App Store icon size & guidelines
One size, strict rules, and a handful of rejection reasons that catch almost every first-time submitter. Here's the exact spec.
The spec
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Size | 1024 × 1024 px |
| Format | PNG, no alpha channel |
| Color space | sRGB or Display P3 |
| Corners | Square — the OS applies the mask |
| Where it's used | App Store listing, Settings, Spotlight, notifications |
Why Apple rejects app icons
🔲 Pre-rounded corners
Apple masks the icon into a squircle automatically. Submitting an already-rounded square creates a visible double-border.
👻 Transparency
The light App Store icon must be fully opaque. Any transparent pixels get rejected or rendered on a black background.
🖼 Placeholder artwork
Default Xcode icons or stock template graphics are an automatic rejection under App Review guidelines.
iOS 18 added two more variants
Since iOS 18, Apple also accepts a dark icon (your glyph on a transparent background, composited onto the system's dark gradient) and a tinted icon (a grayscale version of your glyph that the OS colors with the user's accent tint). Neither is strictly required, but both are worth shipping — see our iOS icon design breakdown for exactly how each one is built.
Frequently asked
What size does an App Store icon need to be?
1024×1024 pixels, PNG, fully opaque with no transparency. Apple applies the squircle mask automatically.
Why does Apple reject app icons?
Most commonly: transparency in the light icon, pre-rounded corners, or placeholder/default artwork.
What about Google Play icons?
Play Store icons use a different 512×512 spec — see our Google Play icon guide for the full breakdown.