How to make App Store and Google Play screenshots that convert

Store screenshots are the biggest thing people look at before they install. Here's a simple process that works for indie apps, with no design tools needed.

1. Plan the story first

Pick the 3 to 5 things a new user cares about most, and order them by importance. Each one becomes one screenshot with one short caption. The first screenshot should answer "what does this app do for me?".

2. Capture clean screens

• Use realistic demo data, not "Test 1" or an empty state.
• Take screenshots on a large device or emulator (for example a 6.9" iPhone simulator or a 1080×2400 Android emulator).
• Hide notifications. You can also remove the status bar later or replace it with a clean 9:41 one.

3. Add device frames, background and captions

• Captions: 3–6 words, large type, high contrast. Highlight one key word in your accent color.
• Keep the phone the same size and position on every screenshot, so the set looks like one design.
• Use your brand color for the background. A soft gradient or subtle pattern helps the screens stand out in search results.
• Optional: a panorama background that flows across all screenshots makes the set feel connected.

4. Translate

Localized screenshots usually convert better in non-English markets. Translate the captions for every language your listing supports, and use translated app screens when you have them.

5. Export every size

Google Play wants 1080×1920 for phones (plus 7" and 10" tablet sizes if you support tablets). The App Store wants 1320×2868 for iPhone and 2064×2752 for iPad. See the full lists for Google Play and the App Store.

Common mistakes

• Too much text: if a caption needs two lines, cut it.
• Screens that are too small to read inside the frame.
• A different style on every screenshot.
• Only English screenshots in a listing translated into ten languages.