How to make a favicon from text

Type one to three characters: a letter, your initials, a number or an emoji.
Choose a font. Bold fonts stay readable at 16 pixels.
Pick a shape (square, rounded or circle) and your text colour.
Choose a solid, linear gradient or radial gradient background. Start from a preset or pick both colours yourself.
Add a text shadow if you like: soft, hard or a flat-design long shadow.
Download the zip and add the files and HTML code to your website.

Tips for a letter favicon that reads well

One letter is best. Two or three letters get very thin in a 16-pixel browser tab.
Use strong contrast. White on a dark colour, or dark on a light colour.
Check both tab previews. Many people use dark browser themes; the preview shows both.
Emoji favicons use your device’s emoji style, so they look slightly different on Windows, Mac and Android.

Gradient favicons and text shadows

Linear gradients look best with two related colours, such as blue to cyan. Very different colours can make the letter hard to read at one end.
Radial gradients put a lighter or darker glow behind the letter.
Soft shadows add depth on the large Apple and Android icons. Keep them light, because a strong shadow blurs the letter at 16 pixels.
Long shadows give a flat-design look and work well with bold single letters.

Hindi and other scripts

Choose Noto Sans Devanagari to make a favicon with a Hindi letter such as क, ह or श. It also works for Marathi, Nepali and Sanskrit. Other scripts work with the system font.

Questions

Can I use an emoji as a favicon?

Yes. Type or paste the emoji into the box. The generator turns it into normal PNG and ICO files, so it works in every browser.

Can I use my own font?

Not yet. For a custom logo or font, export it as a PNG or SVG and use the image to favicon converter.

Does a gradient favicon work in every browser?

Yes. The gradient and shadow are drawn into the PNG and ICO files, so every browser shows them exactly as in the preview.

Is a circle favicon a good idea?

Circles look neat on light tabs, but they have less room for the letter. Rounded squares are a good middle ground.