How to Add a Favicon in WordPress – 3 Quick Methods

When you visit a website and notice a tiny image next to the page title in your browser tab, you are seeing that is called a favicon, or site icon. While small in size, this little image plays a big role in your website’s branding, professionalism, and user experience.

In the digital age, first impressions count especially online. A favicon helps your site stand out in browser tabs, bookmarks, and mobile search results, acting as a visual identifier for your brand. It might seem like a minor detail, but not having one can make your website look unfinished or generic.

Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to add a favicon, and you don’t need to be a developer or designer to do it. Whether you are launching a new blog, running an e-commerce site, or managing a portfolio, setting up a favicon is a simple yet important task that takes just a few minutes.

In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through 3 quick and easy methods to add a Favicon in WordPress website.

Understanding Favicons in WordPress

What Is a Site Icon vs. a Favicon?

A favicon (short for favorite icon) is the small image displayed in the browser tab, bookmark lists, and sometimes on mobile search results or app-like shortcuts. In WordPress, it is commonly referred to as a site icon both terms are often used interchangeably.

Despite its small size, the favicon is a powerful visual cue that helps users identify your website quickly among multiple open tabs. It is also an important part of your brand identity online.

For example :I have in the below figure you can see the Favicon of ikreatethemes.com.

Ideal Favicon Size and Format

WordPress recommends a 512 × 512 pixels image for your site icon. Even though the displayed favicon is much smaller (typically 16×16 to 32×32 pixels in the browser), starting with a high-resolution image ensures it looks crisp across all devices, especially on Retina or high-DPI screens.

Supported formats:

• .ico (traditional favicon format)
• .png (recommended for most use cases)
• .jpg or .svg (some browsers/themes support these, but you need to check compatibility)

Where the Favicon Appears

Favicons show up in several places, including:

• Browser tabs
• Bookmark lists
• Mobile home screen
• Search results

Method 1: Favicon Using the WordPress Customizer

The easiest and most beginner-friendly way to add a favicon to your WordPress site is through the Customizer. This method doesn’t require any plugins or code and works with almost any theme.

Please Follow this step carefully to complete the process successfully.
Step 1: You need to login to WordPress Dashboard. To log in to your WordPress dashboard, go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and enter your username and password.

Step 2: In your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Appearance’ and then click on ‘Customize’. This will open a panel where you can make changes to your WordPress Theme Customizer panel.

Step 3: In the Customizer, click on the ‘Site Identity’ tab. Here, you can change your website’s title, tagline, logo, and site icon (also called a favicon).

Step 4: Scroll down to the ‘Site Icon’ section and click on ‘Select site icon’ or ‘Change image’ if you want to replace the current one.

• Upload a 512×512 px image (recommended).
• You can use PNG, JPG, or ICO file formats.

After you upload the image, WordPress may ask you to crop it if it is not the right size.

Step 5: Preview and Publish

After uploading your site icon, you will see a live preview in the Customizer. When everything looks right, click ‘Publish’ at the top left to save your changes.

As you can see the favicon is added in this subdomain.

You may need to clear your browser cache or refresh the tab to see the favicon immediately. It may also take a few minutes to show up depending on browser settings.

Method 2: Favicon using a WordPress Plugin

If you want more control over how your favicon appears across different platforms and devices, or if your theme doesn’t support the Customizer method, using a WordPress plugin is a great option.

First, you need to install and activate the plugin. For more details, you can follow our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Plugins can automate favicon generation in various sizes, ensure compatibility across browsers and devices, and even allow advanced customization like app icons or browser tiles.

Here are two of the most popular plugins for favicon management. In this blog I am using Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator.

1. Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator

• Automatically generates favicon files in different sizes
• Handles cross-platform compatibility (Android, iOS, Windows, etc.)
• Easy to use, with a one-time setup

2. All in One Favicon

• Adds favicon support for front-end and back-end
• Lets you upload .ico, .png, and .gif formats
• Lightweight and simple

Please Follow this step carefully to complete the process successfully.
Step 1:Log in to your WordPress dashboard, then install and activate the ‘ Favicon by RealFavicon Generator‘ plugin.

Step 2: After activating the plugin, go to Appearance » Favicon in your WordPress dashboard. Then, click the ‘Select from the Media Library’ button to upload a new image or choose one you already have.

Note : You need to use a square picture for the site icon. The plugin suggests making it at least 260 pixels wide and tall, but it should not be smaller than 70 pixels

Step 3: After choosing your image, click the ‘Generate favicon’ button. You can then customize settings like the background color and how the icon appears on Google search results, iOS, Android, macOS Safari, Chrome, and Windows Metro.

Your favicon is now live. Be sure to keep the WordPress favicon plugin activated to keep your favicon working.

Method 3: Manually Upload Favicon via File Manager

If you want to upload the favicon directly or if your theme doesn’t support the Customizer or plugins, you can manually upload the favicon using your hosting provider’s File Manager.

Please Follow this step carefully to complete the process successfully.

Step 1: Now you need to prepare your favicon files. You can use a free tool like Favicon.io for this. On their website, click ‘Image’ to turn an image file into a zip file and HTML code. Or, you can choose the ‘Emoji’ or ‘Text’ options to create a favicon using emojis or fonts.

Step 2: On the next page, upload your image. Then click ‘Download’ to save the favicon zip file, which includes your favicon.png and favicon.ico files. Please keep this webpage open while you follow the next steps.

Step 3: Now, upload the favicon zip file to your website’s root folder. You can do this using your hosting’s file manager. For example, if you use cPanel, log in to cPanel, then go to Files → File Manager.

