Can I use an emoji as a favicon?

Yes, emojis work great as favicons. You can use an SVG with a text element containing the emoji, or convert the emoji to PNG or ICO format. This tool handles the conversion automatically and generates all the file formats you need for full browser support.

What size should a favicon be?

Favicons need multiple sizes for different contexts. Browser tabs typically use 16x16 or 32x32 pixels. Google Search results require at least 48x48. Apple devices need 180x180 for touch icons, and Android uses 192x192. For Progressive Web Apps, you should include a 512x512 version.

What is the best favicon format?

SVG is the modern choice - it scales perfectly to any size and supports dark mode adaptation. However, ICO files are still needed for older browsers. PNG works well for most situations. For complete browser coverage, use all three formats together.

What is Emoji Kitchen?

Emoji Kitchen is a feature from Google's Gboard keyboard that lets you combine two emojis into a new hybrid design. For example, combining a smiling face with a heart creates a smiling face with hearts.

Do combined emojis work in all browsers?

The combined emoji images from Emoji Kitchen are regular graphics, not actual emoji characters. This means they display identically in every browser and operating system.

How do I add a favicon to my website?

Add the favicon files to your website's public folder or root directory. Then include link tags in your HTML head section pointing to each file. We provide ready-to-use code snippets for HTML, Next.js, and other frameworks.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes, completely free. No account required, no watermarks, no usage limits. The generated favicons are yours to use however you want, including commercial projects.

Can I use these favicons commercially?

Yes. The emoji designs come from Twemoji (Twitter's open source emoji set) which is licensed under CC-BY 4.0. This means you can use them for any purpose, including commercial websites and apps.

Favicon Formats Compared

There are three main favicon formats: ICO, PNG, and SVG. Each has strengths and trade-offs. Here is what you need to know to choose the right formats for your project.

Format Comparison

Feature	ICO	PNG	SVG
Browser Support	Universal	Universal	95%+
Multiple Sizes in One File	Yes	No	N/A (scales)
Scales Without Quality Loss	No	No	Yes
Dark Mode Support	No	No	Yes
Transparency	Yes	Yes	Yes
File Size (32x32)	~2-4 KB	~1-2 KB	~0.5-2 KB
Legacy Browser Support	Excellent	Good	Limited

ICO Format

ICO is the original favicon format, introduced by Microsoft in the late 1990s. It remains the most universally supported format and is the only format recognized by some older systems.

Advantages

Works in every browser, including Internet Explorer and very old versions of other browsers
Can contain multiple image sizes in a single file (16x16, 32x32, 48x48, etc.)
Automatically selected by browsers when placed at /favicon.ico
Required for certain Windows features like pinned sites

Disadvantages

Fixed pixel sizes - looks blurry when scaled beyond the included sizes
No support for CSS features like dark mode adaptation
Larger file size when including multiple resolutions

When to Use ICO

Always include an ICO file for maximum compatibility. Place it at /favicon.ico in your site's root directory. Browsers will automatically find it even without an explicit link tag.

PNG Format

PNG became widely supported for favicons in the 2010s. It offers better image quality than ICO and is easier to create with standard image editing tools.

Advantages

Excellent image quality with full transparency support
Smaller file sizes for single-resolution images
Easy to create and edit with any image software
Required format for Apple Touch Icons and Android home screen icons

Disadvantages

Requires separate files for each size (16x16, 32x32, 180x180, etc.)
Fixed pixel dimensions like ICO
Very old browsers might not support PNG favicons

When to Use PNG

Use PNG for Apple Touch Icons (180x180), Android icons (192x192), and PWA splash screen icons (512x512). These platforms specifically expect PNG files at these sizes.

SVG Format

SVG favicons are the modern standard, supported by all current browsers. As a vector format, SVG scales perfectly to any size and supports advanced features like dark mode.

Advantages

Scales perfectly to any size without quality loss
Supports CSS media queries for dark mode adaptation
Often the smallest file size
Single file works for all display sizes and densities

Disadvantages

Not supported by Internet Explorer or very old browsers
Some email clients and social platforms do not recognize SVG favicons
Complex graphics may result in larger files than raster formats

When to Use SVG

Use SVG as your primary favicon format for modern browsers. The browser will select it when available and fall back to ICO or PNG for older systems. SVG is especially valuable if your design looks different in light and dark modes.

Our Recommendation

For the best results, use all three formats together. This approach ensures your favicon looks great everywhere:

SVG - Primary format for modern browsers
ICO - Fallback for legacy browsers and Windows features
PNG - Required for Apple Touch Icons and Android

Our generator creates all these formats automatically. You do not need to choose - just download the complete package and add the files to your project.

Create Your Favicon Read the Full Guide