You can additionally create a custom document icon if your app supports multiple file types and you’d like to visually distinguish between them. This is a common pattern for imported document types or non-proprietary file formats that your application can open such as MP3, JPG or PNG.īoth the Music and Preview apps use system-generated document icons for document types like JPG and MP3.

Design a document icon for your appīy default, if you don’t specify a document icon for a file type in your app, macOS will automatically create one for you by compositing your app’s icon together with the correct extension name. We’ll show you how to design a great icon, integrate it into your Xcode project, and assign document types and type identifiers. With macOS Big Sur, you can customize and control how your app’s document icons display across the system.

If someone has chosen not to show document extensions in System Preferences, these icons can additionally provide additional context in deciphering their file type and native program. These icons may be displayed on screen as small as 16pt or large enough to showcase every glorious design detail.ĭepending on the file type and personal preference, document icons can also display document previews. A good document icon aids in the identification of your file on the Desktop, in a Finder window, or in an open dialog, especially when previews aren’t available.