Favicon Checker Tool
Check if a website has a favicon and find its exact URL. Detect missing or invalid favicon files and ensure proper display in browsers and search results.
What this Favicon Checker checks
This tool discovers and validates all favicon sources on your website. It checks HTML links, web app manifests, and common fallback paths to ensure your favicons are properly configured.
- Finds all favicon sources (HTML links, manifest, common paths)
- Checks HTTP status and validates file existence
- Validates MIME types and content types
- Shows icon dimensions and file sizes
- Provides best-practice recommendations
Tip: Enter a domain (example.com) or full URL (https://example.com) to check favicon configuration.
What is a favicon?
A favicon (favorite icon) is a small image file that represents your website in browser tabs, bookmarks, history, and search results. It helps users quickly identify and locate your site among multiple open tabs.
Favicons are typically stored at https://yourdomain.com/favicon.ico or declared in HTML using <link rel="icon"> tags. Modern websites often use multiple favicon sizes (16x16, 32x32) and formats (PNG, SVG, ICO) for different contexts, including Apple touch icons (180x180) for iOS home screen shortcuts.
Common issues with favicons:
- Missing file (404 error) – favicon not found at the expected location
- Wrong content-type – server returns HTML or incorrect MIME type instead of image
- Weak caching – missing cache headers, causing unnecessary repeated downloads
- Wrong sizes – missing recommended sizes (16x16, 32x32, 180x180) for different use cases
- Broken links – HTML favicon links point to non-existent files
A properly configured favicon improves user experience, brand recognition, and helps your website look professional in browser tabs, bookmarks, and mobile home screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file formats and sizes should I use for favicons?
Use favicon.ico (multi-size ICO file), favicon-16x16.png and favicon-32x32.png for modern browsers, and apple-touch-icon.png (180x180) for iOS devices. SVG favicons are also supported by modern browsers.
Where should I place my favicon files?
Place favicon files in your website's root directory (e.g., /favicon.ico, /favicon-32x32.png). Ensure they're accessible at https://yourdomain.com/favicon.ico and declare them in your HTML <head> section using <link rel="icon"> tags.
Why is my favicon showing as HTML or not loading?
This usually happens when your server is routing favicon requests to a page template instead of serving the actual file. Ensure your server serves favicon files as static files with the correct Content-Type header (e.g., image/x-icon for ICO, image/png for PNG). Disable CMS routing for favicon paths.
Should I include favicons in my web app manifest?
Yes, for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), include icons in your site.webmanifest file. Use 192x192 and 512x512 PNG icons for app icons when users install your site as a PWA. This complements (but doesn't replace) standard favicons for browser tabs.
How should I cache favicon files?
Set long cache headers for favicon files since they rarely change. Use Cache-Control: public, max-age=31536000, immutable (1 year) or similar. This reduces server load and improves page load performance. Only update the cache when you actually change the favicon file.