PNG formats that work across all browsers and devices. For maximum compatibility, use the generated ICO and PNG files alongside any SVG favicon you might want to add separately.

How often should I update my favicon?

Favicons are cached by browsers, so updates may take time to appear. If you change your favicon, consider adding a version parameter to the URL (e.g., favicon.ico?v=2) to force browsers to fetch the new version. Generally, update your favicon when rebranding or if the design no longer matches your brand identity.