macOS Icon Sizes — Complete ICNS Reference
macOS applications use the ICNS container format, which bundles multiple PNG resolutions for standard and Retina displays. Apple expects icons from 16px up to 1024px, and each size needs a @1x and @2x variant. This guide covers every size required for macOS app distribution.
Required Sizes
| Size | Format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1024x1024 | PNG | App Store and Finder preview |
| 512x512 | PNG | Finder icon view @1x |
| 512x512 | PNG | Retina 256pt @2x |
| 256x256 | PNG | Finder icon view @1x |
| 128x128 | PNG | Dock @1x and list view |
| 64x64 | PNG | 32pt @2x Retina |
| 32x32 | PNG | Finder list view and sidebar |
| 16x16 | PNG | Menu bar and small list view |
Best Practices
- 1Start with a 1024px master and generate all smaller sizes from it for consistent quality.
- 2Include both @1x and @2x variants for every point size (16, 32, 128, 256, 512).
- 3Use the ICNS container format — macOS reads it natively and it packages all sizes efficiently.
- 4Design within the safe area if targeting macOS Sequoia, which applies a rounded-rectangle mask similar to iOS.
Common Mistakes
- Not providing @2x Retina variants — Retina Macs will display blurry icons if only @1x sizes exist in the ICNS.
- Applying rounded corners manually — macOS Sequoia and later apply a system-level rounded rectangle mask to all app icons.
- Skipping the 1024px size — it is required for App Store submission and high-resolution Finder previews.
- Using JPEG inside ICNS — the ICNS format only supports PNG and certain legacy formats, not JPEG.
Generate macOS Icons Instantly
Upload one image and get a complete ICNS file with all @1x and @2x Retina sizes — ready for your macOS app bundle.
Open GeneratorFrequently Asked Questions
What is the ICNS format?
ICNS is Apple's icon container format for macOS. It bundles multiple PNG images at different resolutions (16px to 1024px) into a single .icns file that the system reads to display the appropriate size.
Does macOS add rounded corners to icons?
Starting with macOS Sequoia, the system applies a rounded-rectangle mask to app icons, similar to iOS. You should provide square icons and let the OS handle rounding.
How many sizes does a macOS icon need?
A complete macOS ICNS file contains 10 images: @1x and @2x versions of 16pt, 32pt, 128pt, 256pt, and 512pt sizes, totaling images from 16px to 1024px.