Video (App Preview) specifications to upload in App Store and be approved

I will explain all the specifications a video must be meet to be accepted / approved app preview in the App Store for promoting your app

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENTIOS DEVELOPMENTAPP STOREASO

Eduardo Domínguez Menéndez

3/7/20256 min read

Let's start a new article of my coding and developing school. I will explain all the specifications a video must meet to be accepted and approved in the Apple App Store.

What is an App Preview?

App Previews are short videos to show your app’s features on the App Store. These videos will improve your conversion rate, so the downloads of your app will surge. To ensure compatibility and homogeneous aspect, Apple has set specific guidelines for video format, length, and quality.

What are the App Preview requirements?

The file of the video must be less than 500 MB. There are constraints about the time length of the video. The minimum length of the video is 15 seconds and the maximum length of the video is 30 seconds.

What are the supported file extensions for App Previews?

The supported file extensions for app previews are .mov, .m4v and .mp4

What are the video specifications?

There are two supported video codings: H.264 and ProRes 422 (HQ Only). The max frame rate is 30 frames per second in both formats. Let's see other specifications related to each format:

Video specifications for H.264

H.264 video encoding supports a target bit rate of 10-12 Mbps with a progressive format that allows up to High Profile Level 4.0.

Video specifications for ProRes 422 (HQ)

ProRes 422 (HQ) must operate at a variable bit rate of approximately 220 Mbps and guaranteeing progressive format without external references.

What are the audio specifications?

My experience is even if the video of the App Preview doesn't have any sound, the audio track must be included, a muted track without any sound but something. When I have tried upload to App Store an App Preview without sound track it wasn't accepted, after a processing time an error message saying something something like audio format is corrupted. After sharing my own experience and conclusion, let's dive into details for each codec:

Audio specifications for H.264

For audio, H.264 requires a 256kbps AAC codec with a sample rate of either 44.1kHz or 48kHz. Stereo configurations must include either one track with two-channel stereo (left and right) or two tracks with single-channel stereo (left and right) and all tracks must be enabled.

Audio specifications for ProRes 422 (HQ)

ProRes 422 (HQ) audio supports both PCM and 256kbps AAC codecs, with PCM offering bit depths of 16-bit, 24-bit or 32-bit. The sample rate options remain the same at 44.1kHz or 48kHz. Like H.264, its stereo configuration must include either one track with two-channel stereo (L & R) or two tracks with single-channel stereo (L & R) with all tracks enabled.

What are the accepted resolutions?

App Previews support videos of various resolutions depending the device and model of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro.

What are the accepted resolutions for iPhone?

For iPhones, accepted resolutions vary based on display size.

Devices with 6.9", 6.5", 6.3" and 6.1" displays support 886 x 1920 pixels in portrait and 1920 x 886 pixels in landscape. We may apply a rule of thumb "from iPhone X to newest model". The complete list (in March 2025) of included iPone model is: iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 16e, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone XS, and iPhone X.

The 5.5" and 4" displays supports 1080 x 1920 pixels in portrait and 1920 x 1080 pixels in landscape. The complete list (in March 2025) of included iPone model is: iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5.

The 4.7" display accepts 750 x 1334 pixels in portrait and 1334 x 750 pixels in landscape. The complete list (in March 2025) of included iPone model is: iPhone SE (3rd and 2nd generation), iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S and iPhone 6.

Finally, 3.5" display do not support App Previews.

What are the accepted resolutions for iPad?

For iPads, accepted resolutions vary based on display size.

13" display and 11" display models support 1200 x 1600 pixels in portrait and 1600 x 1200 pixels in landscape. We may apply a rule of thumb "released models in last years. The complete list of iPads is: the iPad Pro (M4, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 1st generation), iPad Air (M3, M2, 5th, and 4th generation), iPad (A16, 10th generation), iPad mini (A17 Pro, 6th generation), 10.5" iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd generation) and iPad (9th, 8th, and 7th generation).

The 12.9" iPad Pro (2nd generation) supports two variants: 900 x 1200 pixels in portrait and 1200 x 900 pixels in landscape, along with the 1200 x 1600 in portrait and 1600 x 1200 in landscape resolutions.

The 9.7" display iPads must be 900 x 1200 pixels in portrait and 1200 x 900 pixels in landscape. The complete list of iPads is: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad (6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd generation), iPad 2 and iPad mini (5th generation, 4, 3, and 2).

What are the accepted resolutions for Mac?

For Mac is very very simple. For all the Macs there is an unique accepted resolution for App Previews, the resolution is 1920 1080 pixels in landscape. Portrait is not accepted.

What are the accepted resolutions for Apple TV?

For Apple TV is very very simple. It is accepted the same resolution of the Mac. Hence, for all the Apple TV there is an unique accepted resolution, the resolution is 1920 1080 pixels in landscape. Portrait is not accepted.

What are the accepted resolutions for Apple Vision Pro?

For Apple Vision Pro there is an unique accepted resolution, the resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels in landscape. Portrait is not accepted.

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