Open the folder for your domain, usually /public_html/ or /yourdomain.com/. Then, a new tab will open where you can upload your files.

Step 4: In the root folder, upload your favicon.ico file. Make sure the file name is exactly ‘favicon.ico’. If asked, overwrite any existing file.

Step 5: Go back to the file manager and extract the files from the favicon.ico zip file.

Step 6: Now, go back to your WordPress admin panel. In the left sidebar, go to Appearance » Theme File Editor.

Here, you need to add the HTML code you got in step 2. Insert this code into the header.php file, just before the closing </head> tag.

After adding the code click on update file. Your favicon is now live.

Testing Your Favicon

After adding your favicon, it is important to verify that it displays correctly across all browsers and devices. A favicon that works on your desktop might not appear properly on mobile or in certain browsers due to caching, file format issues, or missing code.

1. Check in Multiple Browsers

Open your website in popular browsers to make sure the favicon is visible and looks consistent:

• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Safari

2.Use Incognito or Private Mode

Your browser might still show an old version of your favicon. To see the update, open your site in an incognito or private browsing window.

3. Clear Browser Cache

If your new favicon isn’t showing up:

• Go to your browser’s settings
• Clear cached images/files
• Reload your website

4. Use Online Favicon Test Tools

These tools scan your site and give feedback on how your favicon appears on various platforms:

• RealFaviconGenerator Checker
• Favicon Checker by SEO SiteCheckup
• faviconchecker.com

They’ll tell you if:

• Your favicon is missing for certain devices
• The image is not correctly sized
• Any browser-specific issues exist

Best Practices for Favicon Design

A favicon may be tiny, but it carries big branding power. A well-designed favicon helps users recognize your website instantly, even when they have multiple tabs open or are scrolling through bookmark.

Here are some essential best practices to follow when designing your favicon:

1. Keep It Simple and Recognizable

A favicon is usually displayed at 16×16 or 32×32 pixels—very small.

• Avoid text or detailed graphics
• Use bold, simple shapes or a single letter/logo
• Make sure it’s recognizable even at a tiny scale

2. Use a Square Canvas (1:1 Ratio)

Your favicon should be designed on a square canvas, typically 512×512 pixels. This ensures compatibility across all browsers and devices, and that WordPress accepts the file without cropping issues.

3. Choose the Right File Format

• PNG – Best for transparency and high resolution (recommended)
• ICO – Traditional format, needed for manual or advanced methods
• SVG – Scalable but not universally supported as a favicon
• JPG – Acceptable, but lacks transparency

4. Match Your Brand Identity

Use elements from your logo or brand color palette so the favicon aligns visually with your website and overall branding. If your logo is too detailed, consider using:

• The first letter of your brand name
• A simplified version of your logo
• An icon that represents your niche (e.g., a camera for photography)

5. Make It High-Contrast

Your favicon should stand out against browser backgrounds. Use strong color contrast (e.g., white icon on blue background) to ensure it’s easily visible in light or dark themes.

6. Test Across Devices and Browsers

Once created, test your favicon on:

• Desktop browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
• Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Android Chrome)
• Dark mode/light mode environments

7. Optimize for Retina and High-DPI Screens

Start with a high-resolution image (at least 512×512 pixels) to ensure your favicon looks crisp on Retina displays, tablets, and high-end smartphones.

8. Name the File Properly (if uploading manually)

When manually uploading, name the file as favicon.ico and place it in the root directory of your site. This is the default file name browsers look for if no favicon is specified.

SEO and Branding Benefits of a Favicon

Although favicons don’t directly influence your site’s search engine rankings, they play a subtle but important role in how users perceive and interact with your website.

1. Improved Brand Recognition

Your favicon acts like a mini logo. It helps users easily identify your site in:

• Browser tabs
• Bookmarks
• Mobile search results
• Pinned shortcuts on mobile home screens

2. Boosts Click-Through Rates

In some mobile search engines (especially on Android and iOS), Google displays the site’s favicon next to the page title in search results. A clean, professional favicon here can:

• Increase trust
• Improve your click-through rate (CTR)
• Make your listing stand out in crowded SERPs

3. Enhances User Trust and Credibility

A missing or broken favicon can make your website feel incomplete or unprofessional especially when users compare it to competitors with polished branding. A working favicon subtly signals that your site is legitimate and cared for.

4. Supports Better UX and Navigation

When users have multiple tabs open, a clear favicon helps them navigate quickly. It reduces frustration and makes switching between sites more intuitive, keeping users engaged with your content longer.

5. Helps with Bookmarking and Retention

When a user bookmarks your site, the favicon appears next to the page title in their bookmarks bar or folder. A memorable, branded icon makes your site easier to identify and return to later.

6. Positive Indirect SEO Impact

While a favicon doesn’t affect search engine algorithms, the user behavior it influences does:

• Better CTR
• Longer time on site
• Return visits
• More saved/bookmarked pages

These behavioral signals can have indirect effects on SEO performance over time.

FAQs

Conclusion

Adding a favicon to your WordPress website might seem like a small task, but its impact on branding, user experience, and overall site professionalism is significant. Whether you choose the Customizer, a plugin, FTP, or theme coding, there’s a method that suits every skill level.

By following the steps and best practices we covered, your site will look more polished, trustworthy, and memorable across all browsers and devices.

If you are interested in customizing your WordPress site further or exploring powerful, professional WordPress themes, check out our past tutorials and resources at ikreates.com.