Use JPEGs for Launch Images

Question

This is related to Default-Portrait.png for iPad: any way to make the file size smaller?

Is there any way to specify a more efficient file format (like JPEG) for Default-Landscape.png and Default-Portrait.png?

Answer 1

Yes it's possible to use jpg files as launch images. Just add "Launch image" key with the base filename (e.g. LaunchImage.jpg") to the Info.plist. Then add files to your project such as

• LaunchImage.jpg
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

and Xcode will pick them up.

However through personal experience I've discovered if you're supporting the larger iPhone 5 screen the App Store expects PNG format and uses the presence of PNG to determine iPhone 5 support and display of iPhone 5 size thumbnails on the store. Using JPG images will not show the app as iPhone 5 optimized in the app store (even though it will work fine on the device) so it is best to stick with PNG.

Answer 2

There is no way to use an image other than a png.

All launch images must be PNG files and must reside in the top level of your app’s bundle directory. Section: App Launch (Default) Images

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Update: JPEG images to work and Apple's documentation no longer specifies that the images must be PNG files.

Answer 3

If you use xcassets, then since Xcode 6 you can use JPGs. However Xcode will still not let you drop JPGs into the LaunchImage folder. But you can do it in Finder. Simply drop your PNGs into that folder with Finder and then edit the JSON file changing all .png extensions to .jpg.

I haven't submitted an app to the store using this yet, but it works in the iPhone simulator at least.

Update: Doesn’t work on the device. I’ll leave this answer here anyway so people know that this technique was at least tried so the effort won’t be repeated.