Image Format Comparison

SVG vs ICO: Which Format Should You Use for Favicons?

The favicon world has evolved. In the early web, ICO was the only option — a quirky Microsoft format that packs multiple image sizes into a single file. Today, SVG favicons are supported by most modern browsers and offer significant advantages: infinite scalability, tiny file size, and the ability to adapt to dark mode using CSS. But ICO remains essential for backward compatibility. The recommended 2024 approach uses both.

SVGvsICO

Quick Verdict

Use SVG when…

Use SVG favicon for modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 2022+) — it scales perfectly at any resolution and is a single file. Include it alongside ICO for full compatibility.

Use ICO when…

Use ICO for maximum compatibility: Internet Explorer, older browsers, Windows desktop shortcuts, taskbar icons, and any context where SVG isn't supported. Every website should have a favicon.ico in its root.

SVG vs ICO: Feature Comparison

Feature	SVG	ICO
File type	Vector — scales infinitely without pixelation	Raster — fixed sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) embedded in one file
Browser support	Chrome 80+, Firefox 41+, Edge 80+, Safari 2022+	Every browser including IE6+
Dark mode support	Can adapt to dark/light mode with CSS media queries inside SVG	Static — same image in all themes
File size	Very small for simple icons (under 1 KB for basic shapes)	Slightly larger, especially multi-size ICO files (5–50 KB)
Windows shortcuts	Not used for Windows .exe icons or shortcuts	Standard format for Windows app icons and shortcuts
Best practice 2024	Include as supplemental favicon for modern browsers	Always include favicon.ico at domain root

When SVG wins

✓File type: Vector — scales infinitely without pixelation
✓Browser support: Chrome 80+, Firefox 41+, Edge 80+, Safari 2022+
✓Dark mode support: Can adapt to dark/light mode with CSS media queries inside SVG

When ICO wins

✓File type: Raster — fixed sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) embedded in one file
✓Browser support: Every browser including IE6+
✓Dark mode support: Static — same image in all themes

Frequently asked questions

Can I use only SVG for my favicon?

You can, but you'll lose compatibility with Internet Explorer, Safari versions before 2022, and some older mobile browsers. More importantly, some tools and services that fetch favicons (link preview generators, RSS readers, browser bookmark managers) still only look for favicon.ico. The safest approach: include both <link rel='icon' href='/favicon.ico'> and <link rel='icon' type='image/svg+xml' href='/icon.svg'> in your HTML head. Browsers that support SVG will use the SVG; others fall back to ICO.

Does SVG favicon support dark mode?

Yes — this is SVG's biggest advantage over ICO for favicons. Inside your SVG file you can embed a CSS media query: @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { /* dark styles */ }. When the user has dark mode enabled, the browser automatically shows the dark variant. ICO files always show the same static image regardless of system theme.

How do I create an ICO file from an SVG?

Convert SVG to PNG first (at 256×256), then convert PNG to ICO using FormatDrop's PNG to ICO converter. The resulting ICO file will contain 16×16, 32×32, and 48×48 pixel variants suitable for all browser and Windows applications.