Google Favicon Requirements (2026)
Google shows your favicon beside organic results when it can crawl a valid icon from your homepage. The rules are stricter than browser tabs alone — size, stability, and crawl access all matter.
Quick answer
Google requires a square favicon of at least 48×48 px, linked from your homepage or /favicon.ico, crawlable by Googlebot-Image — use the Favicon Checker to confirm your live site meets these requirements.
Check favicons on any website
Install the FetchFavicon Chrome Extension to extract, preview, and validate favicons instantly.
Google discovers your search-result favicon from a <link rel="icon"> on your homepage, or from /favicon.ico at the site root. The URL must return 200, stay stable over time, and be crawlable by Googlebot-Image.
Google's published guidance requires favicons to be square and at least 48×48 pixels. Smaller source files may look fine in browser tabs but fail Google's SERP threshold. See our favicon sizes explained guide for recommended export dimensions.
Supported formats include ICO, PNG, and SVG when linked correctly. Many sites ship favicon.ico for legacy browsers plus PNG fallbacks. Use PNG to ICO or the Favicon Generator if you need compliant multi-size files quickly.
Robots.txt, login walls, and CDN misconfiguration commonly block Googlebot-Image even when users see the icon in Chrome. Paste your live URL into the Favicon Checker to confirm which paths resolve publicly.
If your tab icon works but Google still shows a blank or old favicon, indexing and cache delays are normal. Our favicon not showing troubleshooting guide covers cache busting, Search Console, and re-crawl timelines.
Avoid inappropriate imagery — Google may replace favicons that violate its content policies. Keep branding simple, square, and recognizable at 16px.
How it works
- 1
Verify public URLs
Run your homepage through the Favicon Checker and confirm /favicon.ico and <link rel="icon"> paths return 200.
- 2
Meet size and format rules
Export at least 48×48 (ideally 48–512), link from <head>, and deploy favicon.ico at the root.
- 3
Monitor in Search Console
After deploying, request indexing and allow time for SERP favicon refresh.
Try it now
Check your Google favicon readiness
Favicon CheckerFAQ
What are Google's favicon requirements for search results?+
A square icon at least 48×48 px, linked from your homepage (or /favicon.ico), crawlable by Googlebot-Image, with a stable URL and appropriate content.
What size does Google require for favicons?+
At least 48×48 pixels. Google may downscale for SERP display, but the source file must meet the minimum.
Why is my favicon not showing in Google search?+
Common causes: file below 48×48, blocked crawl, wrong path, or Google has not recrawled since your last change. Allow days or weeks after fixes.
Does Google support SVG or ICO favicons?+
Yes — when declared via <link rel="icon"> with a reachable URL. ICO at /favicon.ico remains the most universal fallback.
How long does Google take to update a favicon?+
Often several days to weeks after Googlebot-Image recrawls your icon. Request indexing in Search Console after you fix the file.