Adding a Favicon to Wix: Complete Guide for Premium Users

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. The current lineup is Light, Core, Business and Business Elite, so Light is the cheapest way in
• A Connected Domain: Wix asks for a custom domain on the site as well as the paid plan
• A Published Site: publish first, then set the favicon
• Square Image: dimensions must be a multiple of 48px - so 48x48, 96x96, 192x192 or 512x512. The rule doesn't apply to SVG files
• Supported Format: PNG (preferred for transparency), JPG, ICO or SVG

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Pro tip: go with 512x512. It satisfies the multiple-of-48 rule, it looks crisp on high-resolution displays, and it holds up when someone saves your site to a mobile home screen.

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:

Step 6: Frame It Before You Upload

• 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)

Because the dimensions have to land on a multiple of 48, do your cropping in your image editor rather than fighting the media manager:

Step 7: Save Your Changes

• Square canvas, exported at 512x512
• Frame your logo mark so it fills the space without touching the edges
• Remember this ends up tiny - no text, no fine details

Click "Save" on the settings page. Wix begins processing your favicon straight away, creating the sizes and formats it needs.

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:

Image Upload Errors?

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
5. 5Check the Domain: Wix wants a custom domain connected to the site, not just a paid plan

Common causes and solutions:

Mobile Favicon Not Updating?

• Wrong Dimensions: the most common one. Square, and a multiple of 48px - re-export at 512x512
• Unsupported Format: stick to PNG, JPG, ICO or SVG
• File Too Large: compress your image (under 500KB is plenty for an icon)
• Corrupted File: try opening in an image editor and re-saving
• Browser Issues: try uploading from a different browser

Mobile devices are particularly aggressive about caching favicons:

Design Tips for Wix Favicons

Simplicity is Key

• 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

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

Wix-Specific Considerations

Testing Your Favicon

• 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
• 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

After uploading, test across different contexts:

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Seasonal Favicon Updates

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

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

Using Transparency

• 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!

PNG favicons with transparent backgrounds offer flexibility:

The Animation Question

• 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

Worth saying plainly, because plenty of older guides still suggest it: Wix doesn't accept GIF for the favicon, so an animated one isn't on the table. No great loss.

Alternative: Generate Before You Upload

• Most browsers don't play favicon animations anyway
• A moving tab icon reads as distracting rather than clever
• Mobile devices always show a static version
• Save the animation for your actual website content

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 (which the favicon needs anyway, and matters more than the favicon does)
• 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. In a crowded tab bar, every pixel of brand recognition counts.