iOS vs Android Icon Guidelines: Complete Developer Guide

Size Requirements

The most fundamental difference between iOS and Android icons lies in their size requirements and how they're implemented.

Design Principles

iOS Design Philosophy

• Simplicity: Focus on a single, recognizable element
• No borders: iOS automatically applies rounded corners
• Full bleed: Design edge-to-edge without padding
• Avoid text: Unless it's part of your logo
• Depth through gradients: Subtle gradients add dimensionality

Android Design Philosophy

• Material Design: Follow Material Design principles
• Safe zones: Keep important elements within the safe area
• Dynamic shapes: Design for multiple mask shapes
• Motion ready: Consider how layers might animate
• Consistent padding: Maintain visual balance across shapes

Technical Specifications

Asset Configuration Files

{
  "images": [
    {
      "size": "60x60",
      "idiom": "iphone",
      "filename": "Icon-60@2x.png",
      "scale": "2x"
    },
    {
      "size": "60x60",
      "idiom": "iphone",
      "filename": "Icon-60@3x.png",
      "scale": "3x"
    }
  ]
}

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<adaptive-icon xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <background android:drawable="@color/ic_launcher_background"/>
    <foreground android:drawable="@mipmap/ic_launcher_foreground"/>
</adaptive-icon>

Submission Process

iOS App Store Submission

1. Prepare all icon sizes in Xcode's Asset Catalog
2. Include the 1024×1024 App Store icon
3. Test on multiple devices using TestFlight
4. Submit through App Store Connect
5. Wait for review (typically 24-48 hours)

Google Play Store Submission

1. Generate adaptive icon assets
2. Include legacy icons for older Android versions
3. Upload 512×512 hi-res icon for store listing
4. Test using Play Console's internal testing
5. Submit for review (typically 2-3 hours)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Testing Your Icons

iOS Testing Tools

• Xcode Simulator: Test all device sizes
• TestFlight: Real device testing
• Icon Set Studio: Validate icon requirements
• Reality Composer: Preview in AR

Android Testing Tools

• Android Studio: Preview adaptive icons
• Device Emulator: Test multiple densities
• Adaptive Icon Preview: Chrome extension
• Play Console: Pre-launch reports

Automating Icon Generation

Manually creating all required icon sizes is time-consuming and error-prone. Here are strategies for automation:

Using Icon Maker Studio

Icon Maker Studio automatically generates all required sizes for both iOS and Android from a single master design. Our AI ensures your icon looks perfect at every size, handling the nuances of scaling and optimization automatically.

Command Line Tools

#!/bin/bash
# Generate iOS icons
for size in 20 29 40 58 60 76 80 87 120 152 167 180 1024; do
  convert master-icon.png -resize ${size}x${size} ios-${size}.png
done

# Generate Android icons
for size in 48 72 96 144 192 512; do
  convert master-icon.png -resize ${size}x${size} android-${size}.png
done

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between iOS and Android icon requirements is crucial for successful app deployment. While iOS favors simplicity and consistency, Android embraces flexibility and customization through adaptive icons.

The key to success is starting with a strong, scalable design that works across all sizes and platforms. Tools like Icon Maker Studio can significantly streamline this process, ensuring your icons meet all technical requirements while maintaining visual excellence.