What is an app splash screen & how should I design one?
What is an app splash screen?
The app splash screen, also called the launch screen, is the brief introductory screen that appears as the app loads after the user has clicked the app icon. Developers will include branded colors, logos, and animations when designing splash screens, as these elements are preferable to displaying a solid white or dark screen.
The duration of an app splash screen is tied to how long your app takes to load, with some only showing for the briefest of moments. Regardless, nearly all brands and businesses use app splash screens, as they help create a stronger first impression and stronger visual cohesion between the app’s various elements.
Why are app splash screens important?
As app loading times improve, it’s easy to wonder why app splash screens are an important consideration at all in mobile app development. However, these launch screens still play a role in shaping user experience (UX) regardless of how briefly they appear before your app’s home screen loads. Here are a few reasons why app splash screens are still important:
- A smoother transition from the device’s home screen: App splash screens ease the user into your app, bridging the time from when they click the icon to the moment they start engaging with your app’s features.
- Sets the tone for your app: An app splash screen welcomes users into your app, immediately introducing them to the tone, style and personality of your brand.
- Distracts from app loading times: Regardless of how quickly your app loads, the splash screen distracts from the process and makes the user feel as if the app has already loaded.
- Creates visual cohesion in apps: Taking the time to design an app splash screen means creating one more user interface (UI) point that aligns with the overall look and feel of your app.
If you're designing a native app for both iOS and Android devices, there are important tips and best practices to follow to ensure you end up with a compatible, effective mobile app loading screen.
3 best practices for app splash screen design
If you're designing a native app for both iOS and Android devices, there are important tips and best practices to follow to ensure you end up with a compatible, effective app splash screen.
1. Keep guidelines in mind
It's important to take platform-specific guidelines into consideration as you think about the design of your app’s splash screen. Apple shares the following to help developers design effective splash screens for iOS devices. That said, they are also very applicable for Android splash screens as well.
- Avoid using text in your launch screen. If you do opt to use text, keep it general, minimal and non-localized
- Align the colors and theme of your launch screen with the first page of your app to create a seamless transition
- Don’t advertise on your splash screen
2. Keep it simple (visually)
Aesthetic simplicity is key when designing an app splash screen. Its purpose is to grab the user’s attention quickly, using strategically-selected brand assets. Because of this, overloading the screen with unnecessary elements will not translate well once the splash screen is live.
This includes too many visuals placed in different areas of the screen or too many words that the user will not be able to read in time. Instead, try representing your app and your brand in the most efficient way possible using only the most necessary images or slogans.
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3. Make conscious color choices
Just because it’s prudent to keep things simple with app splash screens doesn’t mean you should keep things plain. On the contrary, you should focus on making your splash screen bold and inline with your brand personality.
Use solid colors or gradients that pop off the screen; use high-contrast color schemes; ensure your logo/image assets are high-resolution, detailed and are centered in the field of view. Even though your splash screen appears for a short period of time, it’s still essential to creating a positive first impression on the user.
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App splash screen examples
Now that you have a grasp of what a splash screen is and why it matters, let’s take a look at some cool examples in action and how they elevate app launch experience and loading time!
All these launch screens were created with Median to deliver perfection on iOS and Android. What’s more, with our latest updates, your apps on both iOS and Android are getting a makeover. Now, when users launch your app, the splash screen will gracefully linger until all the web content is fully loaded. This ensures a smooth and glitch-free introduction to your app, setting the stage for a more reliable and enjoyable user experience.
Also, for Android, we’ve fine-tuned the image optimization for splash screen design, making it particularly beneficial for sites and apps with dark backgrounds, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal.
- E-commerce app splash screen example: Community for Supreme
- Gaming app launch screen example: Melvor Idle
- Travel app loading screen example : Travelodge Hotels
- Healthcare app splash page example: Optimists
- Finance app launch experience: Finasana
What is app splash screen duration and why is it important?
App splash screen duration is the span of time an introductory screen is displayed when a user launches a mobile app. In essence, the app splash screen duration goes beyond being a mere loading time. It's a crucial component of the app launch experience, combining aesthetics, functionality, and brand representation to create a seamless and memorable introduction to your app. Here's why it matters:
- First Impression: The app splash screen is the handshake of the digital world. It's the first visual encounter users have with the app, essentially setting the tone for their entire experience. A well-crafted splash screen creates a positive initial impression, making users more likely to engage with the app further.
- User Engagement: Beyond just aesthetics, the duration of the splash screen is intricately linked to the app's loading time. It acts as a curtain-raiser, keeping users engaged during the loading process. A swift and visually appealing splash screen conveys a sense of responsiveness, assuring users that the app is ready for action.
- Branding Opportunity: Think of the splash screen as a canvas for your brand. Designing branded loading screens by incorporating logos, colors, and other branding elements give you an invaluable opportunity to reinforce brand identity. This brief encounter can leave a lasting impact on the user's perception of the app.
