Everything developers need to know about creating beautiful, effective Android app icons that follow Google's Material Design guidelines and drive downloads.
Examples of successful Android app icons on the Google Play Store
Your app icon is the first visual element users see in the Google Play Store and on their home screens. It's not just a small graphic—it's your brand's first impression, a crucial marketing asset, and a key factor in your app's success in the Android ecosystem.
Google's research shows that apps with Material Design-aligned icons perform better in Google Play Store search results and have higher install rates. With over 2.5 billion active Android devices worldwide, your icon needs to communicate your app's value instantly and effectively.
Google requires specific icon sizes for the Play Store and different Android device densities. Here's the complete list of sizes you'll need for Android app submission in 2024.
| Density/Context | Dimensions | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Play Store Icon | 512 × 512 px | PNG or JPEG format, 32-bit |
| Play Store Feature Graphic | 1024 × 500 px | PNG or JPEG format, 24-bit |
| MDPI (1.0x) | 48 × 48 px | PNG format |
| HDPI (1.5x) | 72 × 72 px | PNG format |
| XHDPI (2.0x) | 96 × 96 px | PNG format |
| XXHDPI (3.0x) | 144 × 144 px | PNG format |
| XXXHDPI (4.0x) | 192 × 192 px | PNG format |
| Adaptive Icon Foreground | 108 × 108 px (w/ 18dp padding) | PNG format |
| Adaptive Icon Background | 108 × 108 px | PNG format |
Since Android 8.0 (API level 26), Google has implemented Adaptive Icons which consist of a foreground and background layer. For maximum compatibility, you should provide both legacy icons for older devices and adaptive icons for newer versions. Our generator tool handles both formats automatically.
Follow these Google-recommended Material Design principles to create effective, visually appealing Android icons.
Adhere to Google's Material Design principles for depth, lighting, and shadows to create a cohesive look with the Android ecosystem.
Focus on distinctive silhouettes that are recognizable at small sizes. Avoid complex illustrations with many details.
Use Google's keyline grid to ensure proper alignment and scaling of your icon elements across different screen densities.
Design your icon with separate foreground and background layers to support Android's adaptive icon system and ensure compatibility.
Implement bright, vibrant colors consistent with Material Design's color palette while ensuring good contrast.
Keep light source and shadows consistent with the Material Design standard (45-degree angle from top-left).
Learn from these frequent errors that can lead to poor user engagement or Play Store approval issues.
Not providing proper foreground and background layers for adaptive icons leads to poor display on newer Android devices.
While respecting platform guidelines, maintain brand consistency between your Android and iOS icons for cross-platform recognition.
Too many elements or details make your icon look cluttered on smaller screens and app galleries.
Not following the recommended corner radius for your icon shape can make it look out of place in the Android ecosystem.
Improper use of shadows that don't follow Material Design guidelines for elevation and light source direction.
Professional resources to help you create, test, and perfect your Android app icon.
Creates Play Store-ready icons in all required sizes and formats
Official Google documentation on icon design principles
Tools to create both foreground and background layers for modern Android
Generate icons for all required Android screen densities
See how your icon appears on various Android devices and screen sizes
Test your icon on different Android versions and device configurations
Preview how your app listing will appear in the Google Play Store
Run experiments with different icon designs to optimize conversion
Skip the complicated design process. Our AI-powered app icon generator creates professional, Play Store-ready icons instantly.
Common questions about Android app icon design
Adaptive Icons, introduced in Android 8.0 (Oreo), consist of two layers: a foreground and a background. This allows launchers to apply various mask shapes (square, circle, rounded square, etc.) while maintaining a consistent look. You need to provide both layers for modern Android compatibility.
The primary Play Store icon should be 512 × 512 pixels in PNG or JPEG format. This is used for your app listing on the Play Store. Additionally, you'll need to provide icons in various density-specific sizes for in-app display.
Yes, for maximum compatibility. Older Android devices (pre-Android 8.0) will use your legacy icons, while newer devices will use adaptive icons. Our generator creates both formats to ensure your app looks great on all devices.
For adaptive icons, the foreground layer can have transparency, but the background layer should be opaque. For legacy icons, transparency is supported but should be used carefully as some launchers may display icons on various background colors.
Material Design provides specific guidelines for light source direction, shadow implementation, and depth that help your icon integrate seamlessly with the Android interface. Following these guidelines ensures your icon looks professional and platform-appropriate.
While you should maintain brand consistency across platforms, each platform has specific design guidelines. We recommend creating platform-specific versions of your icon that follow Android and iOS guidelines respectively, while keeping your core brand identity consistent.
