App Store and Google Play screenshot requirements
A practical distinction between mandatory upload rules and optional recommendations, checked against Apple and Google documentation on 11 October 2026.
Features and sources verified 2026-10-11.
Apple App Store: the mandatory baseline
App Store Connect requires at least one screenshot and allows up to ten screenshots for each supported device size. Apple accepts JPEG, JPG and PNG files, but screenshots cannot contain an alpha channel.
Apple currently requires at least one iPhone screenshot for the medium Dynamic Island display. If the app supports iPadOS, at least one 13-inch iPad screenshot is also required. When the interface is consistent across device sizes, Apple lets you provide the highest required resolution and scales it for smaller sizes.
- Use the exact pixel dimensions listed for the target display in App Store Connect.
- Keep status bars and device chrome truthful to the app experience.
- Export an opaque PNG or JPEG; transparent screenshots are rejected.
Google Play: upload rules versus recommendations
Google Play requires at least two screenshots across supported device types to publish a store listing and allows up to eight screenshots for each supported device type. Files must be JPEG or 24-bit PNG without alpha, with each side between 320 and 3840 pixels and the longest side no more than twice the shortest.
For eligibility on recommendation surfaces, Google asks apps to provide at least four screenshots at 1080 pixels or higher, using 16:9 for landscape or 9:16 for portrait. Those are recommendations, not the basic upload minimum.
- Prioritize real UI in the first three screenshots.
- Keep taglines below 20% of the image area.
- Avoid rankings, awards, testimonials, price claims and calls to action such as Download now.
- Add concise screenshot alt text and localize visible overlay copy.
A reliable preflight workflow
Choose the store preset before designing, keep important copy inside a safe zone, then validate format, dimensions and transparency before export. StoreHalo uses the same output preset for preview, validation and ZIP export so a composition is not silently stretched at the last step.
Requirements change. Recheck the linked official pages before every major release, especially after a new iPhone, iPad or Android form factor appears.