How to Convert a PNG to a Favicon: A Quick and Easy Guide

You have your logo saved as a PNG file, and now you want to use it as the favicon for your website. Great! But how do you turn a standard PNG into the various icon files a modern website needs?

While you could try to do it manually with image editing software, the process is tedious and complex. The easiest and most reliable method is to use an online PNG to favicon converter.

This guide will walk you through why you need a converter and how to use one effectively.

Why You Can't Just Use a PNG File

While modern browsers do support using a PNG file as a favicon, it's not that simple. To ensure your favicon looks sharp and works correctly across all browsers and devices, you need more than just one file. You need:

Multiple Sizes: Different platforms require different dimensions (e.g., 16x16, 32x32, 180x180).
An .ico File: For backward compatibility with older browsers, a multi-layered favicon.ico file containing both 16x16 and 32x32 versions is still recommended.
Platform-Specific Icons: Devices like iPhones and Androids need specific icons (apple-touch-icon.png, android-chrome-192x192.png) to display your site icon on their home screens.
A Web App Manifest: A site.webmanifest file is needed for modern browsers and PWAs to correctly identify and use your icons.

A PNG to favicon converter handles all of this for you automatically.

How to Convert Your PNG to a Favicon in 3 Steps

Using a tool like the BraveColors Favicon Generator makes this process incredibly simple.

Step 1: Upload Your PNG

Start by uploading your PNG file. For the best results, use a simple, square image with a high resolution (e.g., 512x512 pixels). This gives the generator enough detail to create high-quality versions at all the smaller sizes.

Go to the Favicon Generator: Navigate to the BraveColors Favicon Generator.
Upload: Drag and drop your PNG file into the upload area or click to select it from your computer.

Step 2: Customize (Optional)

Once uploaded, you'll see a preview of your favicon. Most generators offer options to customize the appearance:

Background Color: If your PNG has a transparent background, you can add a solid background color.
Shape: You can often choose to keep it square or crop it into a circle.
Padding: Adjust the padding to ensure your logo has some breathing room and isn't cropped at the edges.

For a standard PNG logo, you often won't need to make any changes. The default settings usually work perfectly.

Step 3: Generate and Download

Click the "Generate" or "Download" button. The tool will instantly create a ZIP file containing everything you need:

All the different PNG sizes.
The classic favicon.ico file.
An apple-touch-icon.png.
The site.webmanifest file.
The HTML code to add to your website.

All you have to do is upload the files to your website's root directory and paste the provided HTML into the <head> section of your pages. See our guide on How to Add a Favicon in HTML for more details.

That's it! In just a few clicks, you've successfully converted your PNG into a complete, professional favicon package that will make your website stand out.