Google Favicon Requirements: Complete Guide
The recommended favicon size for Google Search is at least 48×48 pixels, square, in PNG or ICO format. Below you’ll find everything about size, format, implementation, and best practices.
1 Overview
Google Search displays favicons next to your website's title in search results. To ensure your favicon appears correctly, it must meet specific requirements for favicon size (48×48 minimum), size & dimensions, format (PNG/ICO), and accessibility.
✅ A valid favicon helps your website stand out in search results and builds trust with users.
2 Size Requirements
Minimum Size
Your favicon must be at least 48×48 pixels. This is the absolute minimum Google requires.
Recommended Sizes
For best results, use one of these recommended sizes:
⚠️ Important: Square Shape
Your favicon must be square (same width and height). Rectangular images will not display correctly in Google Search results.
Favicon file size
Google doesn’t publish a strict favicon file size limit. Keep files reasonable: small PNGs (a few KB to tens of KB) load faster and are preferred. Very large files (e.g. over 1 MB) can slow down page loads. See our Favicon size guide for details.
3 Format Requirements
✅ Recommended Formats
⚠️ SVG Format
SVG favicons are supported by modern browsers, but Google Search prefers PNG or ICO for better compatibility. If you use SVG, consider providing a PNG fallback.
❌ Not Recommended
Avoid using JPEG/JPG for favicons because:
- JPEG doesn't support transparency
- Lossy compression can reduce quality at small sizes
- Not ideal for simple graphics and logos
4 How to Implement
Step 1: Create Your Favicon
Create a square image (48×48 pixels or larger) in PNG format. Make sure it's clear and recognizable at small sizes.
Step 2: Add to Your Website
Upload your favicon to your website's root directory (e.g., /favicon.png) or a dedicated assets folder.
Step 3: Declare in HTML
Add this code to the <head> section of your HTML:
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="48x48" href="/favicon.png">💡 Tip: For multiple sizes, add multiple link tags:
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="48x48" href="/favicon-48.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="/favicon-96.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="/favicon-192.png">Step 4: Verify
Use our Favicon Validator to check if your favicon meets all Google requirements. For more on size and dimensions, see our Favicon size guide; for format (PNG, ICO, SVG), see our Favicon format guide.
5 Common Issues & Solutions
Issue: Favicon Too Small
Problem: Your favicon is smaller than 48×48 pixels (e.g. 16×16 or 32×32).
What happens: Google may not use your favicon in search results. Instead, Google may show a generic icon (e.g. a globe) or no favicon next to your site title, so your listing looks less recognizable. Browsers can still show your small favicon in tabs and bookmarks, but for Google Search you need at least 48×48.
Solution: Resize your favicon to at least 48×48 pixels, square. Use image editing software or online tools to resize while maintaining quality. See our Favicon size guide for details.
Issue: Not Square
Problem: Your favicon has different width and height (e.g., 32×16 or 100×50).
Solution: Crop or resize your image to be square (same width and height). Most image editors have a "crop to square" feature.
Issue: Favicon Not Found
Problem: Google cannot access your favicon file.
Solution: Make sure your favicon is publicly accessible. Check that:
- The file exists at the declared URL
- The file permissions allow public access
- No server-side blocking or authentication is required
- The URL in your HTML is correct
Issue: SVG Format
Problem: You're using an SVG favicon, which has limited Google Search support.
Solution: Export your SVG as a PNG at 48×48 pixels or larger. You can keep the SVG for modern browsers but provide PNG as the primary favicon.
Favicon valid but still not showing?
Reason: Google needs time to set and update favicons in search results. Even if your favicon meets all requirements, it may not appear immediately.
What to expect: Updates can take several weeks. For this website (ismyfaviconvalid.com), it took about 6 weeks for the favicon to appear in Google Search. As long as your favicon is valid and correctly implemented, you usually just need to wait for Google to refresh its index.
6 Best Practices
Simple Design
Keep your favicon simple and recognizable at small sizes. Avoid fine details.
High Contrast
Use high contrast colors so your favicon stands out in search results.
Square Format
Always use square images. Google will crop rectangular images, which may look bad.
Test Regularly
Use our validator to check your favicon after making changes to your website.
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