diff --git a/src/wp-admin/options-general.php b/src/wp-admin/options-general.php
index c1efa0c063c58..310f848f3f71f 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/options-general.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/options-general.php
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class="<?php echo esc_attr( $classes_for_button ); ?>"
 		<?php
 			printf(
 				/* translators: 1: pixel value for icon size. 2: pixel value for icon size. */
-				__( 'The Site Icon is what you see in browser tabs, bookmark bars, and within the WordPress mobile apps. It should be square and at least <strong>%1$s by %2$s</strong> pixels.' ),
+				__( 'The Site Icon appears in browser tabs, bookmark bars, and within the WordPress mobile apps. It must have a square aspect ratio (1:1) and be at least <strong>%1$s &times; %2$s</strong> pixels in size.' ),
 				512,
 				512
 			);
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-manager.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-manager.php
index b02a48fec8d8c..31d3c44eebf14 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-manager.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-manager.php
@@ -5208,7 +5208,7 @@ public function register_controls() {
 					'label'       => __( 'Site Icon' ),
 					'description' => sprintf(
 						/* translators: 1: pixel value for icon size. 2: pixel value for icon size. */
-						'<p>' . __( 'The Site Icon is what you see in browser tabs, bookmark bars, and within the WordPress mobile apps. It should be square and at least <strong>%1$s by %2$s</strong> pixels.' ) . '</p>',
+						'<p>' . __( 'The Site Icon appears in browser tabs, bookmark bars, and within the WordPress mobile apps. It must have a square aspect ratio (1:1) and be at least <strong>%1$s &times; %2$s</strong> pixels in size.' ) . '</p>',
 						512,
 						512
 					),