The Complete Technical Reference

Getting your screenshots rejected by App Store Connect or Google Play Console is frustrating. This guide covers every technical requirement so your screenshots pass review on the first try.

Bookmark this page—you'll reference it for every app update.

Quick Reference Table

iOS App Store Requirements (2026)

Required Screenshot Sizes

Apple requires screenshots for the following device classes:

iPhone (Required for all iOS apps)

6.7" Display (iPhone 15 Pro Max, 15 Plus, 14 Pro Max, 14 Plus)

• Resolution: 1290 × 2796 pixels
• Aspect ratio: 9:19.5
• Required: YES (this is your primary submission)
• Notes: Apple will scale this for older devices if 6.5" not provided

6.5" Display (iPhone 11 Pro Max, XS Max)

• Resolution: 1242 × 2688 pixels
• Aspect ratio: 9:19.5
• Required: NO (but recommended for legacy devices)
• Notes: Provides better quality than scaled-down 6.7" screenshots

5.5" Display (iPhone 8 Plus, 7 Plus, 6s Plus)

• Resolution: 1242 × 2208 pixels
• Aspect ratio: 9:16
• Required: NO (Apple will scale from 6.7")
• Notes: Only needed if you want pixel-perfect display on legacy devices

iPad (Required if your app supports iPad)

iPad Pro 12.9" (6th generation)

• Resolution: 2048 × 2732 pixels
• Aspect ratio: 3:4
• Required: YES (if iPad app)
• Notes: This is the primary iPad submission size

iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd generation)

• Resolution: 2048 × 2732 pixels
• Aspect ratio: 3:4
• Required: NO (same as 6th gen)
• Notes: Same resolution, only needed for legacy support

iOS File Specifications

Format Requirements:

• File format: PNG or JPG
• Color space: RGB (not CMYK)
• File size: Maximum 500 KB per screenshot
• Transparency: Allowed in PNG (not recommended for screenshots)

Quantity:

• Minimum: 1 screenshot
• Maximum: 10 screenshots per localization
• Recommended: 5-8 screenshots (sweet spot for engagement)

Upload Order:

• Screenshots display in the order you upload them
• First screenshot is most critical (90% of users see it)
• Reordering requires deleting and re-uploading

iOS Design Safe Zones

To ensure your text and important UI elements aren't cropped:

6.7" iPhone (1290 × 2796):

• Top safe zone: 120 pixels from top
• Bottom safe zone: 120 pixels from bottom
• Left/Right safe zones: 80 pixels from edges
• Text minimum size: 40pt (readable when scaled)

iPad Pro 12.9" (2048 × 2732):

• Top safe zone: 100 pixels from top
• Bottom safe zone: 100 pixels from bottom
• Left/Right safe zones: 100 pixels from edges
• Text minimum size: 48pt (larger display = larger text)

Testing checklist:

• View on iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7" simulator)
• View on iPhone 11 Pro Max (6.5" simulator)
• Verify text is readable at actual device size
• Check that nothing critical is in status bar area

Common iOS Rejection Reasons

1. Wrong Dimensions

• Uploading 1284 × 2778 instead of 1290 × 2796 (common mistake)
• Using Android aspect ratios for iOS

2. File Size Too Large

• Exceeding 500 KB limit (use JPG with 85% quality, or compress PNG)

3. Content Violations

• Screenshots showing unreleased features
• Placeholder content (Lorem Ipsum)
• Competitor app names visible
• Inappropriate content

4. Misleading Screenshots

• Showing features not in the app
• Fake reviews or ratings
• Platform-specific features on wrong platform (Android UI on iOS)

Android Google Play Requirements (2026)

Required Screenshot Sizes

Google Play is more flexible with dimensions but has specific recommendations:

Phone (Required for all Android apps)

Recommended Resolution:

• Minimum: 1080 × 1920 pixels
• Maximum: 7680 × 4320 pixels (8K)
• Recommended: 1080 × 1920 or 1440 × 2560
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 9:16 (most common)

Alternative Aspect Ratios (Accepted):

• 9:16 (standard portrait)
• 16:9 (standard landscape)
• 2:1 (tall phones)
• Custom (must be between 16:9 and 2:1)

7-inch Tablet (Optional)

Recommended Resolution:

• Minimum: 1200 × 1920 pixels
• Maximum: 7680 × 4320 pixels
• Recommended: 1200 × 1920 or 1600 × 2560
• Aspect ratio: 16:10 preferred

10-inch Tablet (Optional)

Recommended Resolution:

• Minimum: 1920 × 2560 pixels
• Maximum: 7680 × 4320 pixels
• Recommended: 1920 × 2560 or 2560 × 3840
• Aspect ratio: 16:10 preferred

