Displaying the wrong launch image on my app. Tried to replace it in several ways

Question

I have a problem with my app´s launch image. Early on in the development I added a sample image as launch image. Now when the app is ready for release, I can’t change the launch image.

I have tried changing it inside xcode in the project summary, deleting the files from the project file and replacing the files with the new image with the correct name. No luck. It still displays wrong on all devices.

I don’t even have the image in the project anymore.

Is there anyone in here who knows what’s wrong, or have experienced anything like this?

The launch image is for iPhone and iPad, portrait.

Answer 1

Go back to before you tried to replace the image. Replace the image file with your new one.

Ah, but that didn't work, right? Here's the catch:

1. Clean your build folder. The build process may not always pick up your new launch image. (Hold down Option when looking at the Product menu, or delete the contents of ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData.)
2. Delete the app from the simulator and/or phone. The application installer will usually not copy the new image over.

(These steps are not always both necessary, but since they must be performed in this order if they're both needed, I just do them both as listed.)

Here's why:

1. When you build, Xcode copies the various files that are part of your product to DerivedData. This may not always copy changed files over existing files.
2. When you install to the simulator or device for debugging, this is yet another file copy which may not always copy changed files over existing files.

Note that the App Store installer on the phone does a better job of installing, and you won't get partial installs like this. However, until you can prove to yourself that your application has been built with the right image — i.e. that you're failing in #2, not #1 — I wouldn't trust this.