48x48 Favicon for Windows Taskbar and Desktop Shortcuts
Learn about the 48x48 favicon size used by Windows for taskbar pins, desktop shortcuts, and jump lists. Includes setup instructions.
Detailed Explanation
48x48 Favicon for Windows
The 48x48 pixel favicon is primarily used by the Windows operating system for several contexts where icons need to be slightly larger than the standard browser tab size.
Where 48x48 Is Used
- Windows Taskbar — When users pin your website to the Windows taskbar, the 48x48 icon is displayed
- Desktop Shortcuts — Creating a website shortcut on the desktop uses this size
- Jump Lists — The icon appearing in right-click jump lists on pinned taskbar items
- Windows Start Menu — Pinned web apps in the Start menu may use this size
How to Provide a 48x48 Favicon
There are two main approaches:
Option 1: Multi-size ICO file
Bundle 16x16, 32x32, and 48x48 into a single favicon.ico file:
<link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="16x16 32x32 48x48">
Option 2: Separate PNG file
Provide a dedicated PNG for the 48x48 size:
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="48x48" href="/favicon-48x48.png">
Design Tips for 48x48
At 48x48 pixels, you have 2,304 pixels to work with — nearly ten times more than 16x16. This enables:
- Recognizable logos with moderate detail
- Single characters with clear fonts
- Simple gradients and shadows
- Small but visible text (one or two words)
Testing on Windows
To test how your 48x48 favicon appears on Windows:
- Open your website in Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot menu and select "Pin to taskbar"
- Check the taskbar icon appearance
- Right-click the pinned icon to see the jump list
- Also test by dragging the URL to the desktop to create a shortcut
Use Case
Windows users who pin websites to their taskbar expect to see a crisp, recognizable icon. For enterprise applications and internal tools that Windows users access daily, getting the 48x48 favicon right is critical for a professional appearance and quick identification among pinned items.