App Icon not changing when app version is updated in iOS 5 simulator

Question

I recently started using Xcode 4.2 and the iOS 5 simulator. When I update an older version of my app pre-installed in the simulator, it updates the app just fine but the app icon is not updated. Even with cleaning and building the app ahead of time (sometimes a couple of times) this seems to be the case. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong?

EDIT: Still the same problem, but when I quit the simulator and start it again (NOT deleting the app), the icon is updated. That's a little encouraging at least. Has anyone else experienced this?

Amador

That sounds like a bug. Probably easier just to report to Apple. Anyhow, how does this affect your app? Is it a problem when it is deployed? – Phyle

It's just a problem if the icon doesn't get updated on the current users' versions. Not an end-of-the-world kind of problem, but I would like to keep one standard icon for my app if possible. A lot of my testing is just to make sure that all will go as expected with updates for current users. – Amador

@Phyle I believe this is a bug, as you said. I wanted to close out the question - would you mind posting your comment as an answer so that I can accept it? – Amador

No problem; see below. Good luck! – Phyle

Answer 1

Despite others' answers, it would appear that your problem is a bug.

It would probably be wise to report this. Otherwise, try making a new project and trying again.

Hope all goes as planned.

Phyle

Answer 2

I've had this problem for a while and cleaning the project didn't work either. I finally found a trick to do this. It works at least in iOS 6, I'm not sure in previous versions. The trick is to simply move the app to a folder. The moment you move it there it should display the new icon, and then you can move it out again.

Consubstantiate

That's a nice tip, thanks. If you're pushing out an upgrade to users and want the icon to change instantly, the only thing I've found works is to actually use a new file name for your icon. – Squawk

Thanks for the folder tip, and the icon name tip. I am still seeing the issue a year later on iOS 6.1.3 on iPad. That springboard/backboard icon cache is not flushing even when I change the icon name in the info.plist and in the build output directory. I know the new icon is deployed though, because the folder trick works. I can't seem to reconcile how techniques like merowing.info/2013/03/… and github.com/bejo/XcodeIconTagger work at all given this manual folder refresh req.There must be something to isolate here... – Parasitism

Great workaround! Did the trick on 6.1.4 (real, not simulator). @CarlosP I assume this is only a problem in development, surely the icon is correctly updated from an App Store update? – Semitics

@WilliamDenniss Actually that wasn't the case for me, users did not see the new app icon until they rebooted. However, I believe this has been fixed in more recent versions of iOS. – Squawk

Answer 3

Theres a new category in the plist file called Icons Files (iOS 5.0). Try adding those file names to your target info like so:

In this tab:

---

The names and size much also be exact. See this Apple Technical Q&A #1686:

57x57      -  Icon.png
114x114  -  [email protected]
72x72      -  Icon-72.png
50x50      -  Icon-Small-50.png
29x29      -  Icon-Small.png
58x58      -  [email protected]

Annice

thanks. That's a good piece of info to have. It didn't solve the simulator issue for me, but if it's there, I'm sure it's important to include! – Amador

@JPK Also, check to make sure the names are exactly as they are in this Apple Technical Q&A About Icons – Annice

@chowney Thanks chowney, they are. When I restart the simulator everything shows up just fine. Have you tried "upgrading" between two versions of your app with different icons in the simulator for iOS 5? I am thinking it is probably a bug like nmagerko said.. but let me know if you find otherwise – Amador

Answer 4

I ran into a similar problem after renaming the app and adding the Icon files category as described in one of the other answers. No icon would show up in either simulator or device. Tried a clean build as well as restarting simulator and Xcode, no success

The solution for me was to drag the icons from my Resources to the two empty wells under App Icons located under Targets -> Summary. After that my icons showed up in both simulator and device. I´m running Xcode 4.3.1

Balfour

Answer 5

this works for me. In iOS Simulator :

iOS Simulator -> Reset Content and Settings

Be aware that it removes all things from the simulator to the trash... but it does work.

Polygamy

Answer 6

Make sure of icons sizes are right at the Image Asset folder

Carlocarload