Show Site Icons in Edge Favorites Bar

This guide shows you how to display site icons (favicons) in the Microsoft Edge favorites bar, making it easier to identify your saved sites at a glance. You’ll need the Edge browser installed and at least one favorite saved to get started.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Edge browser (current version, updated automatically)
At least one website saved to your Favorites
Your Favorites Bar enabled (see Step 1 if it’s hidden)

Step-by-Step

Open Microsoft Edge. Launch the browser on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.
Enable the Favorites Bar if it’s not visible. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner, select Favorites, then click Show favorites bar to toggle it on. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+B (Mac).
Locate a favorite in the bar. Your saved sites appear as icons with text labels next to them. The icon you see is the site’s favicon—the small image the website itself provides.
Right-click on the favorite. A context menu opens with several options for managing that bookmark.
Select “Edit” from the menu. This opens the Edit Favorite dialog box where you can modify the name and URL.
Delete the text in the “Name” field. Select all the text in the Name box and press Delete or Backspace so the field is completely empty.
Click “Save” or press Enter. The favorite now shows only its site icon in the favorites bar, with no text label.
Repeat for other favorites. To make the entire bar icon-only, repeat steps 4–7 for each bookmark you want to shorten.

Common Mistakes

Deleting the favorite instead of editing it. Right-click and choose Edit, not Delete. Deleting removes the bookmark entirely.
Leaving a space in the Name field. Make sure the field is completely empty—even a single space will show a blank label area.
Editing the URL by mistake. In the Edit dialog, only clear the Name field. Leave the URL exactly as it is, or the favorite will break.
Expecting all sites to have icons. Some websites don’t provide a favicon. Those favorites will show a generic globe icon, which is normal.
Assuming the icon updates automatically. If a site changes its favicon, Edge usually picks it up, but you may need to restart the browser or revisit the site first.

Tips

Use folders for organization. Instead of removing all labels, group related favorites into folders (right-click the bar, choose Add folder). Folders show a folder icon and can be expanded when clicked.
Keep important sites labeled. For sites you use daily, consider keeping the name visible so you can find them instantly without hovering.
Hover to see the full name. Even with the label removed, hovering your mouse over the icon displays a tooltip with the site’s name and URL.
Pin frequently used sites. If you have too many icons, right-click the favorites bar and choose Show only icons (if available) or use the overflow menu to keep the bar tidy.
Sync your favorites. Log in with your Microsoft account and enable sync so your icon-only setup appears on all your devices.

Troubleshooting

Icons are not showing at all. First, ensure the favorites bar is enabled via Ctrl+Shift+B. If icons are missing but text shows, the site may not provide a favicon. Try visiting the site directly and then re-saving it. If the issue persists, clear your browser cache (Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data) and restart Edge.

The icon is a generic globe instead of the site’s logo. This happens when the site doesn’t supply a favicon or Edge hasn’t fetched it. Visit the site, then right-click the favorite and choose Refresh (if available) or delete and re-add the favorite.

Icons disappear after restarting Edge. This can occur if your profile is corrupted or sync is misconfigured. Check that sync is on (Settings > Profiles > Sync) and restart the browser. If the problem continues, reset the favorites bar by toggling it off and on again.

Can’t right-click a favorite. If the right-click menu doesn’t appear, make sure you’re clicking directly on the favorite icon, not on empty space in the bar. If the bar is locked, check if a group policy is restricting changes—this is rare for home users.

Text is still showing after clearing the name. Press Enter or click Save to confirm the edit. If the label persists, close and reopen the Edge window to refresh the bar display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing the name delete the site from my favorites? No. Editing the name only changes the display label. The favorite remains saved and functional.

Can I show icons only for some favorites and keep text for others? Yes. The method is per-favorite. Clear the name on the ones you want as icons only, and leave the others with their text labels.

Will this work on mobile versions of Edge? No. The favorites bar is a desktop feature. On mobile, favorites are accessed through the hub menu, and icons are always shown alongside names there.

What if a site doesn’t have an icon? Edge displays a default globe icon for sites without a favicon. You cannot force a custom icon through the favorites bar settings.

Can I make the icons bigger or smaller? No. The favorites bar icon size is fixed by the browser. You can zoom the entire page with Ctrl+Plus or Ctrl+Minus, but that also scales the content.

Will clearing my browsing data remove the icons? No. Clearing cache or cookies won’t remove favorites or their icons. Only deleting the favorite itself will remove it.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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