Favicon Guide: How to Create ICO Files for Your Website

TL;DR: Create a favicon by converting a square image (512x512px recommended) to ICO format. Use our free PNG to ICO or Image to ICO converter to generate multi-size favicons instantly in your browser.

A favicon is the small icon that appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and search results. It's a crucial branding element that helps users identify your website—yet many sites still lack proper favicons or use blurry, low-quality icons.

This guide covers everything you need to know about creating professional favicons, including the right sizes, formats, and how to convert any image to ICO.

What Is a Favicon?

A favicon (favorite icon) is a small icon associated with your website:

Where favicons appear:

• Browser tabs
• Bookmark lists
• Browser history
• Search engine results
• Mobile home screen shortcuts
• Windows taskbar (for pinned sites)
• Reading lists and save-for-later apps

Key characteristics:

• Typically 16x16, 32x32, or larger sizes
• ICO format supports multiple sizes in one file
• PNG format for modern browsers
• SVG for scalable vector icons

Why Your Website Needs a Proper Favicon

Favicons matter more than you might think:

• Brand Recognition: Users identify your site instantly among many tabs
• Professional Appearance: Missing favicons look unprofessional
• Bookmarks: Favicons make bookmarks scannable and memorable
• Mobile Experience: Required for "Add to Home Screen" on phones
• SEO Signal: Professional sites have proper favicons
• Trust Factor: Users trust complete, polished websites

Best Favicon Sizes

Different contexts require different sizes:

Recommendation: Start with a 512x512px source image. ICO files can contain multiple sizes, and converters will generate all needed sizes automatically.

How to Create a Favicon: Step-by-Step

Method 1: Convert PNG to ICO (Recommended)

The easiest method using existing images:

Use our PNG to ICO converter:

1. Prepare your image:

   • Use a square image (1:1 aspect ratio)
   • Recommended: 512x512px or larger
   • Simple, recognizable design works best
   • Use PNG for transparency support

2. Upload to converter:

   • Select your PNG file
   • Preview will show how it looks at small sizes

3. Generate ICO:

   • Click "Convert to ICO"
   • Download multi-size ICO file

4. Add to website:

   <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">
   

Result: Professional multi-size favicon ready for all browsers.

Method 2: Convert JPG to ICO

If you have a JPG image:

Use our JPG to ICO converter:

1. Upload square JPG image
2. Convert to ICO format
3. Download favicon

Note: JPG doesn't support transparency, so your favicon will have a solid background.

Method 3: Convert Any Image to ICO

For non-square images or various formats:

Use our Image to ICO converter:

1. Upload any image (PNG, JPG, WebP, etc.)
2. Crop/adjust to square if needed
3. Choose icon size
4. Download ICO file

Best for: Quickly creating favicons from any source image.

Method 4: Convert WebP to ICO

For modern WebP images:

Use our WebP to ICO converter:

1. Upload WebP image
2. Convert to ICO
3. Download favicon with transparency preserved

Method 5: Convert SVG to ICO

For vector graphics (best quality):

Use our SVG to ICO converter:

1. Upload SVG vector file
2. Convert to rasterized ICO
3. Download crisp favicon at all sizes

Why SVG source is best: Vector graphics scale perfectly, so your favicon looks sharp at any size.

All ICO Converters

Create ICO Files

• PNG to ICO – Best quality with transparency
• JPG to ICO – Quick conversion from photos
• Image to ICO – Any image format
• WebP to ICO – Modern format to ICO
• SVG to ICO – Vector to icon
• GIF to ICO – GIF to favicon
• BMP to ICO – Bitmap to icon
• TIFF to ICO – TIFF to favicon
• AVIF to ICO – AVIF to icon
• HEIC to ICO – iPhone photos to icon
• JFIF to ICO – JFIF to favicon
• PSD to ICO – Photoshop to icon
• RAW to ICO – Camera RAW to icon

Convert FROM ICO

• ICO to PNG – Extract for editing
• ICO to JPG – Convert to JPEG
• ICO to WebP – Modern web format
• ICO to AVIF – Next-gen format

Favicon Design Best Practices

1. Keep It Simple

Favicons are tiny—complex designs become unrecognizable:

• Use simple shapes and bold colors
• Avoid thin lines and small text
• Consider using just a letter or symbol
• Test at 16x16 to ensure readability

2. Make It Recognizable

Your favicon should be instantly identifiable:

• Use brand colors consistently
• Match your logo style (but simplified)
• Ensure contrast against both light and dark backgrounds
• Stand out from competitors

3. Use Transparency Wisely

PNG and ICO support transparency:

• Transparent backgrounds look professional
• Test on both light and dark browser themes
• Avoid semi-transparent edges that look fuzzy

4. Test at Multiple Sizes

Check your favicon at various sizes:

• 16x16: Browser tabs
• 32x32: Retina tabs, bookmarks
• 48x48+: Windows icons, mobile

5. Consider Different Contexts

Your favicon appears in many places:

• Dark mode browser tabs
• Light bookmark bars
• Mobile home screens
• Search results

How to Add Favicon to Your Website

Basic Implementation

Add this to your HTML <head>:

<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon">

Complete Modern Implementation

For all browsers and devices:

<!-- Standard favicon -->
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any">
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.svg" type="image/svg+xml">

<!-- Apple Touch Icon -->
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">

<!-- For older IE -->
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico">

PWA Manifest Icons

For Progressive Web Apps, add to manifest.json:

{
  "icons": [
    {"src": "/icon-192.png", "sizes": "192x192", "type": "image/png"},
    {"src": "/icon-512.png", "sizes": "512x512", "type": "image/png"}
  ]
}

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Favicon not showing up

Solution:

1. Clear browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+R)
2. Check file path is correct
3. Ensure favicon.ico is at website root
4. Verify file isn't corrupted (try opening it)

Problem: Favicon looks blurry

Solution:

• Start with larger source image (512x512+)
• Use PNG with clean edges
• Simplify design for small sizes
• Use SVG source for sharpest results

Problem: Favicon has white background instead of transparent

Solution:

• Use PNG source with transparency
• Don't convert from JPG (no transparency)
• Check that your converter preserves alpha channel

Problem: Favicon shows old version

Solution:

• Clear browser cache completely
• Try incognito/private window
• Rename favicon file and update HTML reference
• Add version query string: favicon.ico?v=2

Problem: Different favicon on mobile

Solution:

• Add apple-touch-icon for iOS
• Include PNG icons in PWA manifest
• Test on actual devices, not just emulators

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A professional favicon is essential for brand recognition and user experience. Creating one is simple—start with a square, high-resolution image and convert it to ICO format using our free tools.

Ready to create your favicon? Use our converters:

• PNG to ICO – Best for transparent logos
• Image to ICO – Convert any image
• SVG to ICO – Sharpest results from vectors

Recommended Tools:

• PNG to ICO Converter - Best quality favicons
• Image to ICO Converter - Any format to ICO
• ICO to PNG Converter - Extract icons for editing
• Image Resizer - Resize to square dimensions
• SVG to PNG Converter - Vector to raster

Related Articles:

• Best Online Image Converters Guide
• Image Formats Explained: Complete Guide
• How to Compress Images Without Losing Quality
• WebP Conversion Guide: Everything You Need to Know