Principles
Simple shape, limited palette, no photos, no words except a single letter if that's your brand. Apple's HIG on app icons and Google's icon specs are the baseline.
Process
- Screenshot search results for your top keyword.
- Note the colours and symbols everyone uses.
- Sketch 5–10 ideas that differ.
- Test at small size.
- Pick two for an icon A/B test.
Platform specifics
iOS icon design and Android icon design.
Tools
Figma, Sketch or Illustrator; for Android, the Android icon creator guide.
How to create an app icon, step by step
Follow these steps in order. Each one is something we do on client work.
- Write the idea in one word. Pick one object or symbol that stands for the app's main job.
- Sketch 20 thumbnails. Small and rough; judge them at phone size, not full screen.
- Choose one silhouette. Strong outline, one focal point, no tiny detail.
- Pick two or three colours. Check contrast against both light and dark home screens.
- Build the master. 1024 × 1024 px for Apple; export 512 × 512 px 32-bit PNG for Google Play.
- Test it next to competitors. Put it in a mock search result with the top apps in your category.
- A/B test it. Use product page optimization or store listing experiments.
Worked example (hypothetical)
This example is illustrative. The app is made up, and so are any numbers in it.
Picture Brewly, a coffee-tracking app. The first draft showed a cup, beans, a steam swirl and the word "Brewly". At 60 px it was mush. We'd keep only the cup silhouette in cream on a deep brown background, drop the text, and test it against a version with a single orange steam line to see which stands out in search results.
Icon specs for both stores
Design once at high resolution, then export to each store's rules.
| Store | Size | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| App Store | 1024 × 1024 px master | Layered icon; the system applies the mask, so don't bake in rounded corners |
| Google Play | 512 × 512 px | 32-bit PNG with alpha, max 1,024 KB |
| Google Play policy | — | No badges, ranking text or misleading symbols (e.g. fake notification dots) |
| App Store policy (2.3.8) | — | Icons must suit a 4+ audience even if the app is rated higher |
Icon tools compared
| Tool | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | Vector master and variants | Export sizes manually |
| Icon Composer (Apple) | Layered Apple icons | Apple platforms only |
| Android Studio Image Asset | Adaptive Android icons | Play store icon is a separate upload |
| Canva | Fast drafts | Templates look generic |
How we measure the result
The icon shows up everywhere: search results, charts, the product page and the home screen. That makes it one of the highest-leverage things to test. On iOS, product page optimization can test alternate icons included in the app binary; on Google Play, store listing experiments can test graphics, including the icon. We judge icons on conversion data from those tests, not on team votes. We also check the icon after launch in real search results next to competitors, because that's the context users actually see.
Common mistakes
- Words in the icon. Unreadable at small sizes, and Play bans ranking text.
- Too many details. They disappear at home-screen size.
- Pre-rounded corners. The system applies its own mask.
- Copying a category leader. You blend in, and it can raise 4.1 copycat issues.
Checklist
Copy this list into your release notes or ticket and tick each item off before you ship.
- One idea, one symbol
- Readable at 60 px
- Works on light and dark backgrounds
- 1024 px master, 512 px Play export
- No text or badges
- Compared against competitors
- Test planned
Sources
- Apple Human Interface Guidelines: App icons (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Android Developers: Google Play icon design specifications (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Add preview assets to showcase your app (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Metadata policy (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple: App Review Guidelines (accessed 26 October 2026)
Questions
What size is an app icon?
1024 x 1024 for the App Store; 512 x 512 for Play.
Can I use text?
Avoid it; it's unreadable small.
Should iOS and Android icons match?
Same concept, platform-appropriate shapes.
Do AI icon makers work?
They can help ideation; check originality and trademarks.
Can you design mine?
Yes: Icons A/B.
What size should an app icon be?
Apple's guidelines use a 1024 × 1024 px master; Google Play needs 512 × 512 px, 32-bit PNG, up to 1,024 KB.