Favicon Sizes in 2026: The Short List That Covers Everything
The old advice was a folder of twenty icons. Most of them target devices no one runs. Here is the short list that covers every real surface in 2026.
Why the list got shorter
The sprawling favicon packs of the last decade existed to cover old iOS versions, old Android launchers, and Windows tiles. Those surfaces are gone or no longer read the tags. Shipping icons for them adds bytes and link tags with nothing consuming them.
The modern set targets what still exists: the browser tab, the iOS home screen, and the Android launcher via the manifest. Six files, and one of them is optional.
The sizes you actually need
| Size | Used for | Keep it? |
|---|---|---|
| 16, 32, 48 | Browser tab and bookmarks, bundled inside favicon.ico | Keep |
| 180x180 | apple-touch-icon for the iOS home screen | Keep |
| 192x192 | Android launcher icon, listed in the manifest | Keep |
| 512x512 | PWA splash and install prompt, listed in the manifest | Keep |
| SVG | Crisp tab icon at any size, can adapt to dark mode | Optional |
Sizes to stop shipping
| Size | Was for | Keep it? |
|---|---|---|
| 57, 60, 72, 76 | apple-touch-icon for iOS 6 and earlier iPads | Drop |
| 114, 120, 144, 152 | Retina apple-touch-icon for old iPhones and iPads | Drop |
| 70, 150, 310 | Windows tile icons via browserconfig.xml | Drop |
| 96, 160, 196 | Assorted old Android and Chrome shortcut sizes | Drop |
About the apple-touch-icon count
The old packs shipped an apple-touch-icon at every retina size because early iOS did not scale a single icon well. Current iOS takes one 180x180 PNG and scales it down for every context it needs. One file replaces the whole ladder of apple-icon-57 through apple-icon-152.
Same story for Android. The manifest lists 192 and 512, and the launcher derives the rest. You do not hand-author each intermediate size.
Frequently asked questions
What favicon sizes do I need in 2026?
16, 32, and 48 inside a favicon.ico; a 180x180 apple-touch-icon; a 192x192 and a 512x512 PNG for the manifest; and an optional SVG. That covers the tab, iOS, and Android.
Do I still need apple-icon-57, 72, and 114?
No. Current iOS takes one 180x180 apple-touch-icon and scales it. The ladder of retina sizes targeted iOS versions almost no one runs now.
Should I ship Windows tile icons?
No. The 70, 150, and 310 tile sizes and browserconfig.xml targeted Windows live tiles, which are retired. Drop them.
Can a favicon.ico hold more than one size?
Yes. The .ico format is a container that holds 16, 32, and 48 in a single file. The browser picks the size it needs from inside it.