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These ASO guides cover what we do for clients, written so you can do it yourself: keyword research, metadata, screenshot sizes and design, icon design and testing, localization, growth planning and App Store and Google Play rejections. Each guide links official Apple and Google sources and is dated.
By the HireASO Team · Reviewed by Muneeb Rana, founder · Updated Oct 2026ASO guides
App store optimization: the complete guideApp store optimization explained by app developers: how App Store and Google Play rank apps, what to change first, and how to measure it. Updated 2026.Apple App Store optimization (iOS ASO)Apple App Store optimization for iOS apps: name, subtitle and keyword field rules, ratings, in-app events, product page tests and custom product pages.Google Play ASO: how to optimize a Play listingGoogle Play ASO guide: title, short and full description, keyword placement within policy, graphics, experiments, ratings and Android vitals.App Store vs Google Play ASO: the differences that matterApp Store vs Google Play ASO compared: indexed fields, keyword field, description indexing, testing tools, review processes and what to do differently.ASO vs SEO: what app store SEO really isASO vs SEO: how app store SEO differs from web SEO in ranking factors, limits, links and testing, and how your website can still help your app.App Store keyword research: a practical methodApp Store keyword research step by step: seed terms, search suggestions, competitor gaps, relevance vs difficulty scoring and choosing which fields to use.App Store keywords: filling the 100-character fieldHow to write App Store keywords: commas without spaces, no repeats from the name or subtitle, singular forms, no competitor brands and how to prioritise.How to rank higher on the App StoreHow app store ranking works and how to rank higher: relevant metadata, conversion, downloads, ratings, updates and localization. No tricks, no guarantees.iOS app ranking: search and top chartsHow iOS app ranking works in App Store search and top charts, what Apple says about ranking factors, and how to track your app's ranking over time.Google Play ranking: how Play ranks appsHow Google Play ranking works: relevance of title and descriptions, quality signals like ratings and Android vitals, engagement, and how to track it.App Store ranking by countryWhy App Store ranking differs by country, how to check rankings in each storefront, and how localization and country-specific metadata improve them.App Store game rankingHow App Store game ranking works: game categories and subcategories, chart velocity, in-app events, icons and screenshots, and ratings for mobile games.How to read Sensor Tower app rankings and estimatesHow to read Sensor Tower and similar app ranking data: chart history, download and revenue estimates, keyword data.Google Play top charts explainedHow Google Play top charts work: Top free, Top grossing and category charts, what drives them, how they differ by country, and why they're hard to game.Mobile app SEO: getting your app found on GoogleMobile app SEO beyond the stores: an app landing page, structured data, app indexing with universal links and app links, and Search Console basics.ASO search volume: where the numbers come fromHow ASO tools estimate app store search volume, why numbers differ between tools, what Apple Search Ads popularity means, and how to use estimates safely.
Screenshots guides
App Store screenshot sizes and dimensions (2026)App Store screenshot dimensions for 2026: iPhone 6.9-inch and 6.5-inch, iPad 13-inch, file formats, how many you can upload and how Apple scales them.Google Play screenshot size and feature graphic specsGoogle Play screenshot size rules: 320–3840 px, 2:1 maximum aspect ratio, JPEG or 24-bit PNG, minimum 2 screenshots, plus the 1024 x 500 feature graphic.iPad App Store screenshots: sizes and tipsiPad App Store screenshot sizes (13-inch: 2064 x 2752 or 2048 x 2732), when they're required, and how to design iPad screenshots that don't look stretched.App Store preview video size and specsApp Store preview video size and rules: resolution per device, 15–30 seconds, up to 3 previews per localization, formats, and what Apple allows in them.App Store screenshot templates: what to use and avoidHow to choose an App Store screenshot template: layouts that convert, correct sizes for iPhone and Google Play.How to make App Store screenshots in FigmaStep-by-step: make App Store and Google Play screenshots in Figma with correct frame sizes, auto layout captions, components for device frames.How to make App Store screenshots in CanvaMake App Store and Google Play screenshots in Canva: custom sizes, caption styles, consistent sets, correct exports.App screenshot mockups: device frames or not?Should your app store screenshots use device mockups? Pros and cons of frames, frameless and angled mockups, and the rules Apple and Google apply.App Store screenshot best practicesApp Store screenshot best practices from a developer: lead with the benefit, design for thumbnail size, order screens by importance and test variants.Apple product page optimization: how to run a testHow Apple product page optimization works: test up to 3 treatments of icon, screenshots and previews, traffic splits, duration, and how to read results.Apple custom product pages: uses and setupApple custom product pages explained: up to 70 variants with their own screenshots, previews and promo text, unique URLs.How to A/B test app store screenshotsHow to A/B test app store screenshots on iOS and Google Play: pick one hypothesis, build two sets, set traffic, wait for confidence and apply the winner.Google Play store listing experiments: a practical guideHow to run Google Play store listing experiments: test icon, screenshots, feature graphic and descriptions, choose audiences.
