How to Add Favicon on Your WordPress: 4 Easy Ways

Whatever your degree of competence, there are certain aspects of your website’s design that you are most likely overlooking. Adding a favicon to your WordPress website is one of those small touches that may significantly affect how your website is regarded. Do you have any idea what a favicon is? Are you making the most of yours?

For a long time, WordPress favicons received insufficient attention. As of today, Favicons are becoming increasingly popular due to the trend of more and more businesses moving online and the digitalization of nearly every area of our lives. That’s not surprising, given its importance in brand recognition.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of adding a WordPress favicon to your website. Before that, we will look at the basics of WordPress favicon and the reasons to include favicon on your WordPress site.

What is a Favicon?

A favicon is a little graphic that appears to the left of a webpage’s title in the browser tab. A favicon’s placement is shown in the image below. The term “favicon” is essentially a contraction of the phrase “favorite icon.” The phrase refers to a file that contains a little icon related to a website in general or a specific webpage that requires this type of visual support. 

Favicons are most commonly found in four places:

1. The tab in the browser 

A lot of folks open many tabs at once. Depending on their present needs, the favicon lets them know which websites they have open and which ones they need to browse. 

2. Use of bookmarks 

Google Bookmarks are shortcuts to your favorite websites that you’ve saved. You can get to them in seconds, no matter where you are. You can make them visible on your browser window’s top bar, right below the address bar, or go to them from the menu.

3. History of browsing 

This is a useful feature if you want to return to a website you recently visited. When you have a long surfing history or need to locate a website from a few days ago, an instantly recognizable favicon can be really helpful in locating what you’re looking for. 

4. On mobile devices, in Google search results 

Recently, Google changed the mobile search design trends and began displaying a website’s favicon in the search results.

Why Should You Add a WordPress Favicon to Your Site?

You could be asking yourself why we need to make favicons for our website. Well, this is why:

• The majority of people who use the internet on a regular basis are familiar with favicons. Images are far easier and faster for the brain to process than words. Users can quickly find the site they want by looking at the accompanying favicon when scrolling through a list of favorites. If a website does not have a favicon, a blank page will appear next to the website name. 

When a user has many bookmarks without a favicon, it becomes considerably challenging to pick the right site because all blank pages will appear the same.

• One approach to building users’ trust is using a custom favicon. Visitors will notice and appreciate what it represents, even if it appears to be a modest gesture. Visitors also notice when WordPress cookies utilize the default favicon that came with their theme. While anything is preferable to nothing, the custom is preferable to the default. A unique symbol communicates to visitors that you are willing to go above and beyond to meet their needs. That professional appearance helps to earn a customer’s trust.
• We are all aware of the significance of logos. It’s the visual link that binds us to a firm. Favicon acts as a small logo, whether drawn from your company’s logo or a unique graphic representation. It aids in the recall of your brand by internet users.

What’s the difference between a favicon and a WordPress site icon?

A site icon is mentioned in the WordPress control pane, and other services will mention your website’s favicon. Both names are used to describe the same thing. Your WordPress site icon, also known as a favicon, is a little graphic appearing in browser tabs and bookmarks. It can be customized using the platform’s Customizer, a plugin, or a combination of image files and custom HTML. 

Because the phrase “site icon” is more self-explanatory, the WordPress team undoubtedly elected to utilize it throughout the platform’s control panel. But rest certain that your tool, whether a site icon or a favicon, refers to the same thing.

Things to Consider Before Updating Favicon on WordPress Site

You can include a favicon on a WordPress site by following various methods. However, there are things that you need to make sure of before you upload the favicon. They are as follows:

• Ensure Favicon is of the Right Size

The size of the favicon should be small. However, comprehending the numerous dimensions might be difficult. It is because different systems have differing favicon size requirements. Most browsers will accept a 32 by 32 pixel.ico file, which has been the industry standard for decades. In practice, you’ll want to utilize an a.png file with a resolution of 512 × 512 pixels. It is because it covers virtually everything, from the default Chrome site icon size to the bare minimum.

