How to Add a Favicon to WordPress

WordPress powers over 40% of the web. Follow this modern, 2026 guide to ensure your WordPress favicon displays correctly in browser tabs and mobile home screens.

Method 1: Using the WordPress Customizer (Recommended)

WordPress has a built-in feature called "Site Icon" that makes adding a favicon extremely simple. This handles resizing automatically for major devices.

  1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard (usually at yoursite.com/wp-admin).
  2. Navigate to Appearance > Customize in the left sidebar menu.
  3. Click on Site Identity (some themes place this under Header Settings).
  4. Scroll down to the Site Icon section. Click Select Site Icon.
  5. Upload your high-resolution PNG icon (we recommend at least 512×512 pixels).
  6. Click Publish to save changes. Your favicon is now live!

Method 2: Uploading Directly to Your Theme Head

If you prefer standard HTML code or your theme doesn't support the Customizer Site Icon feature, you can upload the icons manually:

  1. First, convert your PNG to a favicon package using our free PNG to Favicon converter.
  2. Upload all files (favicon.ico, apple-touch-icon.png, etc.) to your WordPress installation's root directory via FTP or your hosting control panel's File Manager.
  3. Edit your theme's header.php file (use a child theme to prevent updates from overwriting changes).
  4. Add the following HTML links directly inside the <head> tags:
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">

Häufig gestellte Fragen (FAQ)

Why isn't my new WordPress favicon updating?
Web browsers cache favicons aggressively. If you recently updated your icon, try clearing your browser cache, visiting your site in an incognito window, or appending a query string in your header link (e.g. /favicon.ico?v=2).

What is the recommended size for a WordPress site icon?
WordPress recommends uploading an image that is square and at least 512×512 pixels. This ensures the icon scales correctly for PWA installs and mobile screens.