Ultimate Guide to iOS Icon Sizes 2025: Everything You Need to Know

iOS Icon Requirements Overview

Creating app icons for iOS devices requires understanding Apple's strict guidelines and the various sizes needed for different devices and contexts. With Current Xcode AppIcon requirements (unchanged across recent iOS versions) and the latest iPhone models, Apple has refined their icon requirements to ensure optimal display quality across all screen densities.

💡 Key Requirements at a Glance

• Format: PNG format only (no transparency for app icons)
• Color Space: sRGB or P3 color space
• Corners: Square corners (iOS automatically applies rounded corners)
• Content: No text overlays or iOS interface elements
• Quality: High resolution, optimized for Retina displays

iPhone App Icon Sizes

iPhone app icons need to support various contexts and screen densities. Here are all the required sizes for iPhone apps in 2025:

Purpose	Size (pixels)	Scale	Devices
App Icon	180×180	@3x	iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro Max
App Icon	120×120	@2x	iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini
Settings	87×87	@3x	iPhone Settings app
Settings	58×58	@2x	iPhone Settings app
Spotlight	120×120	@3x	iPhone Spotlight search
Spotlight	80×80	@2x	iPhone Spotlight search
Notification	60×60	@3x	iPhone notifications
Notification	40×40	@2x	iPhone notifications

iPad App Icon Sizes

iPad apps require their own set of icon sizes, optimized for the larger screen and different usage contexts:

Purpose	Size (pixels)	Scale	Context
App Icon	152×152	@2x	iPad Pro, iPad Air
App Icon	76×76	@1x	iPad (older models)
Settings	58×58	@2x	iPad Settings
Settings	29×29	@1x	iPad Settings
Spotlight	80×80	@2x	iPad Spotlight
Spotlight	40×40	@1x	iPad Spotlight
Notification	40×40	@2x	iPad notifications
Notification	20×20	@1x	iPad notifications

Apple Watch Icon Sizes

Apple Watch apps require special consideration due to the circular display and limited screen real estate:

Purpose	Size (pixels)	Watch Size	Notes
App Icon	100×100	44mm & 45mm	Apple Watch Series 4+
App Icon	88×88	40mm & 41mm	Apple Watch Series 4+
App Icon	80×80	38mm	Apple Watch Series 1-3
App Icon	88×88	42mm	Apple Watch Series 1-3
Notification	48×48	44mm & 45mm	Watch notifications
Notification	44×44	40mm & 41mm	Watch notifications

⚠️ Apple Watch Design Considerations

• Design for circular display - avoid important elements near corners
• Use high contrast colors for better visibility
• Keep designs simple and recognizable at small sizes
• Test on actual devices for optimal results

App Store Icon Requirements

The App Store listing requires a high-resolution icon that represents your app in search results and featured sections:

Platform	Size (pixels)	Format	Purpose
iOS App Store	1024×1024	PNG	App Store listing
Mac App Store	1024×1024	PNG	Mac App Store listing
Apple TV	1280×768	PNG	tvOS App Store

Pro Tip: The 1024×1024 App Store icon should be your master icon. All other sizes should be generated from this high-resolution source to ensure consistency and quality.

Design Best Practices

1. Start with a 1024×1024 Master Icon

Always begin your design process with a 1024×1024 pixel canvas. This ensures you have enough detail and resolution to scale down to smaller sizes without losing quality.

2. Design for Scalability

Your icon should be recognizable and clear at the smallest size (20×20 pixels). Avoid fine details, thin lines, or small text that may become illegible when scaled down.

3. Use Appropriate Color Contrast

Ensure your icon has sufficient contrast to be visible in both light and dark modes. Test your icon against various backgrounds to ensure it stands out.

4. Follow Apple's Design Guidelines

• Use a simple, focused design
• Avoid photorealistic details
• Don't include text in your icon
• Ensure your icon is unique and memorable
• Test on actual devices

✅ Quick Design Checklist

• ✓ Icon is recognizable at 20×20 pixels
• ✓ No transparency in app icons
• ✓ Square corners (iOS adds rounded corners automatically)
• ✓ High contrast and vibrant colors
• ✓ Consistent with your app's branding
• ✓ Tested on multiple device sizes

Recommended Tools

Design Tools

• Sketch: Popular choice for iOS icon design with built-in templates
• Figma: Free, web-based design tool with excellent collaboration features
• Adobe Illustrator: Vector-based design for scalable icons
• Canva: User-friendly option for simple icon designs

Icon Generation Tools

• DevIcon Studio: Generate all required iOS icon sizes from a single 1024×1024 image
• Icon Set Creator: Batch resize icons for multiple platforms
• Asset Catalog Creator: Organize icons for Xcode projects

🚀 Try DevIcon Studio

Save hours of manual resizing with our automated icon generator. Upload your 1024×1024 design and get all required iOS icon sizes instantly.

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Final Checklist

Before submitting your app to the App Store, ensure you have all required icon sizes and they meet Apple's guidelines:

📱 iPhone Icons

• 180×180 (App Icon @3x)
• 120×120 (App Icon @2x)
• 87×87 (Settings @3x)
• 58×58 (Settings @2x)
• 120×120 (Spotlight @3x)
• 80×80 (Spotlight @2x)
• 60×60 (Notification @3x)
• 40×40 (Notification @2x)

📱 iPad Icons

• 152×152 (App Icon @2x)
• 76×76 (App Icon @1x)
• 58×58 (Settings @2x)
• 29×29 (Settings @1x)
• 80×80 (Spotlight @2x)
• 40×40 (Spotlight @1x)
• 40×40 (Notification @2x)
• 20×20 (Notification @1x)

🎯 Final Submission Tips

• Test your icons on actual devices before submission
• Ensure all icons are pixel-perfect and properly aligned
• Double-check that your 1024×1024 App Store icon matches your app icons
• Review Apple's latest Human Interface Guidelines
• Consider how your icon looks alongside other apps