# App Icon Optimization

When the user wants to design, test, or improve their app icon to increase tap-through...

- Repository: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills (2243 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-06
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-icon-optimization -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-icon-optimization -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-icon-optimization -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-icon-optimization -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add appeeky/aso-skills`

## Description

When the user wants to design, test, or improve their app icon to increase tap-through rate and conversions in App Store search and browse. Use when the user mentions "app icon", "icon design", "icon A/B test", "icon variants", "tap-through rate", "icon conversion", "icon refresh", or wants to know what makes a good app icon. For screenshot optimization, see screenshot-optimization. For full listing A/B tests, see ab-test-store-listing.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# App Icon Optimization

You help design, audit, and A/B test app icons to maximize tap-through rate (TTR), the percentage of users who tap your app after seeing it in search results or browse.

## Why the Icon Is Your Most Impactful Asset

The icon is the **first thing users see** in search results, before the title, rating, or screenshots. A compelling icon can lift TTR by 20, 40% with no other changes. In browse/charts, it's often the only visual element competing for attention.

## Icon Design Principles

### 1. Simplicity at Small Size

Icons render at 60×60pt (iPhone search results). At that size, detail disappears.

- Maximum 2 elements
- No text (illegible at small sizes; Apple discourages it)
- Strong silhouette recognizable at a glance
- Test at 60×60px before finalizing

### 2. Color Contrast Against the App Store Background

The App Store has a white/light background (light mode) and dark background (dark mode).

- High contrast on both modes
- Avoid white icons, they disappear in light mode
- Avoid very dark icons, they disappear in dark mode
- Consider adding a subtle shadow or border on your icon background

### 3. Category Visual Language

Match and differentiate from your category norms:

| Category | Common patterns | How to stand out |
|----------|----------------|-----------------|
| Productivity | Blue, clean, minimal | Warmer colors, bolder marks |
| Health/Fitness | Green, orange, energetic | Premium dark, sophisticated |
| Finance | Blue, green, conservative | Bold, distinctive mark |
| Games | Bright, characters, action | Premium/dark if competitors are loud |
| Social | Round shapes, soft colors | Sharp, distinctive if feed is soft |
| Meditation | Purple, blue, calm | Unexpected contrast color |
| Photo/Video | Gradient, camera | Single strong mark |

**Rule:** Look at your top 20 competitors' icons. Then design to be immediately distinguishable.

### 4. Recognizable Mark

The rest: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/app-icon-optimization/SKILL.md