What should a mobile app splash screen contain?

A centred logo on a solid background, and nothing else. It displays for a fraction of a second, so taglines and illustrations cannot be read and only make the app feel slower to start.

Can I use the splash screen to hide loading time?

No. Both Apple and Google are explicit that the launch screen bridges the gap until the first frame renders, not a loading indicator. Deliberately holding it open is a known review rejection cause.

What background colour should the splash screen use?

Exactly the same as your first real screen's background. Any difference produces a visible flash at the transition, which reads as a glitch even when everything is working correctly.

floow.design

Splash Screen Generator

Generate launch screen assets at every iOS and Android size from one logo.

Generate & preview freeSign up to download the asset setNo usage limits

Drop your logo (PNG with transparency)Processed in your browser — nothing is uploaded

Background

Match your first real screen so the transition does not flash.Logo width

35%

Keep it to a logo on a solid colour. Taglines cannot be read in the fraction of a second this screen is visible, and both stores reject launch screens used as loading screens.

Your logo

Upload a logo, choose a background, and get launch screen assets sized for every device class in the reference set.

The splash screen is the very first frame of your app anyone sees, and it is usually the last thing anyone designs.

What a launch screen is actually for

It exists to fill the gap between the user tapping your icon and your first real screen being ready to draw. Both platforms treat it as a structural placeholder rather than a canvas — which is why the guidance is so restrictive. Done right, nobody consciously notices it; done wrong, it is the first thing that makes your app feel slow.

Keep it nearly empty

A launch screen shows for a fraction of a second. Taglines, illustrations and feature callouts cannot be read in that window and only make the app feel slower. A centred logo on a solid background is the entire brief — and it should match the first real screen's background so the transition does not flash.

Never use it as a loading screen

Both platforms are explicit that the launch screen exists to bridge the gap until the first frame renders, not to display a spinner or a progress bar. Deliberately holding it open to hide slow startup is a common review rejection, and users read it as the app being broken.

How to use the splash screen generator

Upload your logo as a PNG with transparency so it composites cleanly onto any background.
Set the background to exactly match your first real screen, so the transition does not flash.
Keep the logo around a third of the screen width — large enough to read, small enough to feel calm.
Resist adding a tagline; it cannot be read in the fraction of a second the screen is visible.
Download the ZIP, which contains an asset sized for every device in the reference set.

Use it with

App Icon Generator — Upload one square icon and get every iOS and Android size, packaged and ready to drop into your project.
Device Size Reference — Screen dimensions, logical points, pixel density and safe areas for current iPhones and Android handsets.
Mesh Gradient Generator — Generate soft multi-point mesh gradients and export them as an image.

Frequently asked questions

What should a mobile app splash screen contain?: A centred logo on a solid background, and nothing else. It displays for a fraction of a second, so taglines and illustrations cannot be read and only make the app feel slower to start.
Can I use the splash screen to hide loading time?: No. Both Apple and Google are explicit that the launch screen bridges the gap until the first frame renders, not a loading indicator. Deliberately holding it open is a known review rejection cause.
What background colour should the splash screen use?: Exactly the same as your first real screen's background. Any difference produces a visible flash at the transition, which reads as a glitch even when everything is working correctly.