• Choose a Proper Background Color

You should choose a background color that suits well with your WordPress site. In general, a transparent background is the preferred choice of many websites.

• Choose the Proper Image Format & Tool

The majority of WordPress favicons have ICO file format. However, it is okay to utilize JPEG or GIF. Please note that you should keep the PNG format if the icon background is transparent. You can edit the favicon using the image editing application, such as Photoshop, Gimp, or SnagIt. 

Canva, on the other hand, is a more straightforward choice for individuals with little creative skill. You may quickly alter an image and make it favicon-ready with this free graphic design tool website.

How to Add Favicon to WordPress Site Manually?

Is it required to have a custom favicon? No. However, we have demonstrated that they contribute significantly to the overall quality of a visitor’s experience.

Your favicon is an essential aspect of your overall branding. It should be consistent with your brand and complement your marketing strategy. Your logo serves as the basis for the favicon. Generally, it’s a modified version that satisfies all visibility and identification requirements. 

If you’re starting a new business and don’t yet have a logo, start by designing one, but remember that you’ll also need a favicon. 

There are a few typical practices that you should keep in mind to make a favicon, whether a new logo or an existing one. 

Whether you want to update the existing favicon or add a new one on your WordPress site, here are certain things to consider. So, let us start.

How to Add Favicon on WordPress Site Using the WordPress Customizer?

To begin, go to WordPress and log in

You’ll want to go to your theme preferences panel from the dashboard. Select Appearance > Customize from the menu. This will bring up the live WordPress customizer, complete with a preview of your website’s homepage. Then, Select Site Identity.

Choose a Favicon

Click and upload as you typically would with WordPress media uploads from the Select Site icon box. To boost accessibility, remember to use appropriate “alt text” for your site symbol.

On the front end, double-check your favicon

Finally, check the front end of your site to determine if your site icon has uploaded properly.

How to Add a Favicon in WordPress Site Using a Plugin?

Here are some popular plugins you can easily leverage to add favicon to WordPress site.

RealFavicon Generator

RealFavicon Generator’s Favicon is a free plugin that lets you upload and create a favicon for any browser and screen size. The plugin provides stylistic guidelines as well as the ability to assign distinct favicon versions to different browsers and devices. This feature allows you to customize the favicon’s style & quality and your website’s branding

Pros

• Accepts non-square photos and provides the option of using a translucent background to repair them. 
• Create favicons based on the platform you’ve chosen. 
• Make sure your favicon works across all platforms.

Cons

• There isn’t a builder tool available.

Price

• Free

How to Add Favicon to WordPress using RealFavicon Generator?

To build your favicon set, go to Appearance Favicon after you’ve activated the plugin. All you have to do is choose or upload an image of at least 70×70 pixels.

Select your image and then click Generate favicon. When you click that button, the plugin will transport you to the RealFaviconGenerator website, which is separate from your WordPress site.

Scroll down to Generate your Favicons and HTML code at the bottom of the page (see the previous section). Real Favicon Generator will take you back to your WordPress dashboard while it works.

Your favicon will then be created and ready to use. In the plugin’s interface, you can see how it will look on different devices.

Get RealFavicon Generator

Favicon.cc

Favicon.cc allows you to be as creative as you want with your icon. You can create a favicon from scratch or use an existing logo as a starting point. Not only that but Favicon.cc lets you make your favicon move!

Pros

• Create your own favicon with a variety of picture formats — JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, ICO, and CUR image formats 
• Create your own favicon from the ground up.

Cons

• You must publish the icon under an open license to acquire the HTML code.

Price

• Free

Get Favicon.cc

Logaster

All you have to do is type in your company’s name and pick from a variety of ready-made but customizable themes.

While you may make modest logos for free, you’ll need to upgrade to their premium plan to access other image formats and editing tools.

