How to add a favicon on WordPress: 4 effective methods

The big day has arrived. You've just launched your WordPress site. Everything seems to be in order: the pages are published, the theme is installed, the content is ready. 

And yet, in the browser tab, A grey square or a generic logo appears instead of your visual identity..

This often overlooked detail is called a favicon. It's small, but it says a lot about the care you take with your online presence.

In this article, we explain Everything you need to know about WordPress favicons : what it is, why it matters, how to create it correctly, and most importantly how to add it to your site using four different methods, from the simplest to the most technical.

What is a favicon?

The term "favicon" is short for "favorite icon," meaning the icon for favorites. It is...a small image, usually square, which represents your website in different digital contexts.

Historically, the favicon was introduced by Microsoft Internet Explorer in 1999. At the time, it was only displayed in the favorites bar, hence its name.

Since then, its use has spread widely to all modern browsers and digital interfaces. Today, not having one is like leaving a shop window without a sign.

In WordPress, The favicon is officially designated as the "Site Icon". This term also refers to a feature that appeared with version 4.3 of the CMS (released in August 2015), which automatically activates favicons on your website.

And since WordPress version 5.4, released in March 2020, there's even a default favicon as soon as you install the CMS. we learn from the official WordPress documentation.

For your information, it looks like this: 

Ultimately, regardless of the terminology used, the role of the favicon on WordPress is the same: to visually represent your brand on the web, even outside of the content of your pages.

Where do the site icons appear?

You see this WordPress favicon every day without necessarily paying attention to it. It appears in different places: 

• In the web browser tabs (Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Safari, etc.) of your visitors.
• Next to your site name on your WordPress back office.
• As application icons on mobile devices during a recording in a browser or on a phone.
• In your browser's favorites, if you register a website that interests you there.
• In the search results of your favorite search engine.

If you type "WP Maintenance" into Google, for example, you'll see our awesome favicon right above our website URL. WordPress agency : 

Why add a favicon on WordPress?

Some website owners consider the favicon to be a decorative accessory. This is a mistake. It actually fulfills several practical functions:

• It strengthens brand identity. When a user has ten or so tabs open at the same time, the favicon is the only visual element that allows them to identify your site at a glance. Without it, your tab remains anonymous.
• It improves visitor confidence. A WordPress site without a favicon can appear unfinished or unprofessional. Conversely, a well-designed icon, consistent with your brand guidelines, reinforces the feeling that your site is polished and trustworthy. It signals professionalism, just like a professional email address or a custom domain name.
• It makes navigation easier. For users who regularly visit your site and have bookmarked it, the favicon is an immediate visual cue. It reduces search time and improves the browsing experience.
• It helps with memorization. A distinctive and recognizable favicon gradually becomes part of your visitors' perception of your brand. It's a detail that contributes to the overall consistency of your visual communication. Think of the favicon of YouTube, Wikipedia, or your online bank: you recognize them instantly, without even reading the tab title. That's precisely the effect you should aim for.

Does the favicon influence SEO or user experience?

Let's now turn to a legitimate question that many WordPress site owners are asking.

Can a favorites icon improve your SEO and the user experience (UX) experienced by your visitors on your pages?

Impact of WordPress favicon on SEO

In terms of search engine optimization (SEO), Google displays a website's favicon directly in search results, next to the domain name.

A present and high-quality favicon can therefore contribute to improving the click-through rate (CTR, Click Through Rate), making your result more identifiable and visually appealing.

However, it is important to note that The favicon is not a direct ranking factor in Google's algorithms.It does not improve your position in search results, nor your WordPress SEO.

On the other hand, it plays an indirect role: an improved CTR is a signal that search engines take into account when evaluating the relevance of a page.

Google also specifies in its official documentation that in order for a favicon to be eligible to be displayed in search results, it must meet certain conditions: 

• To be publicly accessible.
• Not to be blocked by the file robots.txt.
• Être "Visually representative of your website's brand".
• It must be in a square format and measure at least 8 x 8 pixels.With WordPress's built-in favicon creation feature, there's no need to worry about that. Your site icon will be 16 x 16 pixels, twice the size recommended by Google.

A favicon that violates Google's content rules – shocking, misleading or inappropriate image – may be replaced with a generic icon in the results.

What impact on UX?

From a user experience (UX) perspective, the impact is more immediate. A favicon consistent with your visual identity. reinforces the perception of quality and professionalism.

Conversely, the absence of a favicon or the use of a generic icon can generate a feeling of lack of care, even unconsciously, in the visitor.

Prerequisites and best practices for creating a functional website icon image

Now that you have a better understanding of the favicon on WordPress and its role, we can look at how to create it.

But before you even open your WordPress dashboard, a little patience is required. First, a suitable image needs to be prepared..

This is a step that many neglect, yet it is crucial for a clean result.

We'll review the prerequisites and best practices just below.

Recommended format for your WordPress favicon

WordPress notably accepts the following formats PNG, JPG, GIF et ICOWe recommend the format PNG for its transparency capabilities and display quality on all types of screens.

