IcoJetField notes

Field notes

01

Why a 256px ICO can still look blurry

A sharp preview does not guarantee a sharp desktop icon. Diagnose the artwork, the sizes inside the file and the place where it is displayed separately.

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02

Your favicon changed. Why is the old one still there?

A browser tab and a Google search result are separate checks. First prove that the right file is being served; only then investigate caching or search crawling.

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03

White box or transparent icon? Find the difference

A white background may be part of the image, part of the preview or part of the destination interface. Changing the filename to .ico cannot tell these cases apart.

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04

ICO, PNG or SVG: choose the deliverable before converting

A website icon, a Windows shortcut and a mobile app icon are different deliverables. Start with the destination’s accepted format, then prepare the artwork. Renaming an extension cannot change the bytes inside a file.

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05

Which ICO sizes do you actually need?

The largest image is not the only useful one. Build a size set for a specific destination, then inspect it at actual scale. A larger source cannot guarantee readable details at 16 pixels.

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06

Install a favicon without breaking nested pages

Having an ICO on your computer does not connect it to your website. Treat installation as three separate checks: the uploaded file, the page declaration and the browser’s actual request.

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07

The favicon works in the tab but not in Google

A working browser tab proves only one display context. Search results need a separate check of the public hostname, crawler access and Google’s favicon requirements; they are not an immediate preview of your latest upload.

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08

Why the iPhone Home Screen needs a separate icon

The icon saved with a website on an iPhone is not simply the small browser-tab ICO enlarged. Prepare a separate asset and test the actual Add to Home Screen flow.

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09

PWA icons: avoid a cropped logo or a tiny white badge

An installed web app may need icons declared in its manifest as well as a favicon. The same picture can be rendered differently when the launcher applies a shape mask.

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10

Windows shows the wrong icon: file, shortcut or app?

Replacing a file in Downloads does not necessarily change an existing shortcut or a running app. Establish which resource is actually used before rebuilding the ICO or attempting system-wide cache changes.

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11

Turn a wide wordmark into a readable small icon

A wordmark that looks excellent in a website header can collapse into a thin line inside a square favicon. The solution is usually a distinct small-size composition, not a larger download.

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12

Before converting a confidential logo: check privacy and limits

A file picker is not proof that a service uploads your image, and a privacy slogan is not proof that it stays local. Check the actual workflow before using unreleased artwork.

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