Technical SEO · Free tool
Favicon Generator
A favicon is the small icon that appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and mobile home screen shortcuts. Modern requirements include multiple sizes: 16x16 and 32x32 for browsers, 180x180 for Apple touch icons, 192x192 and 512x512 for Android manifest icons. This generator outputs all sizes from a single upload.
SEO, GEO & AEO: why this checklist matters
Who should use this
Developers setting up new sites, designers delivering production assets, and anyone who's noticed a missing icon in their browser tab.
Rankings, AI answers, and citations
Favicons don't affect search rankings or AI citation. They're a professional polish detail. Correctly configured favicons with a web app manifest do support Progressive Web App (PWA) functionality, which can improve mobile experience scores.
What to verify before you ship
- Use a 512x512 source image for best results at all generated sizes
- Add the web app manifest to support add-to-home-screen on Android
- Test favicon display in multiple browsers after deploying
- Favicon should work as a standalone icon without surrounding text or context
What you can expect next
Use this workflow on drafts and live URLs. For continuous monitoring across Google and AI surfaces, pair results with Linkstonic SEO audit, AI tracking, and TrueTrace.
Frequently asked questions
Written for search snippets, People Also Ask-style surfaces, and answer engines that quote short Q&A units.
What file format should my favicon use?
For broad compatibility, ICO format (favicon.ico) in the root directory is the classic standard. PNG files work in modern browsers. SVG favicons work in most browsers except older IE and Edge versions.
Why does my favicon still show the old icon?
Browsers cache favicons aggressively. Force a refresh by appending a version parameter to the icon URL (e.g., favicon.ico?v=2) and updating the link tag in your HTML.
What is a web app manifest?
A JSON file that defines how your site behaves when added to a mobile home screen: app name, icons, theme color, and display mode. Required for full PWA support and recommended for all modern sites.
Does Google use favicons in search results?
Yes. Google shows your favicon next to your domain name in mobile search results. The favicon must be indexable by Google and should be at least 48x48 pixels. Google fetches it from your root directory or link tag.