---
title: "Bing tests removing favicons from search result snippets"
url: https://seomadman.com/news/bing-tests-removing-favicons-snippets
section: news
language: en
published: 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
author: Adam Hafez
topics: ["SERP features"]
---

# Bing tests removing favicons from search result snippets

## The short answer

Bing is testing search result snippets with the favicon removed, so the results page looks much less graphical. Khushal Bherwani and Sachin Patel posted screenshots, and Barry Schwartz could not replicate it. Microsoft has not commented, and the sources give no rollout plan, so this is an observed test only.

## Key takeaways

- Bing is testing result snippets that show no favicon, which makes the results page look much less graphical.
- Khushal Bherwani and Sachin Patel posted screenshots of the test, and Barry Schwartz could not replicate it.
- Bherwani's post on 6 October 2026 mentions sponsored ads, while Search Engine Watch's headline says all organic results.
- Microsoft has made no statement and the sources give no rollout information, so nothing here is confirmed.

Bing is testing search result snippets with the favicon removed, which makes the results page look much
less graphical. Barry Schwartz reported it at Search Engine Roundtable on 9 October 2026.

## What does the test show?

In the screenshots, each result appears without the small site icon that normally sits beside it.
Sachin Patel's post pairs a version without favicons with the normal results that still show them.
Schwartz's own verdict is that the results look naked, which is his opinion, not a measurement.

## Who spotted it?

Khushal Bherwani and Sachin Patel posted screenshots on X and at Search Engine Watch. Bherwani's post
of 6 October 2026 asked whether Bing not showing a favicon for sponsored ads was a bug. Search
Engine Watch's headline says the favicons are missing from all organic results. We could not read
that page, which blocked our request, so its wording here is as reported by Search Engine Roundtable.
Schwartz says he could not replicate the test.

## What has Bing said?

Nothing, in any source we found. Microsoft has not commented on the test, and no rollout plan is
reported. A bug, a short experiment and an early design change all fit the same screenshots, and the
sources do not say which this is.

## What can site owners do?

Nothing is documented. The sources describe no markup or setting behind the test, so there is
nothing to opt in to or out of. Keep your favicon in place. Google's documentation asks for a square
file of at least 8x8 pixels and recommends one larger than 48x48 pixels, and that applies to Google
Search, not Bing. To see whether you are in the test, search your own brand in Bing and note whether
the icon appears.

For other recent Bing layout experiments, see
[Bing's HTTPS and site name display tests](/news/bing-serp-display-tests-https-sitenames) and
[Bing's editable image labels test](/news/bing-images-editable-labels-test). For Google's own favicon
trouble, see
[the Search Console favicon and Crawl Stats fixes](/news/search-console-favicon-crawl-stats-bugs-fixed).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Bing testing with favicons?

Bing is testing search result snippets that show no favicon, which makes the results page look much less graphical, according to Search Engine Roundtable.

### Can everyone see the test?

No. Barry Schwartz could not replicate it, so it appears only for some searchers, if it is still live.

### Do I need to change my favicon?

Nothing in the sources says so. Microsoft has not commented on the test, and no rollout has been announced.

## Sources

1. [Bing Tests Removing Favicons From Search Result Snippets](https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-no-favicons-snippets-42262.html) - Search Engine Roundtable (primary)
2. [Bing tests removing favicons from all organic SERP results](https://searchenginewatch.com/bing-tests-removing-favicons-from-all-organic-serp-results/) - Search Engine Watch
3. [Define a favicon to show in Google Search results](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/favicon-in-search) - Google Search Central