macOS App Icons: Choose the Asset or Icon Composer Workflow

Choose the workflow for your deployment targets

Consult Apple’s Icon Composer guide for the layered workflow, and keep the asset-catalog path clear for targets that use it. Test the actual supported OS range; do not assume a file extension alone proves backward compatibility.

Understand legacy point-size slots

A traditional Mac icon set uses point sizes 16, 32, 128, 256 and 512 with 1x and 2x variants. That is ten slots, with the largest rendered image at 1024 pixels. It is not twelve sizes extending to a required 2048-pixel image.

Avoid an invented universal shape rule

Do not require every Mac icon to be a tilted square with pre-rendered highlights. Use the design resources appropriate to the current workflow and let its rendering model guide which effects belong in the source.

Check Catalyst separately

An iOS asset catalog exported by IconBundlr does not establish that your Mac Catalyst target is fully configured. Inspect the Mac target’s icon setup, build output and installed rendering. Preserve the recognizable motif while meeting that target’s requirements.

Keep source and export distinct

Maintain editable artwork if you need to revise shapes or layers. The exported runtime image is not a substitute for that source. Compare the Dock and Finder presentation at more than one size before calling the package complete.

IconBundlr export and purchase scope

IconBundlr’s native iOS export contains three 1024×1024 PNG appearance assets (light, dark and tinted) and Contents.json inside AppIcon.appiconset. Appearance processing is best-effort: if foreground extraction cannot produce a distinct variant, a slot can reuse the light artwork. Review each result in Xcode. This is an iOS asset catalog, not an Icon Composer .icon file or a complete Android, macOS, watchOS, tvOS or visionOS package.

IconBundlr is free to download, with limited free generation. Available in-app purchase options can include a renewing subscription, lifetime export access and individual-icon unlock credits. The app shows the current price, included access, renewal terms and any eligibility requirements in your storefront before purchase. A subscription is not a lifetime purchase, and an icon credit does not grant unlimited generation.

Review generated artwork before publishing. An export purchase does not guarantee originality, exclusivity, trademark clearance or App Store acceptance. Check your inputs and any third-party artwork, fonts or marks against their applicable rights and the app’s terms. Read the terms.

Frequently asked questions