How to Add a Favicon to Your Website (No Code Required)

Create & Upload Your Favicon in Minutes

A step-by-step guide to help DIY business owners get it done

So you’re on a mission to do it yourself—and we love that for you. The good news? Adding a favicon to your website is one of the simplest branding wins you can achieve—and you can do it without touching a single line of code.

Before we jump in, let’s cover the basics.

Why your logo might not work as a favicon

Favicons are tiny—usually just 16x16 pixels. That means most full logos are too detailed to be readable. Instead of uploading your full brand logo and watching it blur into nothing, use something simpler and cleaner:

• Your brand icon
• A submark or symbol
• An initial or monogram

If you’ve already gone through a branding process, you likely received one of these variations from your designer. If not, check back with them—a good submark will often double as a favicon with minimal tweaks. Just make sure you size it correctly and keep readability in mind.

What is a Favicon Generator, and Why Use One?

In the last blog post, we talked about why favicons matter—for professionalism, brand recognition, and trust. What we didn’t get into was how browsers, devices, and operating systems all rely on different icon sizes behind the scenes.

That’s where favicon generators come in. These tools take one image and automatically create the full set of favicons you need—from browser tab icons to mobile bookmarks to Apple device compatibility.

Even better: you don’t have to manually resize or convert anything. Upload one image and let the tool handle the rest.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

1. How to create a favicon image (without Photoshop)
2. How to generate the proper favicon files
3. How and where to upload it depending on your website platform

Let’s go.

1. How to Create a Favicon Image (No Design Tools Needed)

If you don’t already have a favicon-ready image, you can make one using free tools like Canva.

Use my Canva Favicon Template to follow along if you'd like

Step-by-step:

• Open Canva and create a new design at 512 x 512 pixels.
• Upload or design your icon, initial, or submark.
• Keep it centered and simple—bold lines, strong contrast, no clutter.

Then decide on your background:

• Transparent background: Best for standalone icons (make sure it still has contrast and clarity).
• Solid shape behind the icon: A circle, square, or diamond in your brand color can help your icon stand out and feel polished.

This part is all about your brand identity. If your mark looks clean on its own, go transparent. If it floats or needs more structure, add a subtle shape behind it. The goal is clarity at small sizes.

Export settings:

• File type: PNG
• Size: 512 x 512
• Keep the file size under 500kb (especially for Showit).

2. Generate Your Favicon Files (Optional but Helpful)

Now that you have your favicon image, you might be wondering, do I need to run it through a generator if I’m just uploading to Squarespace, Showit, or WordPress?

The short answer: No, not always.

If your platform accepts a 512x512 PNG, it will automatically resize and convert your image into the necessary favicon formats. No coding or extra files required.

So why use a favicon generator at all?

Using a generator is still a great move for a few reasons:

1. It gives you a live preview
Before uploading to your site, a favicon generator (like RealFaviconGenerator.net) shows you exactly how your icon will look in:

• Browser tabs
• Mobile home screen shortcuts
• Dark mode
• Various operating systems

If your icon is too small, lacks contrast, or looks off-center, this preview helps you catch and fix those issues inside your original 512x512 file—before uploading it to your site.

2. You get a complete favicon package
Even if your platform doesn’t require it now, generators give you a downloadable ZIP with:

• .ico files for older browsers
• Multiple PNG sizes (16x16, 32x32, 180x180, 512x512)
• An HTML snippet for custom-coded sites
• Apple and Android-specific icons

It’s good to keep this on file—especially if you plan to work with a designer or developer in the future. Once unzipped, you’ll even find a clean 512x512 version included.

How to do it:

• Go to RealFaviconGenerator.net.
• Upload your 512x512 PNG.
• Review the preview.
• Make any needed adjustments to your original image (if contrast or layout looks off).
• Click Generate Favicon.
• Download the ZIP and save it for future use.

3. Upload Your Favicon Based on Your Platform

Here’s how to upload your favicon depending on where your site is built:

WordPress

• Go to Appearance > Customize > Site Identity.
• Upload your favicon under “Site Icon.”
• WordPress automatically handles resizing and integration.

Squarespace

• Go to Design > Browser Icon (Favicon).
• Upload your 512 x 512 PNG.
• Squarespace will take care of the rest.

Showit

• Go to Site Settings > Favicon.
• Upload your favicon (under 500 kb).
• You may need to manually refresh browser or clear cache to see the update.

Custom HTML Site

• Upload your favicon files to your server root.
• Paste the HTML snippet (provided by generator) into your <head> tag.

Bonus: What Sizes Are Favicons, Actually?

Here’s a quick look at common sizes—most of these are generated automatically:

• 16x16 – Standard browser tab favicon
• 32x32 – High-resolution tabs
• 180x180 – Apple touch icons
• 192x192 – Android and Chrome
• 512x512 – Used for Chrome Web App installation and generation

You don’t need to create these yourself—just make sure you start with a clean 512x512 PNG and let the tool do the work.

Final Thoughts

This might seem like a small detail, but your favicon plays a big role in how polished, intentional, and trustworthy your website feels. It’s one of those visual cues that makes a difference—especially when you’re trying to stand out from a sea of browser tabs filled with default globes, Squarespace cubes, and WordPress “W” icons.

Yes—this is worth the 15 minutes it takes to set up.

But I also know that when you’re running a business, even a simple task like this can quickly become a 60-minute detour you didn’t plan for. And that’s okay.

I share this knowledge because I believe in helping DIYers—especially those of you who find joy in creating your own space online. But if you're stuck or just ready to hand it off, I’m here for that too.

Reach out and mention this blog post to receive a special discount on my hourly rate.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is let a professional take it from here.

Your brand deserves to be seen—favicon and all.