If you dont provide these icons, iOS might shrink your main app icon for display in these locations.

Your icon is the first opportunity to communicate, at a glance, your apps purpose.

It also appears throughout the system, such as in Settings and search results.

If an icons content or shape is overly complex, the details can be hard to discern, especially at smaller sizes.

People shouldnt have to analyze the icon to figure out what it represents.

For example, the Mail app icon uses an envelope, which is universally associated with mail.

Take time to design a beautiful and engaging abstract icon that artistically represents your apps purpose.

Make sure your icon is opaque, and dont clutter the background.

Give it a simple background so it doesnt overpower other app icons nearby.

Dont include nonessential words that repeat the name or tell people what to do with your app, like Watch or Play.

If your design includes any text, emphasize words that relate to the actual content your app offers.

Screenshots are too complex for an app icon and dont generally help communicate your apps purpose.

Apple products are copyrighted and cant be reproduced in your icons or images.

In general, avoid displaying replicas of devices, because hardware designs tend to change frequently and can make your icon look dated.

Instead, consider incorporating your icons color scheme.

See Color.

You cant predict which wallpaper people will choose for their Home screen, so dont just test your app against a light or dark color.

Try it on an actual device with a dynamic background that changes perspective as the device moves.

The system applies a mask that rounds icon corners automatically.

Make sure that your app icon looks great on all the devices you support.

Although the App Store icon is used differently than the small one, its still your app icon.

It should generally match the smaller version in appearance, although it can be subtly richer and more detailed since there are no visual effects applied to it.

Additionally, apps with settings should provide a small icon to display in the built-in Settings app, and apps that support notifications should provide a small icon to display in notifications.

All icons should clearly identify your appideally, they should match your app icon.

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