The format ICO will be mainly required if you plan to create your favicon manually (in the format .icoSo, it's a bit more technical, but this format has several advantages, according to the official WordPress documentation: 

• Compatible with most modern browsers.
• Reduces the risk of 404 errors Parts and accessories "Virtually all modern browsers will call a favicon.ico file".
• A file .ico can contain multiple icons.

The format SVGAlthough increasingly used for icons on the web, it is not yet natively supported by WordPress for site icons.

Ideal size and appearance

Regarding size, lThe ideal size for your WordPress favicon is at least 512 × 512 pixels.That, at least, is the official recommendation of the CMS.

This resolution guarantees sharp image quality on high-density screens (Retina, 4K) while allowing the CMS to automatically generate the different variations needed depending on the display contexts.

The image must also be square. A rectangular favicon will be cropped or distorted. Always check that your dimensions are identical in width and height.

Use of transparency

If your logo has a specific colored background, you can choose to keep it. However, if you want your favicon to adapt to all contexts (light or dark background), opt for a transparent background PNG.

Note that some contexts, such as display in Google results, apply a white background by default to transparent favicons.

Pattern and consistency with your visual identity

At 16 × 16 pixels (actual display size in a tab), fine details disappear. Consequently, Choose a simple design for your WordPress favicon.

Opt for a single letter, pictogram, or simplified version of your logo rather than a busy design. A stylized initial on a colored background generally works very well. Conversely, a full logo with text becomes illegible at this size.

Otherwise, Your favicon must be consistent with your brand guidelines. : respect your brand colors, your typography if you use an initial, and the general spirit of your identity.

A well-thought-out favicon is a logical variation of your logo, not a randomly chosen image.

Let's get to the heart of the matter. There are several ways to integrate a favicon into your WordPress site, depending on your WordPress version and technical preferences.

How to add a favicon on WordPress: 4 methods broken down step by step

With the WordPress dashboard or Customizer

Let's start with the simplest, most accessible, and quickest method: adding a favicon via the WordPress Customizer.

If you are a beginner or just starting out with WordPress, go for this, it does the job.

Why? Well, quite simply because "You don't need to prepare the file yourself" favicon.iconor modify your theme file., explains the WordPress documentation. 

In detail, follow these steps: 

• Login to your WordPress dashboard.
• Go to Settings > General.
• Click on the "Choose a site icon" button, then choose an image from your Media Library (e.g., your logo), or upload a new one.

If your image isn't perfectly square, WordPress will offer a cropping tool. Adjust as needed, then click "crop image" when you're finished.

Your favicon has been successfully added, please see:

If you are using a classic theme (which is not based on blocks), you can also add a favicon on WordPress by going to the Appearance > Customize menu, then to the "Site Identity" menu offered in the WordPress Customizer: 

A real-time preview is displayed directly in the Customizer, allowing you to view the result before confirming. Take this opportunity to check that the icon remains legible at a small size in the tab preview..

Note that the Customizer may not be available if you are using a theme designed exclusively for the Site Editor (FSE — Full Site Editing).

With the Site Editor

Speaking of the Site editor, let's see how to proceed if you are using a block-based theme, for example the Twenty Twenty-Five native theme.

On your dashboard, go to Appearance > Editor. Then click on your site's name in the top left corner. In our case, our test site is called "WordPress favicon": 

Next, select your preferred header type from the available templates, then click on the area designated for inserting a logo: 

Choose an image from the Media Library or download one.then click on the small radio button "Use as site icon". 

Finish by clicking the "Save" button in the top right corner:

The interface changes regularly with WordPress updates. If you don't find the option on your first try, look in the global settings or the site header. A simple alternative is to use the editor's built-in search bar and type "Site icon" to go directly to the correct setting.

With a WordPress favicon plugin

If native methods don't work with your theme, or if you want more control, a dedicated plugin is a good alternative.

The extension Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator is one of the most highly recommended. It automatically generates all the necessary variations of your favicon (for iOS, Android, Windows, browsers, etc.) from a single source image.

To use it on your site, proceed as follows: 

1. Install and activate the plugin from Extensions > Add an extension.
2. In the plugin settings (Appearance menu > Favicon), upload your source image.
3. Select your image from your Media Librarythen click the "Generate favicon" button.

You are then redirected to the RealFaviconGenerator website. There, you can customize the display on Google search results pages, as well as in desktop and mobile web browsers.

The menu called "Web App Manifest" allows you to choose how your WordPress favicon will be displayed on mobile.

When you're finished, click the "Generate and install favicon" button. The plugin will then generate all the favicon formats and sizes directly in WordPress for you.

If everything is working correctly, you will see this displayed on the screen:

This approach is particularly useful if you want your icon to display correctly on all devices and browsers, including the most specialized ones.

This is also the preferred method if you manage an e-commerce site or a progressive web application (PWA), where users expect the presence of icons adapted to each platform.

Manually with a piece of code

Let's finish with the most technical method, dedicated to users comfortable with codeIf needed, please note that it is possible to manually add a favicon to your WordPress site.

