javascripthtmlreactjsgoogle-chromefavicon

Favicon doesn't show on Google Search

So the favicon for my website (a 256x256 .ico file) doesn't show up on Google Search. It shows the vercel logo, but when you click on the website, the correct favicon shows up in the browser tab. Even on search console, the vercel logo shows up as the favicon. I have no clue why.

Already checked other threads/forums. What could be the issue?

I have registered the domain on google search console. The page is indexed. The favicon fits search guidelines (double checked using favicon checker).

Where I define the Favicon

Search Console Crawl

Browser Tab – Correct Favicon

Vercel Favicon on Google Search

Solution

  • If your favicon shows correctly on your website but not in Google Search results, it might be due to a few potential reasons:

    1. Google might be using a cached version of your site. This cache could include the old favicon, especially if you've recently changed it. It may take some time for Google to update the favicon in their search results.

    2. Ensure that the favicon is correctly referenced in your HTML. The common way to link a favicon in your HTML is:

      <link rel="icon" href="/path/to/favicon.ico" sizes="any">

    3. Ensure that the URL where the favicon is hosted is accessible and doesn't return any errors. Sometimes, permission issues or incorrect paths can cause problems.

    4. Since you mentioned the favicon appears as the Vercel logo in the Google Search Console, double-check your settings there. Sometimes, incorrect settings or a misconfiguration in the console can cause these issues.

    5. Even if everything is set up correctly, it might take some time for the changes to propagate across Google's servers. This process can take several days or even weeks in some cases.

    Here are a few steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

    Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

    1. Clear Caches:

      • Clear your website’s cache if you’re using any caching mechanisms (e.g., Vercel cache).
      • Use the Google Search Console to request a recrawl of your site. You can do this by going to the "URL Inspection" tool, entering your URL, and requesting indexing.

    2. Double-Check Implementation:

      • Ensure your favicon is implemented correctly in your HTML. Here’s an example:
      <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico">
      • Also, include other favicon formats for different devices:
      <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">

    3. Verify Accessibility:

      • Visit your favicon URL directly in the browser (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/favicon.ico) to ensure it loads correctly.

    4. Check for Multiple Favicon Declarations:

      • Ensure you don’t have multiple <link rel="icon"> tags pointing to different favicon files. This could confuse Google on which favicon to use.

    5. Submit a Sitemap:

      • Submit or update your sitemap in Google Search Console to help Google discover all pages and assets (including the favicon) more efficiently.

    6. Monitor Changes:

      • Use tools like Google’s Rich Results Test to see how Google fetches and interprets your favicon.
      • Regularly check Google Search Console for updates or any errors related to your favicon (sometimes I used to get a mail).

    If you've verified all these steps and the issue persists, you may need to wait a bit longer for Google to update their cached favicon. Sometimes, despite everything being set up correctly, it can take a while for the new favicon to appear in search results (i have experienced this before).