How to Upload Localized Screenshots to App Store Connect

You've translated your app's metadata, updated the keywords, and even localized the description. But localized screenshots — the visual first impression that converts browsers into downloaders — are often the last thing developers tackle, partly because the App Store Connect interface for managing them is less than intuitive.

This guide walks through exactly how to upload language-specific screenshots to App Store Connect, what specs you need, and the common mistakes that trip up first-timers.

Why Localized Screenshots Are Worth the Effort

App Store screenshots appear above the fold in search results. They're the single highest-impact visual element in your listing. Studies from Storemaven and SplitMetrics consistently show that localized screenshots outperform English-only screenshots in non-English markets — sometimes by 20–30% in conversion rate.

If you're not sure which markets to target first, read our guide on which App Store markets to localize first before you start uploading.

Step 1: Navigate to Your App's Localizations

Log into App Store Connect and select your app. Go to the App Store tab (not TestFlight). On the left sidebar, you'll see your current localizations listed under your app name.

If you've only been publishing in English, you'll see "English (U.S.)" listed there. To add a new language, scroll to the bottom of that left sidebar and click "+ Add Localization". A dropdown lets you pick from all supported App Store languages.

Common choices that have significant App Store markets: French (France), German (Germany), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Mexico). Apple supports over 40 languages total.

Step 2: Understand the Screenshot Requirements

This is where developers often get stuck. Apple has specific size requirements that vary by device. Screenshots uploaded to App Store Connect must match exactly — no resizing happens on Apple's end.

Here are the required sizes you'll encounter most often:

• 6.9" Display (iPhone 16 Pro Max): 1320 × 2868 px — required for modern listings
• 6.7" Display (iPhone 15 Pro Max / 14 Plus): 1290 × 2796 px
• 6.5" Display (iPhone 14 Plus / older): 1284 × 2778 px
• 5.5" Display (iPhone 8 Plus): 1242 × 2208 px — still required for many listings
• iPad Pro 13" (M4): 2064 × 2752 px
• iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd/3rd gen): 2048 × 2732 px

You don't need screenshots for every display size. App Store Connect lets you use the same screenshots for a range of devices:

• 6.9" screenshots also cover 6.7" display if you don't provide separate ones
• 6.5" screenshots cover 5.8", 6.1", and 6.7" devices as fallbacks
• 5.5" screenshots are required separately from the larger sizes

In practice, most modern apps upload only the 6.9" and 5.5" sizes for iPhone, and one iPad size if they support iPad. That's the minimum set to cover all devices.

Step 3: Upload Screenshots to the Correct Localization

After you've created a localization (say, "French (France)"), click on it in the left sidebar. You'll land on that localization's page, where you can fill in the localized title, subtitle, description — and screenshots.

The screenshots section appears below the text fields. You'll see device size tabs along the top: "6.9" Display", "6.5" Display", "5.5" Display", and so on. Click each tab and drag in your localized images.

One critical thing: if you upload screenshots to a specific localization, those replace the default (English) screenshots for users in that locale. If a localization exists but has no screenshots, Apple falls back to your default localization's screenshots. This fallback is useful during staged rollouts — but it means you need to upload all required device sizes for each localization you create.

Step 4: Screenshot Order Matters

App Store shows your first three screenshots in search results without the user having to expand the listing. These three screenshots do most of the conversion work. Drag to reorder your screenshots so the most impactful ones come first.

For localized versions, it's worth reconsidering the order for each market. A feature that resonates in English-speaking markets might not be the top selling point in Japan or Germany. Treat each localization as its own mini-listing, not just a translation of the English version.

Step 5: Preview Before You Submit

App Store Connect has a built-in preview tool. Before submitting for review, click "Preview" in the top-right corner. It shows you how the listing looks on each device size, with the localized screenshots in place.

Check that:

• Text in screenshots is readable at thumbnail size
• The screenshots aren't clipped unexpectedly on any device
• The order looks right in the three-screenshot search result view

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting 5.5" screenshots. Many developers upload only the modern 6.9" or 6.5" sizes and then wonder why App Store Connect shows an error during submission. The 5.5" (iPhone 8 Plus) size is still required for most app categories.

Uploading English screenshots to a localization. If you create a French localization and upload your English screenshots there, French users see English screenshots. This sounds obvious, but it happens — especially when copying screenshots from the default localization as a placeholder before the localized versions are ready.

Creating localizations without text content. App Store Connect requires that each localization have at least a name, subtitle (if your default has one), and description before you can save. You can't create a screenshot-only localization without filling in the text fields.

Mixing up Screenshots vs. App Previews. Apple distinguishes between Screenshots (static images) and App Previews (video). They're separate tabs within each device size. Make sure you're uploading to Screenshots, not App Previews.

Creating the Localized Screenshots Themselves

The App Store Connect upload workflow is straightforward once you know it — the harder part is actually creating good localized screenshots in the first place.

Traditionally, this meant working in Figma or Sketch: re-creating your screenshot templates, swapping in translated text, and re-exporting at multiple sizes. That process is covered in our comparison of Figma vs AI for screenshot localization, including the real time and cost breakdown per language.

A faster alternative is ScreenLocal. You paste your App Store URL, pick a target language, and it uses AI to extract the existing text from your screenshots, translate it, and paint the translated text back onto the original images — keeping your design intact. You get ready-to-upload PNG files sized correctly for App Store Connect, without touching Figma at all.

Submitting Without a New Binary

Localized screenshots don't require a new app binary. You can update screenshots independently: go to your app's App Store tab, make screenshot changes, hit "Save" and then "Submit for Review" — choosing "Metadata Only" when Apple asks what's changing. This lets you iterate on screenshots without a full release cycle.

Review typically takes 24–48 hours for metadata-only submissions, though it can be faster. Once approved, the localized screenshots go live immediately for users in that locale.

The Minimal Upload Checklist

• Create localization in App Store Connect left sidebar
• Fill in localized title, subtitle, and description
• Upload 6.9" screenshots (covers 6.7" as fallback)
• Upload 5.5" screenshots (required separately)
• Upload iPad screenshots if your app supports iPad
• Reorder so your best three screenshots are first
• Preview on each device size before submitting
• Submit as a metadata-only change

The upload process is a one-time learning curve. Once you've done a single localization end-to-end, the rest go quickly. And given that localized screenshots routinely move conversion rates by double digits in non-English markets, the half-hour it takes to learn the workflow pays off fast. Need help with the translation step? ScreenLocal handles that part automatically.