What is a Favicon?
A favicon (favorite icon) is the small symbol displayed in the browser tab next to the page title. It helps users recognize your website among many open tabs. Favicons also appear in bookmark lists, browsing history, and on mobile device home screens.
Modern websites need favicons in various sizes and formats. The classic favicon.ico is 16x16 or 32x32 pixels. For Apple devices, an Apple Touch Icon at 180x180 pixels is needed. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) additionally require icons at 192x192 and 512x512 pixels.
Formidex generates all required favicon sizes and formats from a single image. Upload your logo or symbol and receive a complete set ready to integrate into your web project.
How does Favicon Generation work?
The tool scales your source image to all required sizes: 16x16, 32x32, 48x48 for the classic ICO format, 180x180 for the Apple Touch Icon, and 192x192 and 512x512 for PWA manifest icons. Bilinear interpolation is used to preserve as many details as possible when downscaling.
You receive the generated icons as individual files. The tool also shows you the HTML tags to insert into your website's head section so browsers and devices can find the correct icons.
Tips for best results
Use the simplest possible symbol as your source image. Fine details are not visible at 16x16 pixels. Logos with clear shapes and few colors work best. Complex images become an unrecognizable mess at small sizes.
Upload a square image or crop it beforehand. Non-square images get stretched or padded, which rarely looks good. A square source image guarantees optimal results at all sizes.
Test the favicon on different devices and browsers. On dark browser themes, a dark favicon can disappear. Consider a light border or high-contrast color choice that works on both light and dark backgrounds.
Common use cases
Website branding: every professional website needs a favicon. It is often the first visual impression of your brand in the browser and an essential element for recognition in the tab bar.
Progressive Web Apps: PWAs require icons in multiple sizes for home screen installation. The Web App Manifest requires at least a 192x192 and a 512x512 pixel icon. Without these icons, installation does not work correctly.
Apple Touch Icons: when someone adds your website to the home screen on iPhone or iPad, the Apple Touch Icon is displayed. Without a 180x180 pixel icon, iOS creates an unattractive screenshot of the page as a placeholder.