How Many Screenshots Do You Need for the App Store?
How many screenshots are required for the App Store? The minimum is 1 and the maximum 10 per size. Here is how many to actually upload, plus Google Play rules.
ScreenShipper team · · 6 min read
Quick answer: The App Store requires at least 1 screenshot and allows up to 10 per device size and localization. Google Play needs at least 2 to publish and allows up to 8 per device type. In practice, most apps do best with 5–8 App Store screenshots: one per real benefit, with the strongest three first because those can appear in search results.
Minimum and Maximum Screenshots by Store
The limits apply per device size and per language, which is why the real number of files you produce is much larger than 10.
| Where | Minimum | Maximum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Store, iPhone | 1 per required size | 10 | 6.3″ is required, plus 6.9″ or 6.5″ |
| App Store, iPad | 1 at 13″ if the app runs on iPad | 10 | Smaller iPads are scaled |
| App Store, Mac | 1 for Mac apps | 10 | 16:10 landscape |
| App Store, Apple Watch | 1 for Watch apps | 10 | Same size across all localizations |
| App Store, app previews | 0 | 3 | Video, per device size and localization |
| Google Play, phone | 2 to publish | 8 per device type | JPEG or 24-bit PNG, no alpha |
| Google Play, tablets | Optional | 8 per device type | At least 4 recommended for large-screen visibility |
App previews don't use up screenshot slots: you can upload 3 videos and 10 screenshots for the same device size. For the technical side, such as formats, alpha channels and exact sizes, see our App Store screenshot requirements.
How Many Screenshots You Should Actually Upload
The minimum is a technical floor, not a target. A single screenshot gives people almost nothing to judge your app by, and it leaves your search result with one image where competitors show three. The maximum isn't a target either: every additional screenshot is seen by fewer people, because they have to keep swiping to reach it.
The right number is the number of distinct benefits you can show with real UI. Here is a practical starting point by app type:
| App type | Suggested count | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single-purpose utility (scanner, timer, converter) | 4–6 | Few features; extra screens would repeat |
| Consumer app with a handful of core features | 6–8 | One benefit each, plus a trust or breadth screen |
| Feature-rich productivity, finance or creative tool | 8–10 | Many distinct workflows worth showing |
| Game | 5–8, plus an app preview | Motion sells gameplay better than stills |
| New app or MVP | At least 3 | Fill the search result; add more as features ship |
Two warning signs that you have too many: two screenshots make the same point with different wording, or one exists only to show a settings screen. Two signs you have too few: an important benefit appears only in your description, or your third screenshot is a generic "and much more" grid.
Why the First Three Matter Most
Apple says that, depending on orientation, the first one to three screenshots appear in search results when no app preview is available. With portrait screenshots that is typically three images side by side; with landscape, typically one. If you add an app preview, it generally takes the first position.
So your count decision really has two parts: which three screenshots go first, and how many supporting screenshots follow on the product page. Put your strongest benefits in slots one to three and let the rest add depth. Our guide to the first App Store screenshot covers how to make that opening slot work in search.
How the Count Multiplies Across Devices and Languages
Here is the math most teams underestimate. Suppose you ship 8 screenshots:
| Set | Files per language |
|---|---|
| iPhone 6.3″ | 8 |
| iPhone 6.9″ | 8 |
| iPad 13″ | 8 |
| Google Play phone | 8 |
| Google Play tablet | 4 |
| Total | 36 |
Localize that into 10 languages and you are managing 360 images, each of which must be updated whenever a headline or the UI changes. That is why it pays to:
- Rely on scaling. Smaller iPhone and iPad sizes are scaled from the larger ones, so you don't design them separately.
- Localize in priority order. Start with the markets that bring the most traffic; our screenshot localization guide explains how to choose.
- Design from one source. Keep copy in one sheet and generate every size and language from a single design rather than maintaining separate files by hand.
A smaller, sharper set also makes every future update cheaper. Cutting from 10 to 7 screenshots removes 30% of the files you maintain.
Does the Number of Screenshots Affect App Store Ranking?
Apple doesn't document screenshot count as a search ranking factor, and nothing suggests that uploading all 10 lifts you in search. What screenshots clearly influence is conversion: whether someone who sees your listing taps Get. That matters more than any count.
If you are unsure whether a shorter or longer set works better, test it. Product Page Optimization lets you run up to three treatments against your original page, each with different screenshots. Our Product Page Optimization guide explains how to set up a clean test.
A Simple Way to Decide Your Number
- List every benefit your app delivers, phrased as an outcome for the user.
- Cross out anything a first-time user wouldn't care about yet, such as settings or account management.
- Merge benefits that overlap into one screenshot.
- Order what's left by importance and confirm the top three work on their own.
- Add a final trust or breadth screenshot only if you have something real to show, such as genuine ratings or integrations.
- Stop there, even if you have slots left. The final count is usually between 5 and 8.
Then design the set following our step-by-step guide on how to make App Store screenshots, and check it against the App Store screenshot best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit an app with only one screenshot?
Yes. Apple's minimum is one screenshot per required device size, so a single image is technically enough. It does make a weak first impression, so treat it as a temporary state.
Do I need screenshots for every iPhone size?
No. You provide the required sizes, 6.3″ plus 6.9″ or 6.5″, and App Store Connect scales them for smaller iPhones. You can still upload custom sets for other sizes if you want.
Do I need the same number of screenshots for iPhone and iPad?
No. Each device size has its own 1–10 limit. Many apps use the same story on both, but the iPad set can be shorter or longer if your iPad experience differs.
Do app previews count toward the 10 screenshot limit?
No. App previews have their own limit of up to 3 per device size and localization, separate from the 10 screenshots.
How many screenshots does Google Play require?
Google Play requires at least two screenshots to publish and allows up to 8 per device type. Google also recommends at least four screenshots of 1080 px or more for some placements.
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