macOS

App Icon Size for macOS Sonoma

macOS 14 · Mac App Store / Direct

The complete, up-to-date icon size requirements for macOS Sonoma in 2026. Every pixel dimension for Mac App Store / Direct — plus format requirements and common mistakes.

1024px
Master Size
7
Required Sizes
ICNS
Format
No Alpha
Transparency

macOS Sonoma requires app icons in seven specific sizes: 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, 128x128, 256x256, 512x512, and 1024x1024 pixels. The 1024x1024 master icon serves as the foundation for all other sizes and appears prominently in the Mac App Store. Icons must be packaged in ICNS format for distribution, though individual PNG files are used during development. macOS automatically scales icons contextually, displaying larger sizes in Finder, Dock, and App Store while using smaller versions for menu bars and system dialogs. High-resolution displays demand pixel-perfect clarity at every scale.

All Required Icon Sizes — macOS Sonoma

Size (px)DimensionsFormatUsage Context
1024px1024×1024ICNSApp Store / Play Store listing — required
512px512×512ICNSGoogle Play Store listing — required
256px256×256ICNSSystem context
128px128×128ICNSSystem context
64px64×64ICNSmacOS 64pt
32px32×32ICNSmacOS 32pt
16px16×16ICNSmacOS 16pt / favicon

Technical Requirements

File Format
ICNS / PNG
Color Space
sRGB
Transparency (Alpha)
Not allowed — solid background required
Rounded Corners
System-applied — design square
Store Destination
Mac App Store / Direct
Notes
Mac icons need multiple sizes in ICNS format.

Common Mistakes for macOS Sonoma Icons

Common mistakes include designing only the 1024x1024 size without optimizing smaller variants, causing illegible details at 16x16 and 32x32 pixels. Many developers forget to remove transparency or shadows since macOS applies its own visual effects. Another frequent error is using JPEG compression or incorrect color profiles instead of PNG with sRGB colorspace. Developers often skip testing how icons appear in dark mode or fail to ensure sufficient contrast at 64x64 and 128x128 sizes where icons frequently display in system interfaces.

How to Export Icons for macOS Sonoma

  1. 1Design your icon at 1024×1024px — this is your master file
  2. 2Use sRGB color space
  3. 3Ensure no transparency — the background must be solid
  4. 4Export as ICNS / PNG at each required size
  5. 5Upload to Mac App Store / Direct — the 1024px version goes in the metadata field

Generate All macOS Sonoma Icon Sizes Instantly

Upload your master icon once. AppIconsKit exports all 7 required sizes for macOS Sonoma — correctly formatted for Mac App Store / Direct.

Generate macOS Sonoma Icons Free →

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