Add Favicon to Next.js Static Site

Introduction
Step-by-Step Guide
Code Example
Additional Notes
Summary
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Favicons, those little icons that appear in browser tabs and bookmarks, play a crucial role in branding and user experience. This guide will walk you through the process of adding a favicon to your Next.js application, ensuring it displays correctly across different browsers and devices. We'll cover preparing your favicon images, placing them in the appropriate directory, referencing them in your HTML, and verifying their appearance. Additionally, we'll provide tips on using online favicon generators and handling advanced configuration.

Step-by-Step Guide

Here's how to add a favicon to your Next.js application, ensuring it displays correctly across different browsers and devices:

1. Prepare Your Favicon Images:

Create or obtain your favicon image: You can design your own or use online tools to generate one. Ensure it's a square image, ideally in .ico format for maximum compatibility.
Consider different sizes and formats: While .ico is widely supported, you might want additional formats like .png for better quality on high-resolution displays.
Apple Touch Icon: For Apple devices, create a apple-touch-icon.png with a recommended size of 180x180 pixels.

2. Place Favicon Files in the public Directory:

Create a public folder: If you don't already have one, create a public directory at the root of your Next.js project.
Place your favicon files: Put your .ico file (e.g., favicon.ico) and any other favicon formats you have inside the public folder.

3. Reference the Favicon in Your HTML:

Open your pages/_app.js file: This is where you can add elements that will be included in every page of your application.
Add the link tag: Inside the <Head> component of your _app.js, add the following code:

import Head from 'next/head';

function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
  return (
    <>
      <Head>
        <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" />
        {/* Add other favicon formats if needed */}
        <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
      </Head>
      <Component {...pageProps} />
    </>
  );
}

export default MyApp;

4. Build and Run Your Next.js App:

Build your app: Run npm run build or yarn build to build your Next.js application.
Start the development server: Use npm run dev or yarn dev to start the development server and view your app in the browser.

5. Verify Your Favicon:

Check your browser tab: The favicon should appear in the browser tab next to your page title.
Test on different devices: Ensure the favicon displays correctly on various devices and browsers, including mobile devices and tablets.

Additional Tips:

Use online favicon generators: Tools like Favicon Generator or RealFaviconGenerator can help you create favicons in various sizes and formats.
Clear your browser cache: If you don't see the favicon update immediately, try clearing your browser cache and hard reload the page.
Consider using a custom next.config.js: For more advanced configuration, you can use a custom next.config.js file to define asset prefixes or other settings.

By following these steps, you'll have successfully added a favicon to your Next.js application, enhancing its branding and user experience.

Code Example

This JavaScript code demonstrates how to add a favicon to a Next.js application. It uses the Head component from next/head to include link tags in the HTML <head> section. These tags reference different favicon files for optimal support across various devices and browsers. The code provides the primary favicon, additional PNG favicons in different sizes, and an Apple touch icon. Remember to place your favicon files in the public directory and adjust the file paths as needed.

This code snippet demonstrates the key step of referencing the favicon in your Next.js app's _app.js file:

import Head from 'next/head';

function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
  return (
    <>
      <Head>
        {/* Primary favicon - adjust path if needed */}
        <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" />

        {/* Optional: Additional favicon formats for better support */}
        <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png" />
        <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png" />

        {/* Apple Touch Icon - adjust path if needed */}
        <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png" />
      </Head>
      <Component {...pageProps} />
    </>
  );
}

export default MyApp;

Explanation:

Import Head: We import the Head component from next/head to manage elements in the document's <head>.
Link Tags: Inside the <Head>, we use <link> tags to reference the favicon files:
- The first link with rel="icon" and href="/favicon.ico" specifies the main favicon.
- The next two link tags provide additional favicon sizes in PNG format for better support on various devices.
- The last link with rel="apple-touch-icon" is specifically for Apple devices.

Remember:

Place your favicon files (.ico, .png) in the public directory at the root of your project.
Adjust the href paths in the code if your favicon files have different names or locations.
Consider using online favicon generators to create favicons in various sizes and formats.