Android File Specifications

Format Requirements:

• File format: PNG (preferred) or JPG
• Color space: RGB
• File size: Maximum 8 MB per screenshot
• Transparency: Allowed in PNG (useful for feature graphics)

Quantity:

• Minimum: 2 screenshots (phone)
• Maximum: 8 screenshots per device type
• Recommended: 4-6 screenshots for best engagement

Upload Guidelines:

• Screenshots can be portrait or landscape
• Mix of orientations allowed (but not recommended)
• First two screenshots are featured in search results

Android Design Safe Zones

Phone (1080 × 1920):

• Status bar: 75 pixels from top (varies by device)
• Navigation bar: 150 pixels from bottom
• Left/Right safe zones: 60 pixels from edges
• Text minimum size: 36pt

Tablet (1920 × 2560):

• Status bar: 100 pixels from top
• Navigation bar: 100 pixels from bottom (many tablets hide this)
• Left/Right safe zones: 80 pixels from edges
• Text minimum size: 48pt

Android fragmentation note: Different manufacturers have different status bar heights. Design with generous top padding (100px+) to be safe.

Common Google Play Rejection Reasons

1. Too Few Screenshots

• Minimum 2 required (many developers upload only 1)

2. Low Resolution

• Uploading below 1080 × 1920 minimum
• Blurry or pixelated images

3. Content Policy Violations

• Showing user data or personal information
• Containing other app's branding
• Misleading functionality

4. Incorrect Aspect Ratios

• Screenshots that are too narrow or too wide
• Must fit within 2:1 ratio limits

Platform Comparison: iOS vs Android

Key Differences

iOS is more restrictive:

• Smaller file sizes (need compression)
• Specific device dimensions required
• Stricter content review

Android is more flexible:

• Wider resolution range accepted
• Larger file sizes (easier to upload high quality)
• More lenient on aspect ratios

Design implication: Design for iOS first (more restrictive), then adapt for Android (more forgiving).

Creating Screenshots for Both Platforms

Strategy 1: Design Once, Export Twice

Master size: 1290 × 2796 (iOS 6.7")

Export for iOS:

• 1290 × 2796 (iPhone 6.7")
• 1242 × 2688 (iPhone 6.5")
• 2048 × 2732 (iPad Pro 12.9" if needed)

Export for Android:

• Crop to 1080 × 1920 (remove top/bottom if needed)
• Or use 1440 × 2560 for higher quality
• Keep aspect ratio 16:9

Pros:

• Single design workflow
• Consistent branding across platforms

Cons:

• May not optimize for Android's wider flexibility
• Aspect ratio differences require cropping

Strategy 2: Platform-Specific Designs

iOS Design:

• Optimize for 9:19.5 aspect ratio
• Showcase iOS-specific features (widgets, Shortcuts, etc.)
• Follow iOS design patterns

Android Design:

• Optimize for 16:9 aspect ratio
• Showcase Android-specific features (Material Design, widgets)
• Follow Material Design guidelines

Pros:

• Best possible experience on each platform
• Can highlight platform-specific features

Cons:

• Double the design work
• Harder to maintain consistency

Text Readability Across Devices

Minimum font sizes for readability:

Pro tip: Design with 48pt headlines minimum. This ensures readability on all devices.

File Size Optimization

For iOS (500 KB limit)

If using PNG:

1. Export at 80% quality
2. Run through TinyPNG or similar compressor
3. Verify file size < 500 KB

If using JPG:

1. Export at 85% quality (sweet spot for screenshots)
2. Use progressive JPG
3. Should easily stay under 500 KB

Typical file sizes:

• PNG with text overlays: 300-450 KB
• JPG with text overlays: 150-250 KB
• PNG without text: 200-350 KB
• JPG without text: 100-180 KB

For Android (8 MB limit)

You'll almost never hit this limit. Use PNG for maximum quality.

Typical file sizes:

• PNG 1080 × 1920: 400-800 KB
• PNG 1440 × 2560: 700-1.2 MB
• JPG 1080 × 1920: 200-350 KB

Localization Requirements

Both platforms require separate screenshots for each language:

iOS Localizations

Upload different screenshots for each App Store language:

• English (U.S.)
• English (U.K.)
• Spanish
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Chinese (Traditional)
• ...and 30+ more

What to localize:

• Text overlays (obviously)
• Sample content in UI
• Currency symbols
• Date formats
• Names and user data

Android Localizations

Similar to iOS, upload per Google Play language:

• Same languages available
• Can reuse default language if translation not ready
• Google Play auto-falls back to default language

Localization stats: Apps with localized screenshots see 128% higher downloads in non-English markets.

