SVG vs ICO Icons
SVG is the future; ICO is the floor. Ship both.
Check favicons on any website
Install the FetchFavicon Chrome Extension to extract, preview, and validate favicons instantly.
Why SVG wins on modern browsers
One file, infinitely scalable, supports dark-mode media queries. File size is typically under 2KB.
Why ICO is still essential
Older browsers, Windows shortcuts, and some embedders only read .ico. Skipping it produces a broken icon for ~5% of users.
Use both together
Link favicon.ico first as a universal fallback, then a <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml"> on top for browsers that support it.
FAQ
Should I use SVG or ICO for a favicon?
Use both. Link favicon.ico as the universal fallback, then add <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml"> for scalable rendering on modern browsers.
Does SVG work in every browser?
Most modern browsers support SVG favicons, but older browsers and some embedders still need .ico. Never ship SVG alone.
Can an SVG favicon support dark mode?
Yes. Embed a <style>@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { ... }</style> block inside the SVG file.