Understanding apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png: what it is and current best practices

What is apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png?

The apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png file is a variant used by Apple devices for home screen icons. In older iOS versions, if this file was present and linked, iOS would display the icon as-is, without applying its own glossy overlay or rounded corners.

A quick history

Historically, iOS applied a glossy style to home screen icons. Using the precomposed variant was a way to opt out of that treatment by providing an image that already included the desired look.

How it differs from apple-touch-icon.png

The standard apple-touch-icon.png is the icon without a specific precomposed instruction; iOS would apply its default styling. The precomposed variant signals that the image is already finalized and should be displayed as-is.

How to implement

To use a precomposed icon, place the file on your site and declare it in the HTML head: <link rel='apple-touch-icon-precomposed' href='/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png'> In many sites today, you may instead see the standard icon declared as: <link rel='apple-touch-icon' href='/apple-touch-icon.png'> You can also include multiple sizes using the sizes attribute, for example: <link rel='apple-touch-icon-precomposed' sizes='180x180' href='/apple-touch-icon-precomposed-180.png'>

Is it still needed today?

Modern iOS versions have moved away from the glossy treatment, and Apple generally recommends using the standard apple-touch-icon approach. The precomposed variant remains in documentation for compatibility, but its practical use has declined. If you must support older devices, you might still provide a precomposed icon; otherwise, focus on a clean, properly sized icon.

Best practices

• Provide icons in multiple sizes to cover different devices.
• Prefer the standard apple-touch-icon if you’re not tied to an older device.
• Include the App Store icon (1024x1024) for completeness, and consider also providing a web app manifest for non-iOS platforms.