Additional Notes

Troubleshooting:

Favicon not showing up?
- Clear your browser cache and hard reload the page.
- Double-check the file paths in your <link> tags.
- Ensure the favicon files are placed correctly in the public directory.
- Verify that your favicon image is a valid format (ICO, PNG) and not corrupted.
Favicon displaying incorrectly on certain devices?
- Make sure you have included favicon sizes and formats suitable for different resolutions and devices.
- Consider using a favicon generator tool to create a comprehensive set of favicon files.

Advanced Configuration:

Custom next.config.js:
- For more control over asset handling, you can use a custom next.config.js file. This allows you to define asset prefixes, configure loaders, and more.
Dynamic Favicons:
- In some cases, you might want to dynamically change the favicon based on certain conditions. This can be achieved using JavaScript to manipulate the href attribute of the <link> tag or by using libraries that provide dynamic favicon functionality.

SEO Considerations:

Favicons and Branding:
- A well-designed favicon contributes to brand recognition and professionalism.
User Experience:
- Favicons help users easily identify and locate your website among multiple tabs or bookmarks.

Accessibility:

Favicon Alternatives:
- While favicons are primarily visual elements, consider providing alternative text descriptions for users with visual impairments. This can be done using the title attribute in the <link> tag.

Additional Resources:

Favicon Generator Tools:
- RealFaviconGenerator
- Favicon.io
- Favicon Generator
Next.js Documentation:
- Custom next.config.js
- Asset Optimization

Remember, a favicon is a small detail that can make a big difference in your website's overall user experience and branding.

Summary

Step	Action	Details
1	Prepare Favicon Images	Create `.ico` (and optionally `.png`) images, including `apple-touch-icon.png` for Apple devices.
2	Place Favicon Files in `public` Directory	Create a `public` folder at your project's root and place all favicon files there.
3	Reference Favicon in HTML	In `pages/_app.js`, add `<link>` tags within the `<Head>` component to reference your favicon files.
4	Build and Run Your Next.js App	Run `npm run build` or `yarn build`, then `npm run dev` or `yarn dev` to view your app.
5	Verify Your Favicon	Check if the favicon appears in the browser tab and on different devices.

Conclusion

Adding a favicon is a simple yet effective way to enhance your Next.js application's branding and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your favicon displays correctly across different browsers and devices. Remember to prepare your favicon images in various sizes and formats, place them in the public directory, and reference them correctly in your _app.js file. With a little effort, you can give your Next.js app a polished and professional look.

References

Metadata Files: favicon, icon, and apple-icon | Next.js | API Reference for the Favicon, Icon and Apple Icon file conventions.
How to Add favicon.ico on Next.js 13 & Next.js 14 · vercel next.js ... | Summary I wanted to Add favicon.ico on my website how can i do that Additional information No response Example No response
How to add a favicon to a Next.js static site? | How to add a favicon to a Next.js static site? I was asked this on the website chat, but looking a bit closer I'm sure the problem was related to image paths.
Favicon problem · Issue #4414 · vercel/next.js · GitHub | Hello! I've been trying to favicon my page for days but I have not succeeded, try the link tag but it does not work, I wish someone could teach me how to do it, thanks
How to add a favicon in Nextjs? | Learn about how to add and troubleshoot favicons in Next.js, including setting up Apple Touch Icons, with practical steps and solutions for common issues.
Implementing Favicons in Next.js Applications | Practical guide for developers on how to effectively integrate favicons in Next.js projects for a better UX and SEO advantage.
How to add favicon in Next.js 13/14 - rahul more - Medium | Note — keep your image inside public folder ( in my case its inside public/images/rahul.png)
Favicon for Next.js and TypeScript - DEV Community | I'm still learning Next.js and after having hard time to find out of the box solution to create...
how to change favicon : r/nextjs | Posted by u/matthew10111 - 4 votes and 8 comments