How to create a favicon from an image
Updated
A favicon is the small icon in a browser tab, saved as an .ico file. To make one, start from a square image and convert it: open the EditItAll PNG to ICO converter, drop your logo in, and download the .ico. It runs in your browser, so the image is never uploaded.
Do it now — free, in your browser
Open the PNG → ICO converterWhat a favicon is — and the format you need
A favicon is the tiny image a browser shows in the tab, in bookmarks, and in history next to your site's name. The traditional format is ICO, a small icon file most browsers recognize without any extra setup.
Two things make a good favicon: it should be roughly square, and it should stay legible when it's shrunk to the size of a fingernail. That's why favicons are usually a single bold letter, a logo mark, or a simple shape rather than a detailed photo.
Turn your image into an .ico
If you already have a square logo, converting it is one step:
- Open the PNG to ICO converter and drop your image in.
- Let it convert, then download the
.icofile. - Add it to your site as
favicon.ico, or reference it from your HTML.
Starting from a different format? Use the JPG to ICO converter for a photo or flat logo, or SVG to ICO if your mark is a vector — a vector source is ideal because it's drawn cleanly to whatever size the icon needs. Every conversion runs in your browser, so the image is never uploaded.
Prep a clean, square source first
The icon can only be as clear as what you feed it. If your image isn't square, crop it to a square first in the photo editor so the converter doesn't have to guess — center the important part and trim the rest. Simplify busy artwork down to one strong shape or letter, because fine detail turns to mush at favicon size.
If your logo exists as vector art, keep it as an SVG for as long as you can and convert to ICO last — vectors stay sharp because they're rendered to the exact pixel size rather than stretched up from a small bitmap. For related background on rasterizing vectors cleanly, see converting SVG to PNG without losing quality.
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Frequently asked questions
What size should a favicon be?+
Favicons are small and square — a compact icon browsers display in the tab. Start from a square source image and the converter produces an .ico you can drop straight into your site.
Can I make a favicon from a photo?+
Yes, though a photo rarely reads well at tab size. Crop it square and pick an image with one clear subject; a simple logo or letter almost always looks sharper than a detailed photo.
Do I need the .ico format?+
ICO is the most widely recognized favicon format and works without extra configuration. Converting your image to .ico is the safest default for broad browser support.
Is my image uploaded to make the favicon?+
No. The converter runs entirely in your browser, so your logo or photo never leaves your device — you can even work offline after the page loads.
Why does my favicon look blurry?+
Blur usually means the source was small or detailed. Start from a larger, square, high-contrast image — or a vector — so there's enough clarity to hold up when it's scaled down to icon size.