Shopify favicon size: setup steps and live-store checks
Shopify recommends a 16×16 or 32×32 favicon. See where to add it, which plan supports it, and how to check the live storefront.
What favicon size should a Shopify store use?
Shopify’s Help Center recommends a 16×16 or 32×32 pixel image for its favicon setting. If you upload a larger image there, Shopify reduces it to 32×32. Start with a square, legible mark; detailed full-width logos often become hard to recognize at tab size.
Google Search has separate guidance: the favicon must be square and at least 8×8 pixels, and Google recommends an image larger than 48×48. This is a recommendation, not a promise of search display. Because Shopify’s theme setting reduces larger uploads to 32×32, inspect the delivered icon and live theme markup instead of assuming the original dimensions reach Google.
Add a favicon in Shopify
In Shopify admin, open Online Store, find the theme, and choose Edit theme. Open Theme settings with the gear icon, then choose Logo or Favicon depending on the theme version. Select or upload the image, choose Done if shown, and save. Shopify’s mobile app has a similar route through Online Store, Manage all themes, Edit theme, and Theme settings.
The menu labels can vary with the theme version, so use Shopify’s current Help Center instructions if you do not see the same options. Shopify lists the setting for Basic or higher and for the Agentic plan when building an online store; it says Starter does not support adding a custom favicon through this setting.
Verify the live storefront after saving
The theme editor is part of Shopify admin and does not reflect the live storefront favicon. Open the published storefront while signed out and inspect the actual icon URL and response.
| Check | What to confirm | If it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Public page | The intended store page loads without signing in | Check the domain, password protection, and published theme |
| Icon declaration | The public page points to the intended favicon | Recheck the setting and generated theme HTML |
| Image response | The icon URL returns an image, not HTML or a login page | Fix the asset path, theme output, or access rule |
| Browser tab | The new icon appears in a fresh tab | Compare the declared URL and allow for browser or CDN caching |
| Google result | The homepage and stable square icon are crawlable | Allow time for recrawling; Google does not guarantee display |
Why a Shopify favicon may still be missing
If the editor shows the icon but the public store does not, confirm you edited the published theme and inspect the signed-out storefront. If it appears in a browser tab but not Google Search, treat those as separate surfaces: Google must crawl the homepage and icon, and can take several days to several weeks to process a change without guaranteeing display.
Shopify says favicons do not appear on Customer Accounts and Checkout pages unless the store is on Shopify Plus. On Plus, configure those areas through the Branding API or Checkout Blocks; the theme setting is not inherited automatically. If an old icon persists, check whether the live page still points to the previous file before clearing caches or uploading the same image again.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify accept a 512×512 favicon? You can upload a larger source, but Shopify says an oversized image in this setting is reduced to 32×32. Check the delivered file and live markup if Google Search appearance matters.
Does the Starter plan support a custom favicon? Shopify says the Starter plan does not support adding one through the online store theme setting.
How long until Google shows a changed favicon? Google says recrawling and processing can take several days to several weeks. Search display is not guaranteed.
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