On October 24, 2024, Google has revised its favicon requirements for search results, making substantial changes to size specifications while maintaining strict quality standards. The update modifies the minimum size requirement for favicons, though Google continues to recommend higher resolutions for optimal visibility across various platforms.
According to the updated documentation, favicons must now meet the following criteria:
- Minimum size requirement reduced to 8x8 pixels
- Mandatory 1:1 aspect ratio
- Recommended resolution remains above 48x48 pixels
- Support for all valid favicon formats maintained
What are Favicons and how are they used?
Favicons are small icons that visually represent a website across browsers and search results. Originally introduced by Microsoft in Internet Explorer 5 in 1999, these visual identifiers have become a standard element of web navigation and brand recognition. Users encounter favicons in multiple locations:
- Browser tabs next to page titles
- Address bars alongside URLs
- Bookmark lists and history
- Search engine results pages (SERPs)
- Mobile search results
- Browser toolbars
- Desktop shortcuts
For website owners, favicons serve multiple purposes:
- Brand recognition and consistency
- Enhanced user navigation when multiple tabs are open
- Improved visibility in search results
- Professional appearance in bookmarks and history
- Better mobile search presence
For web developers implementing favicons, Google specifies several technical requirements:
- Favicons must be placed on the website's home page
- Implementation requires a specific link tag in the header
- The following rel attribute values are supported:
- icon
- shortcut icon
- apple-touch-icon
- apple-touch-icon-precomposed
The documentation clarifies domain-level implementation rules:
- One favicon per hostname
- Supported: domain-level home pages (https://example.com)
- Supported: subdomain-level home pages (https://news.example.com)
- Not supported: subdirectory-level home pages (https://example.com/news)
Technical specifications
Google's crawler requirements include:
- Googlebot-Image must have access to crawl the favicon file
- Googlebot must be able to crawl the home page
- Favicon URLs must remain stable
- No blocking of crawler access permitted
Quality standards
The search engine maintains strict quality guidelines:
- Favicons must visually represent the website's brand
- Inappropriate imagery results in replacement with a default icon
- Pornographic content and hate symbols are prohibited
- Visual quality must be maintained for search result display
Implementation timeline
The changes are effective as of October 24, 2024. Website owners should note:
- Recrawling time varies from days to weeks
- Manual indexing requests available through URL Inspection tool
- No immediate action required for existing compliant favicons
Key Facts
- Update Date: October 24, 2024
- Minimum Size: 8x8 pixels
- Recommended Size: >48x48 pixels
- Aspect Ratio: 1:1
- Format Support: All valid favicon formats
- Implementation Location: Website home page header