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Adding a Favicon to Wix: Complete Guide for Premium Users

Everything you need to know about adding favicons to your Wix website, including requirements, troubleshooting, and design tips.

5 min read
Free Guide

The Wix Favicon Reality Check

Here's something Wix doesn't advertise prominently: adding a custom favicon requires a premium plan. If you're on the free plan, you're stuck with the default Wix icon - that little "W" that screams "I haven't invested in my website yet." It's one of those subtle nudges towards upgrading, but honestly, if you're serious about your online presence, a custom favicon is worth the investment.

The good news? Once you have a premium plan, adding a favicon is refreshingly straightforward. Wix handles all the technical complexity behind the scenes, generating multiple icon sizes and formats automatically. You just need to upload one image, and Wix does the rest.

Before You Begin: What You'll Need

Setting up your Wix favicon requires just a few things:

  • Premium Wix Plan: Any paid plan works - Business Basic, Core, Business Elite, or any eCommerce plan
  • Square Image: Minimum 100x100 pixels, but 512x512 or larger recommended for best quality
  • Supported Format: PNG (preferred for transparency), JPG/JPEG, or GIF
  • File Size: Under 25MB (though if your favicon is that large, you're doing something wrong!)

Pro tip: While Wix accepts images as small as 100x100, uploading a larger image (512x512 or 1024x1024) ensures your favicon looks crisp on high-resolution displays and when saved to mobile home screens.

Step-by-Step: Adding Your Favicon

Step 1: Access Your Site Dashboard

Log into your Wix account and navigate to your site's dashboard. You can get there by clicking "My Sites" from your account homepage, then selecting the site you want to edit.

Step 2: Open Site Settings

In your dashboard, look for "Settings" in the left sidebar. Click it to expand the settings menu. This is your control centre for all site-wide configurations.

Step 3: Navigate to Website Settings

Under the Settings menu, click on "Website Settings". This opens the general settings page where you'll find options for your site name, favicon, and other basics.

Step 4: Find the Favicon Section

Scroll down to the "Favicon" section. You'll see the current favicon (likely the default Wix icon) and an "Upload Image" button. The interface clearly shows what your current favicon looks like.

Step 5: Upload Your Favicon

Click "Upload Image" to open Wix's media manager. You can either:

  • Upload a new image from your computer
  • Choose from previously uploaded media
  • Select from Wix's free image library (though for a favicon, you'll want your own branded image)

Step 6: Crop and Position

After selecting your image, Wix opens a cropping tool. Since favicons must be square:

  • Adjust the square selection box to frame your logo perfectly
  • Use the zoom slider to ensure your logo fills the space appropriately
  • Remember that this will be tiny - avoid including text or fine details

Step 7: Save Your Changes

Click "Save" in the cropping tool, then "Save" again in the settings page. Wix immediately begins processing your favicon, creating all necessary sizes and formats.

The Waiting Game: When Will It Appear?

Unlike some platforms where favicons appear instantly, Wix can take a bit of time:

  • In the Editor: Your new favicon appears immediately in the Wix editor
  • Live Site: Usually visible within 5-30 minutes
  • Search Engines: Can take 1-7 days for Google to update cached favicons
  • Social Media: Platforms like Facebook may cache the old favicon for up to 30 days

Don't panic if you don't see changes immediately. The update is rolling out across various systems and caches.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Favicon Not Showing After 30 Minutes?

If your favicon isn't appearing on the live site:

  1. 1Clear Browser Cache: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
  2. 2Try Incognito Mode: This bypasses local cache entirely
  3. 3Check Different Browsers: Sometimes one browser updates before others
  4. 4Verify Premium Status: Ensure your premium plan is active and payment is current

Image Upload Errors?

Common causes and solutions:

  • File Too Large: Compress your image to under 5MB (really, under 500KB is plenty)
  • Unsupported Format: Stick to PNG, JPG, or GIF
  • Corrupted File: Try opening in an image editor and re-saving
  • Browser Issues: Try uploading from a different browser

Mobile Favicon Not Updating?

Mobile devices are particularly aggressive about caching favicons:

  • Remove the bookmark/home screen icon completely
  • Clear mobile browser cache
  • Re-add the bookmark or home screen icon
  • For iOS: Settings -> Safari -> Clear History and Website Data

Design Tips for Wix Favicons

Simplicity is Key

Your full logo might look brilliant in your site header, but favicons demand extreme simplification:

  • Use just your logo mark, not the full logo with text
  • Remove gradients and complex effects
  • Ensure strong contrast - test on both light and dark backgrounds
  • If your logo is complex, consider creating a simplified version specifically for the favicon

Wix-Specific Considerations

  • Mobile First: With Wix's mobile-responsive focus, ensure your favicon works as an app icon
  • Editor Preview: Use Wix's preview to see how your favicon looks before publishing
  • Multi-Site Management: Each Wix site needs its own favicon - set them all if you manage multiple sites

Testing Your Favicon

After uploading, test across different contexts:

  1. 1Browser Tabs: Open your site in multiple browsers
  2. 2Bookmarks Bar: Add to bookmarks and check appearance
  3. 3Mobile Home Screen: Add to home screen on iOS and Android
  4. 4Wix App: Check how it appears in the Wix Owner app

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Seasonal Favicon Updates

Wix makes it easy to update your favicon for holidays or promotions:

  • Halloween: Add spooky elements to your logo
  • Christmas: Include festive touches
  • Sales Events: Add a small "SALE" badge
  • Just remember to change it back afterwards!

Using Transparency

PNG favicons with transparent backgrounds offer flexibility:

  • Work well on any browser theme (light or dark mode)
  • Look professional in bookmark bars
  • Blend seamlessly with mobile OS themes
  • Avoid white or coloured backgrounds unless part of your brand

The Animation Question

While Wix technically supports animated GIF favicons, resist the temptation:

  • Most browsers don't display favicon animations
  • Can appear unprofessional or distracting
  • Mobile devices always show static versions
  • Save animations for your actual website content

Alternative: Generate Before You Upload

Need to create or optimise your favicon first? Try Unwrite's Favicon Generator. Upload your logo and instantly generate perfectly sized favicons, all processed privately in your browser. No uploads to external servers, no account required - just drag, drop, and download your optimised favicon ready for Wix.

The Premium Plan Perspective

Yes, requiring a premium plan for custom favicons might seem like a small annoyance, but consider what else you get:

  • Custom domain (arguably more important than a favicon)
  • Removal of Wix ads
  • Increased bandwidth and storage
  • Advanced SEO features
  • Professional email addresses

If you're hesitating about upgrading just for a favicon, remember it's part of a larger package that professionalises your entire web presence.

Final Thoughts

Adding a favicon to your Wix site is one of those small details that makes a big difference. It's the digital equivalent of having a professional business card - tiny, but memorable. With Wix's straightforward process, there's no excuse for leaving that default "W" in place.

Take five minutes today to upload your favicon. Your brand (and your browser tabs) will thank you. And remember - in the crowded digital space of 2025, every pixel of brand recognition counts.