How to design an iPhone app icon
Follow these steps in order. Each one is something we do on client work.
- Start with a 1024 × 1024 px master. Apple's guidelines use this size.
- Design layers. Background and foreground, for the system's effects.
- Don't round corners. The system applies the mask.
- Check dark and tinted modes. iOS can show icons in different appearances.
- Keep detail low. Simple shapes survive.
- Export with Icon Composer or Xcode. Follow Apple's current workflow.
Design iPhone app icon: key rules and context
Specs
- 1024 x 1024 px, PNG, no alpha, square corners.
- Xcode's single-size asset generates all device sizes.
- Optional dark and tinted appearances (Apple HIG).
Design rules. Avoid text and photos, keep important content centred, and don't put an iPhone image in the icon.
Dark and tinted. Dark: transparent-looking background handled by iOS with your foreground. Tinted: grayscale that iOS colours. Test both on a real device.
Testing. Alternate icons can be tested with product page optimization when included in the binary. See icon A/B testing. iPad: iPad app icon design.
Worked example (hypothetical)
This example is illustrative. The app is made up, and so are any numbers in it.
Imagine TideTimes uses a detailed wave illustration. In tinted mode it turns into a grey blur. We'd simplify to one wave shape on a separate layer so the tinted version still reads.
Common mistakes
- Baked-in corners. Double rounding.
- Fine lines. Disappear.
- Ignoring dark and tinted. Looks broken.
- Text. Unreadable.
We design the default, dark and tinted versions together rather than adding the extra modes at the end. Checking all three side by side on a home screen catches contrast problems early, before they reach review or users.
If you want this handled for you, our pricing page lists every fixed package.
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 |
How we measure the result
For design iPhone app icon, we treat the icon as a conversion asset first. On iOS, product page optimization can test alternate icons that are included in the app binary. On Google Play, store listing experiments can test graphics, including the icon.
Checklist
Copy this list into your release notes or ticket and tick each item off before you ship.
- 1024 px master
- Layered
- No baked corners
- Dark/tinted checked
- Simple shapes
Sources
- Apple Human Interface Guidelines: App icons (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
Should I round the corners?
No, iOS masks it.
Is transparency allowed?
No for the App Store icon.
Do I need every size?
No, a single 1024 asset works in current Xcode.
Are dark icons required?
Optional but recommended.
Can you design it?
Yes.
Do iPhone icons need rounded corners?
No. Design a square; the system applies the mask.