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.
Identify which hostname you are checking
Record whether the result uses www.example.com, example.com or a subdomain. Google treats favicon selection at hostname level, not per subfolder. Make sure the relevant homepage points to the intended icon. Changing a logo on an internal page alone may not change the search icon.
Check the public asset and access
Provide a square icon with a stable URL; Google recommends dimensions larger than 48px. Check that its crawler can access the homepage and image without a login or block. Open the response and verify the artwork as well as its dimensions. Merely seeing a successful HTTP status is insufficient if it returns a placeholder.
Wait only after the evidence is correct
Use Search Console to check the homepage and request indexing where appropriate, then allow recrawling. There is no guaranteed display or fixed refresh deadline. Keep a note of the deployed URL and checks so you do not keep overwriting a correct icon in response to an old search preview. This is an eligibility check, not a ranking promise.