How to Generate iOS and Android App Icons From One PNG

By Lyxvo · Published November 2, 2026 · 4 min read

You can generate iOS and Android app icons from one PNG by starting with a single high-resolution square master file and exporting every size each platform requires. This guide explains the sizes, the rules that trip people up, and a repeatable workflow you can follow today.

Why one master PNG is enough

Both Apple and Google ask for a range of icon sizes, but they all come from the same artwork. If you design once at a large, clean square size, you can scale it down for every platform instead of redrawing it for each store. The key is to keep the master file sharp, square and free of anything that depends on a specific device.

Android apps are distributed as APK or App Bundle packages, and the launcher icon is packaged inside them in several densities. iOS apps ship an asset catalog with a set of pixel sizes for each device family. Your job is to supply one clean source and let a tool produce the rest.

Prepare the source PNG

Start with a square PNG of at least 1024 x 1024 pixels. Larger is fine as long as it is square. Follow these rules for the master file:

• Square canvas. Do not pre-round the corners. Both platforms apply their own masks.
• No transparency for iOS. The App Store icon must be fully opaque. Give the background a solid fill.
• Keep the important shape central. Leave a safe margin so the logo is not clipped by circular or squircle masks on Android.
• No text that is too small. Icons are seen at very small sizes, so keep lettering bold or drop it.
• Avoid device chrome. Do not include shadows, bezels or mockup frames.

Note: platform rules for icon masks, required sizes and store review guidelines change over time. Check the current developer documentation for Apple and Google before you submit, because details may have changed since this article was written.

The sizes you need

The table below lists the common targets. Exact requirements can vary by OS version and device, so treat it as a checklist rather than a complete specification.

Export every size without redrawing

Once the master is ready, the manual approach means resizing in an image editor, naming each file correctly and placing it in the right folder. That is slow and error-prone. Work from a tool that exports the full icon set for each platform in one step, then verify the folders and names against the documentation.

A simple workflow

1. Export or design your master square PNG at 1024 px.
2. Generate the iOS asset set and the Android density set from that one file.
3. Check the transparency and corner handling for each platform.
4. Drop the files into your Xcode asset catalog and your Android resource folders.
5. Build, run on a device or emulator, and look at the icon on the home screen.

Check the icons on real backgrounds

An icon that looks good on a white preview can disappear on a dark home screen. Test the master at small sizes, on light and dark wallpapers, and in both launcher styles. Confirm the mask does not cut off a letter or the edge of your mark.

Generate the icon set in Lyxvo AI

Lyxvo AI can produce app icons as part of a brand kit. In the Lyxvo design studio you can start from the app format at /design/?platform=app, or use the dedicated app icon generator to create the master artwork. Its brand kits include every Android, iOS and web icon size, so you do not have to size each one by hand. Exports include PNG at real size, and you can also move designs to Figma as SVG and tokens or to Flutter and Kotlin Jetpack Compose code if your build needs it. Start on the free plan at /pricing/ to see what your daily limit allows.

If you are also making the logo that goes inside the icon, the AI logo generator and the logo studio are useful starting points.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a small source. A 256 px file scaled up to 1024 px will look soft in the store.
• Leaving transparency on iOS. This can cause rejection or a black background.
• Rounding corners yourself. Let the platform mask handle it.
• Forgetting Android adaptive layers. A flat icon may look cropped on some launchers.
• Skipping a real-device check. Previews are not the same as the home screen.

Checklist before you ship

• [ ] Master PNG is square, at least 1024 x 1024 px
• [ ] iOS App Store icon has no transparency
• [ ] Android icons cover all density folders
• [ ] Key artwork sits inside the safe zone
• [ ] Icon is readable at 48 px
• [ ] Tested on light and dark wallpapers
• [ ] Store guidelines checked for the current year

With one well-made PNG and a clear checklist, you can cover both platforms without redrawing anything. Take a few minutes to get the master right, and the rest of the process becomes mostly verification.