How to Change a Favicon in Shopify (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you're building a brand on Shopify, every detail matters - including your favicon.

A favicon is the small icon that appears next to your site’s name in browser tabs, bookmarks, and search results.

It’s a subtle yet powerful way to boost your brand’s professionalism and recognition.

In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn how to change a favicon in Shopify, why it’s important, and tips to make sure yours looks great across all devices.

What Is a Favicon?

A favicon (short for “favourite icon”) is a tiny image, typically 32x32px or 48x48px, that appears in browser tabs and next to your website’s name when it’s saved as a bookmark. It’s one of the first visual impressions users get of your brand, so it’s worth getting right.

On Shopify, changing your favicon is simple and doesn’t require coding.

Let’s walk through the process...

Why You Should Update Your Shopify Favicon

Updating your favicon in Shopify helps with:

Branding: A custom favicon keeps your store looking polished and professional.
User Experience: It’s easier for visitors to locate your tab when browsing multiple sites.
Trust and Credibility: A branded favicon gives your store legitimacy and can reduce bounce rates.
SEO Benefits: While favicons don’t directly impact rankings, they improve click-through rates and user engagement – which Google pays attention to.

How to Change Your Favicon in Shopify

Follow these simple steps to upload and update your favicon in Shopify:

Step 1: Log In to Your Shopify Admin

Start by logging into your Shopify admin dashboard.

Step 2: Go to “Online Store” > “Themes”

From your Shopify admin, click Online Store in the left-hand menu, then select Themes.

Step 3: Click “Customize” on Your Live Theme

Find your current live theme and click the Customize button. This opens Shopify’s theme editor.

Step 4: Access the “Theme Settings” Panel

Inside the theme editor, look for the Theme Settings tab (a cog icon). Click it to expand options.

Step 5: Look for “Favicon”

In the Theme Settings menu, look for Favicon (usually towards the bottom or this may be under your Logo section). You’ll see an option to upload your image.

Step 6: Upload Your Favicon Image

Click Select image and either choose a file from your library or upload a new one. Shopify recommends using a square image (preferably 32x32 pixels or larger) in .png format for the best results.

Step 7: Save Your Changes

Once uploaded, hit the Save button in the top right corner of the editor. Your favicon is now live!

Favicon Image Tips for Shopify

To make sure your favicon looks crisp and professional, keep these tips in mind:

Use a square image: 32x32 or 48x48 pixels is ideal.
Keep it simple: Avoid too much detail - remember, favicons are tiny.
Use a transparent background: A .png with transparency will look better across different browsers.
Match your branding: Your favicon should complement your logo, colour scheme, and overall store design.

How Long Does It Take for the Favicon to Update?

Once you save your new favicon, it should update immediately on most browsers. However, due to caching, some users may not see the change right away. Try refreshing your browser or clearing the cache if the old favicon still appears.

Common Issues When Updating Your Shopify Favicon

If your new favicon isn’t showing up, here are a few things to check:

Image size or format: Make sure your image is square and in .png format.
Caching: Browser caching can delay updates. Clear your cache and reload.
Theme limitations: Some custom themes may require manual code changes. Check with your theme developer if needed (but its a simple task to do even with coding).