How to Create a Favicon.ico

A favicon.ico file, also known as a favorite icon file or bookmark icon, displays as a 16 by 16 pixel image in the browser's address bar once a visitor has bookmarked your website. You can create favicon images for your websites by following these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Website domain name
• Favicon image design
• Free online favicon generator
• Web browser

1. Select an image with simple color and design for your favicon image so it is easily identifiable. If you are designing it based on a current logo, use the most basic elements such as an initial. The Yahoo and Google websites are good examples that use initials to make favicon images. Complex images displayed in a 16 x 16 pixel size are too hard to recognize.
2. Create favicon images by using a free online .ico file generator such as the one found on the the Dynamic Drive website. Click the "Browse" button. Locate and select the image you want to use from your local computer hard drive. Click the "Create icon" button, and then click the "Download favicon" button. Click the "Save" button and locate a place to save the favicon image on your computer.
3. Upload the favicon.ico file to your website's domain root directory.
4. Define the location of your favicon.ico file by specifying it in a link tag within the open and close head tags of your web page. If you name the file with a name other than "favicon," specify the exact image name in the link tag. Use a link tag such as:
5. Clear your browser's cache. Open the browser window and click on "Tools." Then, click on "Internet Options." Under browsing history, click the "Delete" button. The Delete Browsing History dialog box displays. Find the temporary Internet files section and click the "Delete files" button. Once the files have been deleted, click the "Close" button and click "OK."
6. Test the favicon to make sure it loads in the address bar. Type the website address into the address bar. Bookmark the website. Refresh the web page. The favicon displays in the address bar next to your website URL. You may want to test the favicon file in different browsers such as: Firefox, Internet Explorer and Netscape.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using uppercase letters when naming favicon.ico files. The browser may not be able to find the file.

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