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Google displays website favicons next to search results to help users identify brands. This guide covers how to set up your favicon so it appears in Google Search, the size and format requirements, and how to fix a favicon that isn’t showing.

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Requirements

Before Google will display your favicon, ensure you meet these requirements:
RequirementDetails
DimensionsSquare, minimum 8x8 pixels (48x48+ recommended)
FormatICO, PNG, SVG, or any valid favicon format
Aspect ratioMust be 1:1 (square)
AccessibilityGooglebot must be able to crawl your favicon
ContentNo inappropriate imagery (hate symbols, adult content)
Google recommends a favicon larger than 48x48 pixels so it stays sharp across devices. There’s no strict “multiple of 48” rule — any square size of at least 8x8 works, but bigger and square is better.

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Add the favicon to your website

1

Create your favicon file

Design a square image that represents your brand. Save it in a web-compatible format (PNG or ICO are most common).
favicon.ico (32x32 or 48x48 pixels)
For high-DPI displays, consider creating multiple sizes or using SVG format.
2

Add the link tag to your homepage

Add a <link> tag in the <head> section of your homepage HTML:
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico">
Google looks at your homepage to find the favicon for your entire site.
3

Verify crawlability

Ensure your robots.txt file doesn’t block access to your favicon:
robots.txt
# Allow favicon access
User-agent: Googlebot
Allow: /favicon.ico

User-agent: Googlebot-Image
Allow: /favicon.ico
Both Googlebot and Googlebot-Image must be able to access your favicon file.
4

Request indexing (optional)

Speed up the process by requesting Google re-crawl your homepage:
  1. Go to Google Search Console
  2. Enter your homepage URL in the URL Inspection tool
  3. Click “Request Indexing”
Without this step, it can take several days to weeks for Google to discover your favicon.
If your favicon isn’t appearing next to your site in search results, work through these causes in order:
  1. Google hasn’t re-crawled your homepage yet. New favicons commonly take several days to a few weeks to appear. Request indexing of your homepage in Search Console to speed this up.
  2. The link tag isn’t on your homepage. Google reads the favicon from your site’s home page (the root URL), not from inner pages. Make sure the <link rel="icon"> tag is in the <head> of your homepage.
  3. Googlebot can’t crawl the favicon. Check that robots.txt allows both Googlebot and Googlebot-Image to fetch the favicon URL, and that the file returns a 200 status.
  4. The favicon isn’t square. A non-square (non-1:1) image is rejected. Re-export at a square size such as 48x48 or 96x96.
  5. The image is too small or low quality. Use a favicon larger than 48x48 pixels.
  6. The content violates Google’s policies. Google replaces inappropriate imagery (hate symbols, adult content) with a default icon.
Site builders (WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, Webflow, Framer, Next.js): Most platforms set the favicon in a site or theme setting rather than by hand-editing HTML. Set a square favicon there, confirm it loads at your root domain, then request indexing. The favicon must be served from your own domain and be crawlable — the requirements above are identical regardless of platform.

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Important limitations

One favicon per hostname: Google supports one favicon per site hostname. Subdomains (like blog.example.com) can have different favicons than your main domain, but subdirectories (example.com/blog/) share the same favicon. No guarantee of display: Even with correct implementation, Google doesn’t guarantee your favicon will appear in search results. Processing time: Changes can take days to weeks to appear, depending on how often Google crawls your site.

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FAQs

No. Google uses one favicon per hostname. All pages on example.com share the same favicon. Only different subdomains (like app.example.com) can have separate favicons.
ICO format has the widest compatibility. PNG works well for modern browsers. SVG scales perfectly but has slightly less browser support. For best coverage, provide ICO as a fallback with PNG or SVG as the primary.
Typically several days to a few weeks. You can speed this up by requesting indexing through Google Search Console, but there’s no way to force immediate updates.
Google caches favicons and updates them based on crawl frequency. Request re-indexing through Search Console and wait for the cache to refresh. Avoid changing your favicon frequently.
Favicon size doesn’t directly impact SEO rankings, but a clear, recognizable favicon can improve click-through rates by helping users identify your brand in search results.
No. Google requires a square favicon of at least 8x8 pixels and recommends one larger than 48x48 for sharpness. There is no official rule that it must be exactly 48x48 or a multiple of 48 — that’s a common misconception. Any square size above 48x48 (for example, 96x96 or 144x144) works well.
Yes. Google accepts any valid favicon format, including SVG, ICO, and PNG. If your favicon isn’t appearing, the format is rarely the cause — crawlability and re-crawl timing are far more common issues. For the widest compatibility, you can provide an ICO or PNG alongside your SVG.
You can’t force an instant update, but you can prompt a re-crawl: open the URL Inspection tool in Search Console, enter your homepage URL, and click “Request Indexing.” Keep the favicon URL stable and avoid changing it frequently, since Google caches favicons between crawls.

Need higher-quality logos than favicons?

Favicons are low-resolution site icons. To display crisp company logos by domain, stock ticker, or name inside your own app, use the Logo.dev image API.