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How to Add a Favicon to WordPress

WordPress calls favicons "Site Icons". You can upload one through the Customizer (recommended) or add the HTML manually to your theme. WordPress recommends a square image of at least 512x512 pixels.

Step 1 — Prepare your favicon

Generate a 512x512 PNG with the favicon generator. WordPress will automatically create the smaller sizes it needs.

Don't have a favicon yet

Method 1 — Via the Customizer (recommended)

  1. In your dashboard go to Appearance → Customize
  2. Open Site Identity
  3. Under Site Icon, click Select image and upload your 512x512 PNG
  4. Click Publish

Method 2 — Manual HTML

If you maintain a custom theme, add these tags to your theme's header.php inside <head>:

<link rel="icon" href="<?php echo get_site_icon_url(); ?>" />
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />

Troubleshooting

  • Favicon not updating? Clear your cache and run a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R).
  • Icon looks blurry? Upload a larger source image — at least 512x512.
  • Using a caching plugin? Purge its cache after changing the Site Icon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should a WordPress favicon be?+

Upload a 512x512 PNG. WordPress resizes it into all the sizes browsers, iOS, and Android need.

Do I need a plugin to add a favicon?+

No. The Customizer's Site Identity option handles favicons natively in modern WordPress. A plugin is only needed for very old themes.

Why isn't my new favicon showing?+

Almost always caching — your browser's, your CDN's, or a WordPress caching plugin. Clear all of them and hard-refresh.

Don't have a favicon yet?

Generate a complete favicon package first, then upload the right file in the steps above.

Don't have a favicon yet