Before making any changes to your website, back up its files and database using a dedicated tool, for example WP UmbrellaIdeally, first test adding a favicon on WordPress in a staging environment or locally to ensure everything works correctly.

Start by creating your favicon using a graphics/image editing program that allows file saving .icoIn its official documentation, WordPress recommends, for example Faviconer.

But there are also online services that will allow you to create a favicon for free, such as RealFaviconGenerator ou favicon.ioThis tool allows, for example, the conversion of a logo in PNG format to .ico format.

This allows you to create your logo beforehand on tools like Canva or Adobe Illustrator.

In detail, here's how to do it with favicon.ioDownload your image in the format PNG in the "Favicon Generator" menu.

This gives you access to a zip file containing the files and code to add to WordPressUnzip this file which contains 7 files in total: 

Add them to the root directory of your site either via an FTP client (Filezilla, Cyberduck, Transmit), or via the file manager offered by your hosting provider's server interface. 

On cPanel, it can be found here:

Your root directory is usually called public_html, www ou htdocs, depending on your hosting provider. To guide you, this is also where you'll find directories such as wp-content et wp-admin.

Finally, add the following lines of code within the tag head from your HTML code. This code snippet is provided by Favicon.io when you upload your logo:

Next, integrate this code into the file header.php, before the beacon is closed On your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme File Editor:

Finish by clicking the "Update file" button. 

When modifying your theme files, a good practice is to use a Child themeIn this case, create and modify the copy of the file. header.php which is located in your child's theme.

How do I remove or change my favicon on WordPress?

Wondering how to change your favicon on WordPress? The procedure for modifying or deleting an existing favicon is similar to adding one.

To change your favicon, return to the method you initially used (Customizer, Site Editor or plugin) and simply upload the new image. The old one will be replaced.

To remove a favicon, go to the same settings and click the option to delete or change the site icon. In the Settings > General menu, it looks like this:

In the Customizer, a "Remove" or "Change Image" link appears below the preview of the current icon.

In practice, you may need to change your favicon during a graphic redesign, a brand name change or an update of your visual identity.

In this case, also remember to update your favicon in all other places where it may be manually declared.

Be mindful of cache durations. After a change, your old favicon may remain visible for a few hours in some browsers. Clear your browser's cache (Ctrl + Shift + Delete) and, if your site uses a caching plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, clear the site's cache as well.

How do I check that my favicon is working?

Once the favicon has been added, it is advisable to check that it displays correctly before considering the task complete. Several options are available to you for this:

• In your browser. Open your website in a new tab and observe the icon to the left of the page title. Also, test in private browsing mode to avoid cache interference.
• On mobile. Add your site as a shortcut on the home screen of an Android and iOS smartphone to verify that the icon displays correctly.
• With an online tool. The RealFaviconGenerator website offers a free verification tool. It analyzes your URL and tells you if your favicon is correctly detected and if it displays properly in different contexts.

• In the source code. View the source code of your homepage (right-click > View source code) and search for the tag

Fixing common bugs and errors

In some cases, the favicon may not display despite seemingly correct configuration. Discover the most common problems and their solutions: 

• The favicon is not displayed at all. The most common cause is a caching issue. Start by clearing your browser cache and your caching plugin's cache. If that doesn't work, check that the tag <link rel="icon"> is indeed present in the source code of your page.
• The favicon displays the old image. Same reflex: clear the cache. Browsers often store favicons in memory for several hours, or even several days. Browsing in incognito mode allows you to check without cache interference.
• The image is blurry or pixelated. Your source file is too small. Please try again with an image that is at least 512 × 512 pixels. WordPress automatically resizes the image for different display contexts.
• The favicon is not showing up on Google. Google sometimes takes several weeks to index and display a site's favicon in its search results. Make sure your favicon complies with Google's guidelines. If your favicon is still missing from the results after several weeks, also check that your homepage isn't blocked by a noindex directive in your preferred SEO plugin (Yoast, SEOPress, Rank Math, etc.).
• The favicon is displayed differently depending on the browser. Some browsers, particularly older versions of Internet Explorer or Safari, handle favicon formats and sizes differently. If you notice inconsistencies, use a plugin like RealFaviconGenerator, which automatically generates a multi-format pack covering all possible scenarios.

In conclusion, Adding a favicon on WordPress is a quick actionbut which produces lasting effects on the perception of your site.

It strengthens your visual identity, improves the browsing experience for your visitors and indirectly contributes to your visibility in search results.

You now have four methods to integrate itFrom native WordPress tools to more technical solutions, including specialized plugins, whatever your setup, one of them will suit your needs.

These small details, often overlooked, nevertheless make all the difference. the difference between an amateur website and a polished professional website.

A well-thought-out favicon, in the right format and consistent with your brand identity, is an investment of a few minutes that represents you permanently on the web.

You want to Want to take your WordPress site optimization further? At Maintenance WP, we support companies and freelancers in the development, maintenance and SEO of their WordPress sites.

Need to know more? Our team is available to answer your questions.