How to Remove the WordPress Favicon

Introduction

WordPress is a widely popular platform for creating websites. It offers website owners various customization options to reflect their style or brand. One aspect of website customization that can be easily adjusted is the favicon. A favicon is an icon in the browser’s bookmarks and tabs that symbolizes a website. In certain circumstances, a website owner might need to remove the favicon, whether it’s for rebranding purposes or simply because they no longer wish to use it. Therefore, this article will discuss three ways to remove the WordPress favicon.

Method 1: Remove the Favicon using a Plugin

Using a plugin is the simplest method to remove the WordPress favicon. There are numerous plugins available that let you modify the favicon, and several of them include an option to remove it. Let’s use the All-in-One Favicon plugin as an example:

1. Install the All-in-One Favicon Plugin: Go to WordPress dashboard, hover over ‘Plugins,’ and click ‘Add New.’ In the search field, type ‘All-in-One Favicon’ and click ‘Install Now.’ Once the installation is complete, click ‘Activate.’
2. Go to the All-in-One Favicon settings: On the dashboard’s left-hand side, hover over ‘Settings,’ and click ‘All in One Favicon.’ This will take you to the plugin’s settings page.
3. Remove the favicon: Scroll down to the ‘Current Favicon’ section of the page and click ‘Remove.’ A pop-up window will appear, asking if you’re sure that you want to remove the favicon. Click ‘OK,’ and your site’s favicon will be removed.

Method 2: Remove the Favicon using Code

If you’re comfortable editing code, you can remove the favicon manually by adding a few lines of code. Here’s how to do it:

1. Access your WordPress site’s files: Log into your website’s cPanel account, or access it via an FTP client, and go to the public_html folder. Inside, you will find your website’s files.
2. Edit the functions.php file: In the public_html folder, go to the wp-content folder, and then to the themes folder. Find the folder of the active theme you’re using, and open it. There, you’ll see the functions.php file. Right-click on it and select ‘Edit.’
3. Add the code to remove the favicon: Copy and paste the following code to the bottom of the functions.php file:
   

   function remove_favicon() {

remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_site_icon', 99);

}

add_action('admin_init', 'remove_favicon');

4. Save the file after adding the code.
5. Clear your cache, and check the site: Finally, clear your browser cache and visit your WordPress site. The favicon should no longer be visible.

Method 3: Remove the Favicon using a Theme Customizer

Another way to remove the favicon in WordPress is by using the theme customizer. Not all themes have this option, but if your theme does have it, this is an easy way to remove the favicon. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the Theme Customizer: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and on the left-hand side, hover over ‘Appearance,’ and click ‘Customize.’
2. Find the Favicon section: Depending on your theme, the favicon section may be located under the ‘Site Identity’ or ‘Header’ section. Look for the ‘Site Icon’ or ‘Favicon’ option.
3. Remove the Favicon: Click on the ‘Site Icon’ or ‘Favicon’ option and select ‘Remove.’
4. Save your changes: Once you’ve removed the favicon, click ‘Save & Publish’ to save your changes.

Conclusion

Removing the WordPress favicon is a simple process that you can do in different ways depending on your preference. Whether you prefer using a plugin, editing the code, or using the Theme Customizer, this article has shown you how to remove the favicon with ease. Remember to clear your cache or use incognito mode to check how the site appears after removing the favicon.