iOS app icon sizes are a foundational part of App Store readiness and user experience. Getting these dimensions and formats right ensures your app looks sharp across every Apple device, from iPhone to Apple Vision Pro.
This guide breaks down the exact sizes, submission requirements, and best practices you need to optimize icons for discoverability, conversion, and brand consistency.
| Device / Context | Required Size (pt) | Pixel Size @2x | Pixel Size @3x |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS Home Screen iPhone | 180 pt | 768 px | 1242 px |
| App Store Product Page | 1024 pt | 1024 px | 1024 px |
| Settings App | 50 pt | 100 px | 150 px |
| Apple TV | 160 pt | 960 px | 1280 px |
| Apple Vision Pro | 160 pt | 1280 px | 1280 px |
App Store Submission and Design Guidelines
Apple enforces strict rules around app icon sizes and formats to maintain visual consistency in the App Store. For submission, you must provide a 1024 by 1024 pixel icon without transparency or rounded corners, exported exactly at 1x scale.
Design teams often start with a 1024 pt base Artboard in vector tools, then export multiple raster versions for device-specific placement. Maintaining a clear margin, or safe zone, of about 10 percent helps important visual elements avoid being obscured by system masks.
Use the P3 color profile and work in RGB to accurately represent brand colors, and save the final assets in PNG or, when supported, WebP to balance quality and file size.
Optimizing for Multiple Device Contexts
Beyond the App Store, your icon must perform at various physical resolutions and interface placements. iPhone apps require a 180 by 180 pixel image for Retina displays, while iPad Pro and standard iPad typically use 167 by 167 pixel assets in portrait layouts.
For legacy support and specific contexts, include a 120 by 120 pixel version for non-Pro iPads and a 87 by 87 pixel app spotlight icon on Apple TV. Organizing these variations in a single source file with clearly labeled layers makes updates and exports far more efficient.
Brand Consistency Across Touchpoints
Your app icon is a primary brand signal, so ensure that logo, shape, and key visual cues remain legible at very small sizes. Test how your icon appears over light and dark system appearances, especially if you use subtle gradients or fine details.
Establish a versioning strategy so design and marketing teams can align icon updates with feature launches. Consistent icon treatment across search results, product pages, and device homes reinforces recognition and trust over time.
Export, Delivery, and Asset Management
Use an automated build pipeline or design system to export the correct iOS app icon sizes and generate the Contents.json file required by Xcode. Validate each asset set with Xcode’s catalog preview and by installing beta builds on physical devices to catch masking or anti-aliasing issues.
Monitor App Store previews to confirm that your uploaded 1024 by 1024 icon renders correctly on both light and dark store themes. Good asset hygiene reduces rejection risk, speeds iteration, and keeps your visual identity crisp across every screen.
Streamlining Icon Workflow for Future Updates
Establishing a repeatable process for icon design and export helps your team adapt to new device requirements with minimal friction.
- Maintain a single master Artboard at 1024 pt with clearly labeled size variants.
- Export all required iOS app icon sizes automatically via scripts or Xcode build phases.
- Run an automated validation step to confirm Contents.json rules and safe margins.
- Schedule quarterly reviews to check new device specs and update assets accordingly.
FAQ
Reader questions
Do I need to include a 1024 by 1024 icon in my Xcode project?
Yes, Xcode requires a 1024 by 1024 pixel app store icon in the asset catalog for App Store builds, even though device home screens use smaller sizes.
What happens if my icon has rounded corners or transparency?
Apple applies a standardized mask that rounds corners and adds shine, so submitting a custom-shaped icon can result in clipping or undesired visual changes.
How can I test my icon on Apple Vision Pro and Apple TV?
Run previews on the respective simulators or devices, checking legibility at the 160 by 160 point size and confirming important details stay within the safe margin.
Should I deliver icons in PNG or PDF vector format?
Export final delivery assets as PNG for raster icons, while keeping the source in a vector editor so you can generate exact sizes without quality loss.