Pros

• Use the pre-made templates to quickly generate a favicon. 
• Depending on your paid plan, you can use your web and print logos on social media banners, stationery designs, and brand books. 
• Create a free account to save your logo and update it on the go.

Cons

• You’ll need to upgrade to a premium subscription to use all of the plugin’s features. 
• You can only download small-sized PNG images with the free plan.

Price

• Logaster’s premium plans cost between $5.99 and $18.99 per month.

Get Logaster

What happens if I disable the RealFaviconGenerator plugin or remove it entirely? 

Your WordPress favicon will be removed if you deactivate the RealFaviconGenerator plugin. However, if you haven’t uninstalled the plugin, merely reactivating it will return your icon to its previous state. 

Your site symbol will be permanently removed from your website if you delete the plugin. This means that if you want to make another one, you’ll have to re-optimize your source image for numerous formats. 

This is one of the benefits of using a plugin to create a WordPress favicon. By manually adding the relevant HTML and files to your website after creating them from the RFG site, you eliminate your reliance on any third-party services. 

How to Add Favicon via FTP? 

If your host has cPanel, you can add a favicon to your WordPress site using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or File Manager if you want to do things manually.

Use an FTP program or the File Manager in your hosting cPanel to access your site’s files.

Locate and upload the image to the root directory of your website.

The root directory (sometimes known as the root folder) is the main folder in which your WordPress files are stored (it’s usually public_html). Take the code you got from RealFaviconGenerator and follow any of the things given below.

To add it to your theme’s header, use a plugin like Insert Headers and Footers. 

By changing your theme’s header.php file, paste it right into the head> section of your theme.

Insert Headers and Footers must be installed and activated. Then go to Insert Headers and Footers in Settings and enter the following code into the Scripts in the Header section.

Then save your modifications. That’s it; you’re finished!

Best Practices to Create a Unique Favicon for Your WordPress Site

Here are some of the practices that you need to follow to create a unique favicon for your WordPress site.

• Don’t Include Long Text

The favicon size is tiny, so it is tough to read any text. Therefore, you should think of creating a design when the logo has the same text in it.

• Please Don’t Update it Often

A favicon allows customers to connect the image with the brand. When you change favicon frequently, it would be difficult for customers to associate with the brand.

• Utilize the Right Color Scheme

With the increase in the popularity of the night mode and customizable browser appearance, you should ensure that your favicon looks good in any scenario. Therefore, you should check your favicon in gray, white, and black colors.

• Follow Google Guidelines

Check out the latest Google favicon guidelines to ensure your favicon appears in the Google search results.

Wrapping It Up!

If you’re new to the internet, this may be the first time you’ve given your favicon any thought. Favicons are one of those minor design features that tremendously impact on how a website is perceived. It increases the user experience and brand awareness by making your site look more professional. Businesses compete for the attention of online users. Every design detail is significant. Make your website stand out from the competition.

As a businessperson, it’s likely been years since you’ve even looked at your unique image. In any case, make sure your favicon benefits your website’s success rather than a problem.

In this article, you’ve learned not only why having a favicon is useful but also how to make one and how to add favicon to WordPress sites in four easy ways.

With current versions of the WordPress platform, this process has become much more manageable. If your site does not support the Customizer option, you can still utilize a plugin, your theme settings or change it manually as in the past.

Regardless of which method you use, the favicon will have a significant impact on how people perceive your website. And in the end, that’s all that matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the favicon located in WordPress?

The favicon is located in Appearance -> Favicon in your WordPress dashboard. From here, you can upload the favicon of your choice from the media library. 

How do I customize my favicon?

You can utilize any image editor like PhotoShop, Fireworks, Corel Paint, and more to customize the favicon on your WordPress site.

How to change WordPress favicon?

Here are some simple steps to change your WordPress site favicon.

1. Login to your WordPress site
2. Go to Appearance under the dashboard.
3. Click on Customize
4. Click on the site identity and include your favicon under the ‘site icon.’