To make app screenshots look professional, show real content, put each screen in a device frame, add a short benefit headline, keep one consistent background and style across the set, and export at the exact store sizes. The free MobileStudio App Mockup Generator handles the framing and background; the rest is planning which screens to show and what to say.
The short answer
| Do | Instead of |
|---|---|
| Real, populated screens | Empty states or lorem ipsum |
| One benefit headline per image | Feature lists |
| A device frame | Raw rectangles |
| One background and style for the set | A different look on every image |
| Most important screen first | Login or splash screens |
| Exact store sizes | Whatever size your phone captured |
Which screenshots should I show?
Pick the 3 to 5 screens that show why someone would install your app, in order of importance. The first three matter most, because they appear in App Store search results. Skip login, onboarding, and settings. Apple's Guideline 2.3.3 says screenshots should show the app in use, not merely title art, a login page, or a splash screen.
How do I make the content look real?
- Use a demo account filled with believable data.
- Set the status bar to a clean time and full battery, which is easiest in Simulator.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb, so no notifications appear.
- Hide personal or real customer data.
How do I add device frames?
Drop each screenshot into the App Mockup Generator, choose a background, pick a canvas size, and export a PNG. For design-tool work, Apple provides official product bezels on Apple Design Resources. Details: how to put a screenshot in an iPhone frame.
What should the headlines say?
One short benefit per image, in the user's words:
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| "Dashboard" | "See your week at a glance" |
| "Sync feature" | "Your notes on every device" |
| "AI-powered editing" | "Fix photos in one tap" |
Keep it to about five words, large enough to read in search results.
What sizes do the stores need?
| Store | Requirement |
|---|---|
| App Store, iPhone | At least one at 1179×2556 or 1206×2622 (Dynamic Island, medium), up to 10 per size |
| App Store, iPad | At least one 13″ at 2064×2752 or 2048×2732, if the app runs on iPad |
| Google Play | Up to 8 per device type |
Apple's figures come from its screenshot specifications; see App Store screenshot sizes for every device. Google covers its rules in Add preview assets.
How do I keep screenshots consistent?
- One background (or one gradient family) for every image.
- The same device frame, size, and position.
- The same headline font, size, and placement.
- A logical order that tells a story, from the main feature to the extras.
Should screenshots be portrait or landscape?
Match how people use your app. Portrait suits almost every phone app, and it fills more of the product page in search results. Landscape makes sense for games and apps that only run sideways. Don't mix orientations within one set, since the page looks uneven.
Should I add a preview video too?
Yes, if you can. A short preview shows the app in motion before the screenshots. See how to make an App Store preview video. For everything beyond the store, like your website and social posts, a framed video demo works even better; see how to make a mockup video.
Where MobileStudio fits
The App Mockup Generator is one of our free tools. MobileStudio itself turns your screen recordings into polished video mockups with device frames and zooms. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
How do I make App Store screenshots look professional?
Real content, device frames, short headlines, a consistent background, and exact sizes.
How many App Store screenshots should I use?
At least three strong ones; you can upload up to 10 per device size.
Should App Store screenshots have text?
Short headlines help. Apple allows text overlays.
Can I make professional screenshots for free?
Yes, with the App Mockup Generator.
What's the most important screenshot?
The first, because it shows in search results.