Screenshot Testing Checklist

Before submitting to either platform:

Technical Validation

• Exact dimensions match requirements
• File sizes under platform limits
• RGB color space (not CMYK)
• Correct file format (PNG or JPG)
• No transparency issues

Content Validation

• No placeholder text (Lorem Ipsum)
• All text is readable on actual devices
• No competitor branding visible
• Content matches app functionality
• No offensive or inappropriate content

Design Validation

• Text in safe zones (not cropped)
• Consistent branding across screenshots
• High contrast for readability
• Professional appearance

Platform-Specific

iOS:

• 6.7" iPhone size provided
• iPad size provided (if iPad app)
• Tested in App Store Connect preview

Android:

• Minimum 2 screenshots uploaded
• Aspect ratio between 16:9 and 2:1
• Tested in Google Play Console preview

Quick Size Reference Cheat Sheet

Save this for quick reference:

iOS REQUIRED:
iPhone 6.7": 1290 × 2796
iPad Pro: 2048 × 2732 (if iPad app)

ANDROID RECOMMENDED:
Phone: 1080 × 1920
Tablet: 1920 × 2560 (optional)

SAFE ZONES (all platforms):
Top/Bottom: 120px
Left/Right: 80px
Text minimum: 40pt

Tools for Multi-Platform Screenshot Creation

Manual Workflow

Design Tools:

• Figma: Templates for all device sizes
• Sketch: Device artboards built-in
• Photoshop: Custom canvas sizes

Export Process:

1. Design in highest resolution
2. Create artboards for each size
3. Manually export each dimension
4. Compress to meet file size limits
5. Upload to each platform

Time estimate: 4-6 hours per screenshot set

Automated Workflow

AppShots (AI-powered):

1. Upload your app UI
2. AI generates backgrounds and captions
3. Automatically exports all sizes for iOS and Android
4. Optimizes file sizes automatically

Time estimate: 15-30 minutes per screenshot set

Other tools:

• Previewed: Device mockups
• Appure: Template marketplace
• Screenshots.pro: Multi-platform generator

Platform-Specific Best Practices

iOS Specific

Do:

• Use San Francisco font (iOS system font)
• Show iOS UI patterns (tab bars, navigation)
• Highlight iOS-exclusive features (widgets, Shortcuts)
• Include iPhone notch/Dynamic Island in device frames

Don't:

• Use Android Material Design elements
• Show Android navigation patterns
• Include Android status bar icons

Android Specific

Do:

• Use Roboto font (Android system font)
• Show Material Design patterns
• Highlight Android-exclusive features (widgets, Quick Settings)
• Include various device brands (Samsung, Pixel, etc.)

Don't:

• Use iOS design patterns
• Show iOS navigation (tab bars look wrong on Android)
• Include only Pixel devices (show variety)

Rejection Troubleshooting Guide

iOS App Store Rejections

"Screenshots do not sufficiently reflect the app"

• Fix: Ensure screenshots show actual app features
• Don't use concept art or mockups

"Incorrect screenshot dimensions"

• Fix: Verify exact pixel dimensions
• Common error: 1284 × 2778 instead of 1290 × 2796

"File size exceeds limit"

• Fix: Compress to < 500 KB
• Use JPG at 85% quality

Google Play Rejections

"Insufficient screenshots"

• Fix: Upload minimum 2 screenshots
• Recommended: 4-6 screenshots

"Screenshot resolution too low"

• Fix: Use minimum 1080 × 1920
• Ensure images aren't blurry

"Inappropriate content"

• Fix: Remove any content violating content policy
• Check for unintentional policy violations

Keeping Up With Changes

Platform requirements change annually. Stay updated:

iOS:

• Check Apple's "What's New" before major iOS releases (September)
• Review App Store Connect updates
• Test on new device sizes immediately

Android:

• Google announces changes at Google I/O (May)
• Check Google Play Console release notes
• Test on new Android versions (Fall)

Recommended schedule:

• Review requirements: Quarterly
• Update screenshots: Every 6 months minimum
• Test on new devices: Immediately after release

Conclusion

Getting screenshot dimensions right is tedious but critical. Rejections delay your launch by days or weeks.

Key takeaways:

1. iOS requires 1290 × 2796 for iPhone, 2048 × 2732 for iPad
2. Android recommends 1080 × 1920 for phone (flexible)
3. Design with safe zones to prevent cropping
4. Test on real devices before submitting
5. Use automation to prevent manual errors

Save this guide and reference it for every app update. Screenshots might seem like a formality, but they're your most important conversion asset—get the specs right.

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