Updated October 8, 2015
Site icons (also known as favicons) are the small images representing websites around the web.
One of the most common places you see favicons is in your browser tabs. In this image, you’ll see my customized favicon on the far left and you’ll see the default Genesis favicon in the middle and on the right.
Many, many sites (some very popular ones too!) still do not have customized favicons. It’s a small way to help with your branding and give your site a more professional and cohesive feel. It’s also easy to set up.
Update:
The process of installing a site icon in WordPress is now much easier and does not require digging into your backend files. Feel free to read the old instructions below, but here are the simple new steps:
- Prepare an image (either make a graphic or take a photo) at least 512px square.
- In your WordPress Dashboard, go to Appearance –> Customize –> Site Identity –> Site Icon.
- Upload your image and save.
P.S. Do you like quick tips like this? Get more in the Useletter.
1. Create your favicon
A favicon is simply an image that’s 16px by 16px. Once you create your image, you’ll need to save it as favicon.ico. If it doesn’t have the .ico extension, it will not work. To change the file name, simply rename your image from, say, favicon.jpg to favicon.ico. You can do this by right-clicking on the image name on your computer. You could also open your favicon.jpg file and then “Save as” favicon.ico.
2. Access your File Manager in Bluehost
Simply login to your cpanel and click on the “File Manager” icon.
Navigate to your Genesis child theme
When accessing your File Manager you may see a popup. If so, just choose Web Root.
Upload your favicon to your Genesis images folder and your child theme images folder.
After your root directory opens, click on the wp-content folder–> themes –> genesis –> images. Next, highlight the favicon.ico file by clicking on it once. Then click Upload icon in the top bar. When prompted, replace the file with your new favicon.ico file.
Now do the same for your child theme. You will double click wp-content –> themes –> [child theme] –> images. Repeat the upload process.
Sometimes it takes a few hours for it to show up.