Icons guides
How to create an app icon that gets tappedHow to create an app icon for iOS and Android: one clear symbol, strong contrast, small-size testing, correct export sizes.iPhone app icon design: sizes and rulesDesign an iPhone app icon: 1024 x 1024 master, no transparency, light, dark and tinted appearances, Apple's grid and how iOS masks the shape.Android app icon design: adaptive icons and Play specsAndroid app icon design: 512 x 512 Play Store icon, adaptive icon layers on a 108dp canvas with a 66dp safe zone, themed icons and common mistakes.Best app icon design: what strong icons have in commonWhat the best app icon designs have in common: one idea, contrast against competitors, readable at small size.Android icon creator: using Image Asset StudioCreate Android app icons with Android Studio's Image Asset Studio: adaptive layers, legacy icons, monochrome themed icon and the 512 px Play Store export.Game app icon design for mobile gamesGame app icon design tips: show a character or core object, use bold colours and expressions, stand out in your genre and test icons with real players.iPad app icon design and sizesiPad app icon design: the same 1024 x 1024 App Store master as iPhone, how iPadOS displays it, and design checks for larger home screens and the dock.How to A/B test an app iconHow to A/B test your app icon: Apple product page optimization with icons in the binary, Google Play store listing experiments, metrics and pitfalls.
Localization guides
How to localize a mobile app (and its store listing)How to localize a mobile app: choose markets, prepare strings, translate, localize the store listing and keywords, test layouts, and measure results.Flutter app localization: step by stepFlutter app localization with flutter_localizations, intl and ARB files: setup, generated code, plurals, RTL, testing, and localizing the store listing.iOS localization: String Catalogs and the App StoreiOS localization with Xcode String Catalogs, localized Info.plist strings, testing with scheme languages.App Store localization keywords: extra search spaceHow App Store localizations add keyword space: which locales are indexed in which storefronts, how to use them without breaking rules.
Growth guides
How to increase app downloadsHow to increase app downloads without paid ads: keyword fixes, screenshot and icon tests, localization, ratings, updates, in-app events and a website.How to increase Android app downloadsIncrease Android app downloads on Google Play: description optimization, store listing experiments, custom store listings, vitals, ratings.How to increase app downloads for freeFree ways to increase app downloads: metadata fixes, free store tests, ratings prompts, localization of the listing, communities, a landing page.Mobile app marketing campaigns: a practical playbookPlan mobile app marketing campaigns: launch, update and seasonal campaigns, custom product pages, in-app events, attribution with SKAdNetwork.How to choose an app marketing agencyHow to choose an app marketing or ASO agency: questions to ask, red flags like guaranteed rankings, pricing models, and when a specialist fits better.Android game marketing: a practical guideAndroid game marketing on Google Play: store listing for games, icon and screenshot tests, pre-registration, LiveOps events, vitals.
Rejections guides
How to appeal an App Store rejectionHow to appeal an App Store rejection: when to reply versus appeal, how to contact the App Review Board, what to write, and how to appeal on Google Play.App Store Review Guidelines explainedThe App Store Review Guidelines explained by section: Safety, Performance, Business, Design and Legal, with the rules that most often cause rejections.Google Play review guidelines (Developer Policies) explainedGoogle Play's developer policies explained: restricted content, privacy and Data safety, permissions, metadata, monetization and how enforcement works.How to keep up with App Store and Play guideline changesHow to keep up with App Store Review Guidelines and Google Play policy changes: official sources, what to check after each update, and a simple routine.
Sources
- Apple: Search on the App Store (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Google Play Console Help: Create and set up your app's store listing (accessed 26 October 2026)
FAQ
Questions
Are the guides free?
Yes.
How often are they updated?
When Apple or Google change rules.
Do they cover Android?
Yes.
Can I request a guide?
Yes, by email.
Where do I start?
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