---
title: Favicons in Google Search Results
description: Google shows a favicon next to your result, mainly on mobile. The size and format it needs, how it finds the icon, and why yours might not appear.
canonical: https://favicontools.com/glossary/google-search-favicon
---

# Favicons in Google Search Results

Google displays a favicon beside your site name in search results, mainly on mobile. It needs an icon that is a multiple of 48x48 pixels (so 48x48 or larger), in a supported format, referenced with a valid rel="icon" tag and reachable by Googlebot. Google fetches it when it recrawls the site, so changes can take days to weeks to show.

## What Google asks for

Google's favicon slot has stricter rules than a browser tab. The icon must be square and a multiple of 48 pixels: 48x48 is the floor, and larger square sizes like 96x96 or 144x144 are downscaled cleanly. Anything smaller is ignored, which is a common reason a site that has a working tab favicon shows a generic globe in search.

It also has to be discoverable and stable: a valid rel="icon" link (or a file at /favicon.ico), a URL Googlebot isn't blocked from, and an icon that doesn't change constantly. Google picks the icon up on its own recrawl schedule, so edits are never instant.

## Google's favicon requirements

| Requirement | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Size | Square, a multiple of 48px: 48x48 minimum |
| Reference | A valid rel="icon" tag, or a file at /favicon.ico |
| Crawlable | The icon URL and page must not be blocked from Googlebot |
| Stable | A consistent icon Google can trust across recrawls |

> **It updates on Google's schedule:** Google refreshes the favicon when it recrawls your site, which can take days to weeks. A correct icon that just went live won't appear in results immediately, and there's no button to force it.

## Google favicon FAQ

### Why isn't my favicon showing in Google search?

Usually the icon is smaller than 48x48, not reachable by Googlebot, or hasn't been recrawled yet. Serve a square icon of at least 48x48 with a valid rel=icon tag, make sure it isn't blocked, and wait for the next crawl.

### What size does Google want for a favicon?

A square icon that's a multiple of 48px, so 48x48 or larger. Shipping a 96x96 or 144x144 alongside your smaller sizes gives Google clean pixels to work from.

### How long until Google updates my favicon?

As long as it takes Google to recrawl the site: days to weeks. There's no way to force it beyond making sure the icon is valid and the page is crawlable.