How to Add a Favicon to Your WordPress Website – Step-by-Step Guide

1. What is a favicon and why should you have one?

Favicon (short for “favorite icon”) is a small icon displayed in the browser tab next to the page title, as well as in other places like bookmarks lists or mobile device home screens.

Although small, this icon plays an important role in identifying your site and building its recognition. Thanks to the favicon, users can more easily find your website among many open tabs or saved bookmarks.

Example:

Why should you add a favicon to your site?

• Professionalism: A favicon makes your site look more polished and professional.
• Recognition: Helps build your brand and makes it easier for users to identify your site.
• Usability: Improves navigation, especially when many tabs are open in the browser.

2. How to prepare a favicon for WordPress?

Before adding a favicon to your site, it’s worth preparing an appropriate graphic file. A well-designed icon ensures readability and a clean appearance in browsers and on mobile devices.

Recommended favicon parameters:

• Dimensions: at least 512×512 pixels
• Format: PNG, ICO or SVG
• Shape: square (WordPress allows you to crop the image during upload)

Favicon creation tools:

• Favicon.io – generate a favicon from text, image or emoji
• RealFaviconGenerator – create favicons compatible with different devices
• Favicon Generator – convert GIF, PNG or JPEG to ICO format
• Canva – intuitive online tool for designing favicons
• Favicon.cc – create favicons from scratch or existing images
• RedKetchup – generate favicon from text with customization options
• IONOS Favicon Generator – create favicon from text or image
• FaviconGenerator.com – free favicon generator tool
• LogoAI Favicon Generator – generate favicon from text or image
• Favycon – simple tool for generating favicons in multiple sizes
• HubSpot Favicon Generator – create professional favicons with customization options
• ImagineArt AI Favicon Generator – generate favicon using artificial intelligence

Remember to choose an image that remains clear at small sizes. Avoid overly complex designs and fine details that may be lost when the icon is scaled down.

Inspiration: Get inspired by favicons of well-known brands such as Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Notice how simplicity and minimalism help maintain brand recognition even at small sizes.

3. Methods for adding a favicon in WordPress

There are several ways to add a favicon in WordPress, suitable for different needs and user skill levels. You can use built-in system functions, dedicated plugins, or manually add the icon by editing files. The following subsections explain each method step-by-step.

Using the theme customizer

This is the simplest way to add a favicon, available in most WordPress themes. No plugins or coding required — just a few clicks.

Dashboard path: Appearance → Customize → Site Identity → Site Icon

• Step 1: Log in to the WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance → Customize.
• Step 2: In the left menu, find and click Site Identity.
• Step 3: Click the Site Icon field, then press the Select Image button.
• Step 4: Upload your prepared favicon file (ideally PNG 512×512 px) or choose it from the media library.
• Step 5: WordPress will let you crop the image to fit — if it’s already square, cropping won’t be necessary.
• Step 6: After confirming the crop, click Publish to save the changes.

After completing these steps, your favicon should appear in the browser tab — refresh the page and clear your browser cache if you don’t see the changes right away.

Using general settings (WordPress 6.5 and newer)

In the latest WordPress versions (6.5 and above), you can add a favicon directly from general settings — a quick and convenient option if you’re not using the theme customizer.

Dashboard path: Settings → General → Site Icon

• Step 1: Log in to the WordPress dashboard and go to Settings → General.
• Step 2: Find the Site Icon section — this is where you upload your favicon.
• Step 3: Click the Select File button and upload your favicon file (preferably PNG 512×512 px).
• Step 4: You can crop the image if needed — WordPress will guide you through it.
• Step 5: Save changes at the bottom of the page by clicking Save Changes.

Once done, refresh the browser and check if the favicon appears in the browser tab.

Using a plugin

If you want more control over the favicon or are using an older WordPress version, you can use plugins. This is a good option for users who want to add a favicon quickly and safely without editing files manually.

Example favicon plugins:

• Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator – the most popular plugin, generates favicons compatible with all browsers and devices.
• All In One Favicon – simple tool for setting favicon and mobile device icons.
• WP Favicon – enables easy favicon management and uploading.
• Insert Headers and Footers – not dedicated to favicons, but lets you manually insert favicon code into the <head> section.

Installation and setup instructions (example: “Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator”):

• Step 1: Log in to the WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins → Add New.
• Step 2: In the search bar, type “Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator.”
• Step 3: Click Install Now, then Activate.
• Step 4: After activation, find the plugin tab in the menu (usually under Appearance or its own “Favicon” section).
• Step 5: Upload your favicon file and follow the wizard to generate the correct formats and apply them to your site.
• Step 6: Save the settings and refresh the site to see the result.

Plugins like RealFaviconGenerator ensure your favicon is displayed correctly on desktops, phones and tablets, often requiring multiple formats and file sizes.

Manual upload via FTP or cPanel

If you prefer full control and are comfortable with FTP or cPanel, you can add the icon manually. This method is for more advanced users, but allows precise customization and independence from plugins.

Step 1: Uploading the favicon.ico file to your site’s root directory

• Prepare the favicon.ico file (typically 16×16 or 32×32 px).
• Connect to your server using FTP or log in to your cPanel.
• Navigate to the root directory of your site (usually public_html or a folder matching your domain).
• Upload the favicon.ico file to that directory.

Step 2: Add the code to the <head> section

• Locate the header.php file in your theme directory (preferably in a child theme to avoid losing changes on updates).
• Open header.php for editing (you can use the WordPress theme editor or a file manager in cPanel/FTP).
• Add the following code inside the <head> section:

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

• Save the changes and reload your site in the browser.
• Refresh the page multiple times or clear your browser cache to see the effect.

This method is the most direct and works in all browsers, but requires caution not to break the theme files during editing.

Testing if the favicon works

After adding the favicon, it’s worth making sure it works correctly on various devices and browsers. Sometimes browsers use cached data, so it’s good to follow a few steps to see the current icon.

• Refresh the page: Press Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to force a full reload of the page without using the cache.
• Check the favicon in different browsers: Open your site in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and on mobile devices to ensure the favicon is visible everywhere.
• Clear browser cache: If the favicon doesn’t change, clear the cache or check the site in incognito/private mode.

Tools for testing favicon compatibility:

• RealFaviconGenerator – Favicon Checker – checks if the favicon is properly visible on various devices and browsers.
• BrowserStack – a tool for testing websites on multiple browsers and devices (paid version, but offers a free trial).

Testing the favicon is an important step that helps avoid situations where your icon doesn’t display correctly or at all — which can negatively affect how users perceive your website.

Common problems and their solutions

Even if you added the favicon correctly, sometimes it might not show up. Below are the most common issues with simple solutions.

Summary

Adding a favicon to your WordPress website is a small but important step that improves your site’s professionalism, brand recognition, and user experience. Preparing a clear, simple icon and using WordPress’s built-in features, plugins, or manual methods can help you easily add a favicon. Always test your favicon on various devices and browsers to ensure proper visibility.

Remember to keep your favicon simple and recognizable, avoid overly complex designs, and update it if your brand identity changes.

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