- User Expectations: Finding the sweet spot in splash screen duration is an art. Loading time optimization ensures that it’s brief enough not to test the user's patience but long enough to convey a polished and responsive app. Striking this balance aligns with user expectations, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable app experience right from the start. Users appreciate efficiency, and a well-timed splash screen contributes to an overall positive perception of the app.
How to create an app splash screen with Median
With Median’s highly intuitive online App Studio, you can use your existing app icon to create your splash screen or you can upload a unique image instead. You can also select and set unique, custom color backgrounds for your splash screen. Once you have chosen these different elements, the Median platform will automatically create the different image files needed for each device and platform and incorporate them into your app.
With Median’s full service app configuration service, we will help you design an app splash screen as well as select the app icon, in-app images, fonts, and colors you need to design an aesthetically cohesive app that aligns with your brand’s identity.
Looking to create more advanced or animated splash screens for different device types? You can do that as well. For more information, consult our documentation on app splash screen configuration.
If you would prefer to design your own splash screen from the bottom up, consult these resources for both iOS and Android.
Want to know how it all works?
Get hands-on with Median’s comprehensive documentation, and build your app with ease.
How to create an app splash screen for an iOS app
The iOS launch storyboard
iOS provides developers with a Launch Storyboard to configure their app splash screen designs. This storyboard is helpful for three reasons:
- It makes it simpler to design for a wide range of device sizes and resolutions
- It’s required to design splash screens for iPad devices at native resolutions
- Storyboards are flexible, adaptable and allow you to manage launch screens easier
Check out these steps on how to design launch image for different screen resolutions in Xcode.
Other important tips from Apple
- Do not use a static image for your launch screen; optimize for the screen sizes here.
- Launch screen is limited to 25 MB for iOS 14 and later
How to create an app splash screen for an Android app
9-Patch Images
Because devices using the Android platform all come with different resolutions and pixel densities, Android splash screen images can best be specified as 9-patch images. These are bitmap images that automatically resize to accommodate the contents of the view and the size of the screen. To design your own 9-patch images, download the Android source code for your app and replace them in the source.
If your Android launch image is looking stretched or otherwise not what you expected, try using a base image that has your desired background color around the entire square border, including the colors. In other words, there should be no other colors that are directly hitting the border of the image.
Learn how to create 9-patch files here.
The Android splash screen API
For Android 12 and higher, Android also offers the splash screen API. This allows you to create customizable, branded splash screens using standardized design elements. The API includes an in-app motion at launch, a splash screen showing your app icon, and a transition to your app itself.
Android offers resource files you can use to customize the various elements of the animation. These elements include:
- The app icon
- The icon background (optional)
- An image mask (to make the icon adaptive to other Android devices)
- The window background
For complete instructions, visit the SplashScreen API information page here.
Learning how to design an effective app splash screen is one part of a broader initiative for your brand — creating the best possible user experience for users on mobile devices. And with Median, you can convert a website to app to deliver these native types of mobile experiences has never been easier.
Instead of designing an app from scratch, our online app builder makes it easy to convert your existing website or web-based application into an immersive, visually stunning native mobile app that will deliver a rich mobile experience for end users on both iOS and Android devices.
Frequently asked questions
What is an app splash screen?
An app splash screen is the initial screen that appears when you launch an app. It typically displays the app's logo, name, or branding elements and serves as a visual introduction while the app loads in the background.
Why is a splash screen important?
A splash screen is important because it provides a smooth transition between the app launch and the main content, offering users a visually appealing first impression. It also helps mask the loading time, making the app feel more responsive and polished.
How long should a splash screen be displayed?
A splash screen should be displayed for a minimal amount of time, ideally no longer than 2-3 seconds. Prolonged splash screens can frustrate users and create a negative experience. The goal is to provide a brief, engaging introduction without causing unnecessary delays.
What elements should be included in a splash screen?
A splash screen should include key branding elements such as the app's logo, name, and possibly a tagline or slogan. It's important to keep the design simple and clean, avoiding any clutter or excessive information that could distract users from the main purpose of the screen.
How does a splash screen impact an app's reception in the iOS market?
A well-designed splash screen can significantly impact an app's reception in the iOS market. Given the competitive nature of the iOS market share, first impressions matter. A visually appealing and quick-loading splash screen can enhance user perception, making the app feel more polished and professional, which can lead to higher user retention and positive reviews.
What are the best practices for splash screens in hybrid apps to stay compliant with Apple's UI guidelines?
To stay compliant with Apple's UI guidelines, ensure your splash screen is simple and minimalistic, displaying only your app's logo or a simple graphic. It should align with your brand's visual identity, use high-resolution images, and load quickly to minimize wait time. Additionally, design it to adapt to different screen sizes and orientations, and follow Apple's Human Interface Guidelines to meet required standards.
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