How to Change App Icon in Swift

Changing the app icon in Xcode is a crucial step when developing an iOS app. A distinct and well-designed app icon is key to making your app stand out on the App Store and on users’ devices. In this guide, we’ll walk through the simple steps to change your app’s icon in Xcode.

Step 1: Design Your App Icon

Before adding the icon to your Xcode project, make sure you have your app icon ready. The app icon must follow Apple’s guidelines to ensure quality and consistency across different devices. Here are the key requirements:

• Format: PNG
• No transparency: Ensure the icon doesn’t have any transparent areas.
• Sizes: You will need multiple sizes, depending on the devices you are targeting (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.). These sizes range from 20×20 pixels to 1024×1024 pixels.

It’s important to design these icons with careful attention to detail as they represent your brand on various platforms.

Step 2: Locate the Asset Catalog

1. Open your Xcode project.
2. In the Project Navigator on the left side of Xcode, locate the Assets.xcassets folder.
3. Inside the Assets.xcassets folder, find the AppIcon entry. This is where you will add the icons for various resolutions.

Step 3: Add Icons to the AppIcon Set

Once you’ve located the AppIcon set in the Assets.xcassets folder:

1. Click on the AppIcon entry. You’ll see a grid representing the various device sizes required for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and macOS (if your app supports it).
2. Drag and drop the appropriate icon images (in PNG format) into the correct slots in the grid. Make sure you place the right size icon in the correct box.For example:
   • iPhone App (2x): 60×60 pixels
   • iPhone App (3x): 180×180 pixels
   • iPad App (2x): 152×152 pixels

Each box is labeled with a specific size, so simply match your pre-designed icons to the appropriate slots.

Step 4: Verify the App Icon

Once you’ve added all the icons:

1. Select your app’s Target in the Project Navigator.
2. In the General tab, scroll down to the App Icons and Launch Images section.
3. Ensure that the App Icons Source is set to the correct asset catalog, usually AppIcon.

By confirming this, Xcode will know which icons to use for your app during compilation.

Step 5: Clean and Build the Project

After setting the new icons, it’s good practice to clean the build before running the app to ensure no old icon data remains:

1. In the Xcode menu, go to Product > Clean Build Folder.
2. Once cleaned, build and run the app again using Product > Build.

After successfully building and running the app on a device or simulator, you should see the new app icon.

Troubleshooting

If your new app icon isn’t appearing correctly, check for the following issues:

• Mismatched sizes: Ensure that the correct icon sizes have been added to the right slots in the AppIcon grid.
• Transparency: Ensure that none of your icons have transparent layers.
• Icon source setting: Double-check that the App Icon Source in your project’s General settings is pointing to the correct AppIcon set in your assets.

You can watch the Change App Icon Application example video on our YouTube channel.

How to Change App Icon in Xcode – Step-by-Step Tutorial

Conclusion

Changing the app icon in Xcode is a straightforward process that adds a professional touch to your app. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure your app has a unique, high-quality icon that fits all device sizes and complies with Apple’s standards.