How to Create App Icons That Work on Both Light and Dark Themes

How to Create App Icons That Work on Both Light and Dark Themes

Apple's iOS dark mode adoption hit 82% in 2024. Your app icon needs to work perfectly in both light and dark contexts, or you risk invisible icons and lost downloads. Here's how to design icons that shine in any theme.

The Dark Mode Reality

Dark mode isn't just a trend - it's now the default for most users. A finance app saw 23% fewer downloads until they fixed their light-only icon design. Their white icon literally disappeared on white backgrounds.

Same icon shown in light mode and dark mode contexts side by side The same icon in light mode (left) and dark mode (right) - notice how background affects visibility

Understanding Theme Context

Your icon appears in multiple contexts:

  • Light backgrounds: App Store, light mode home screen
  • Dark backgrounds: Dark mode home screen, search results
  • Dynamic wallpapers: User photos, changing brightness
  • Spotlight search: Various background colors

Icon shown across different contexts and backgrounds Icon visibility across contexts: App Store, home screen light, home screen dark, search results, and custom wallpapers

Design Principles for Theme Adaptability

1. Strong Contrast Foundation

Build contrast into your icon's core design. Don't rely on background separation - your icon should have internal contrast that works everywhere.

Good Example: Spotify's green icon with dark elements works on both light and dark backgrounds. Bad Example: Pure white icons disappear on light backgrounds.

2. Border Strategy

Add subtle borders or outlines to prevent disappearing. Apple's own apps use this technique:

  • Calculator: Dark outline around white elements
  • Settings: Gray border around the gear icon
  • Photos: Multi-colored flower doesn't need borders

Apple's native apps showing border techniques Apple's approach: Calculator (outlined), Settings (bordered), Photos (self-contrasting)

3. Color Psychology in Both Modes

Colors behave differently in light vs dark contexts:

  • Blues: Appear more vibrant in dark mode
  • Yellows: Need more saturation in dark mode
  • Whites: Require careful contrast management
  • Blacks: Work well in light mode, invisible in dark

Color behavior comparison between light and dark modes How colors appear differently: blues, yellows, whites, and blacks in both theme contexts

Advanced Techniques

Shadow and Depth Management

Traditional drop shadows don't work in dark mode. Instead:

  • Use inner shadows for depth
  • Create glows instead of dark shadows
  • Rely on color contrast rather than shadow contrast

Gradient Strategies

Gradients need careful handling:

  • Light to medium: Works in both modes
  • Dark to light: Problematic in dark mode
  • Saturated gradients: Generally theme-agnostic

Gradient examples showing which work in both modes Gradient techniques: light-to-medium (works), dark-to-light (problematic), saturated (versatile)

Material Design Considerations

Android's Material You adapts to user wallpapers:

  • Design for neutral backgrounds first
  • Test against colorful wallpapers
  • Consider adaptive icon backgrounds

Testing Methodology

1. Background Stress Test

Test your icon on these backgrounds:

  • Pure white (#FFFFFF)
  • Pure black (#000000)
  • 18% gray (#2D2D2D) - iOS dark mode
  • Bright colors (yellow, cyan, magenta)
  • User photos (landscapes, faces, patterns)

Icon tested on various challenging backgrounds Stress testing: pure white, pure black, dark gray, bright colors, and photo backgrounds

2. Size and Context Testing

Your icon must work at:

  • 29x29 pixels (Settings, smallest size)
  • 60x60 pixels (Notifications)
  • 120x120 pixels (Home screen @2x)
  • 1024x1024 pixels (App Store)

Use Preview by AppShot.gallery to see your icon in real contexts across both themes.

3. Accessibility Considerations

  • Contrast ratio: Aim for 4.5:1 minimum
  • Color blindness: Test with different vision types
  • Motion sensitivity: Avoid flickering effects between modes

Real-World Success Stories

WhatsApp's Evolution

WhatsApp's icon evolved from a simple green speech bubble to include subtle shadows and highlights. This ensures visibility on any background while maintaining brand recognition.

Discord's Gaming Focus

Discord's icon uses a deep purple with lighter accents. The color choice works perfectly in both light and dark gaming environments.

Evolution of popular app icons for theme compatibility Icon evolution: WhatsApp (added depth), Discord (gaming-optimized), Twitter (contrast improved)

Common Pitfalls and Solutions

Pitfall 1: Pure White Icons

Problem: Disappear on light backgrounds Solution: Add subtle borders or inner shadows

Pitfall 2: Thin Outlines

Problem: Become invisible at small sizes Solution: Use minimum 2px borders, test at 29x29

Pitfall 3: Monochromatic Design

Problem: Lack internal contrast Solution: Introduce secondary colors or tonal variations

Common mistakes and their solutions Mistakes fixed: pure white (bordered), thin outlines (thickened), monochromatic (enhanced)

Platform-Specific Considerations

iOS Guidelines

  • Rounded corners: Applied automatically
  • No transparency: In final App Store icon
  • Consistent lighting: Avoid conflicting light sources

Android Guidelines

  • Adaptive icons: Separate foreground/background layers
  • Material shadows: Follow elevation principles
  • Theme colors: Consider Material You integration

Cross-Platform Strategy

Design one icon that works everywhere:

  1. Start with iOS requirements (most restrictive)
  2. Adapt for Android (add adaptive layers)
  3. Test on both platforms thoroughly

Cross-platform icon adaptation workflow Adaptation workflow: iOS base design, Android adaptive layers, platform-specific optimizations

Technical Implementation

Color Space Management

  • sRGB: Standard for most displays
  • Display P3: For newer devices
  • Test in both: Ensure consistency

File Format Considerations

  • PNG: Standard for iOS (App Store requirement)
  • SVG: For Android adaptive icons
  • WebP: For web previews

Export Settings

  • No transparency: For App Store icons
  • Preserve alpha: For development testing
  • Multiple formats: For different use cases

Future-Proofing Your Icons

Emerging Trends

  • Always-on displays: Need ultra-high contrast
  • Foldable devices: Various aspect ratios
  • AR/VR interfaces: 3D considerations

Design System Integration

Create icon families that work across:

  • Multiple apps in your suite
  • Different themes and contexts
  • Various platforms and devices

Icon family showing consistency across different apps and themes Icon family: consistent style across multiple apps, working in both light and dark themes

Testing Tools and Resources

Automated Testing

  • Stark: Accessibility and contrast checking
  • Figma plugins: Auto-generate theme variants
  • Color Oracle: Simulate color blindness

Manual Testing

  • Real devices: Test on actual iPhones and Android phones
  • Different wallpapers: User-generated backgrounds
  • Various lighting: Indoor, outdoor, dim conditions

Remember: theme-adaptive icons aren't just about dark mode - they're about creating resilient designs that work in any context. Start with strong contrast, test thoroughly, and iterate based on real-world usage.

The best app icons don't just adapt to themes - they thrive in them. Design for visibility, test for accessibility, and create icons that users can find instantly, regardless of their theme preference.