Exploring Apple’s new Icon Composer app for Xcode 26

When Apple quietly released Icon Composer alongside Xcode 26, I was intrigued but not in a hurry. After all, I’ve been through numerous icon updates over the years, and most tools seemed like minor improvements rather than significant advancements. However, after experimenting with it to refresh my apps for iOS 26, I can confidently say that this one truly transforms the game.

“Simply drop the saved file into Xcode and build. I was searching for an export option, but it turns out that you simply need to “Save” and then drag and drop the .icon bundle into your Xcode project, selecting your app target.“

What is “Icon Composer”?

Icon Composer, a new macOS app from Apple, is designed to create layered app icons that seamlessly adapt across various devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. It leverages Apple’s Liquid Glass material, which enhances the depth, translucency, and light play of icons.

Unlike exporting multiple flat PNGs for different devices and modes, Icon Composer allows you to work with a single layered file. This file can output Default, Dark, and Mono variations, providing real-time previews of how your icon will appear in each context.

Why is this a significant matter?

In my opinion, three factors distinguished Icon Composer:

1. Liquid Glass controls: With the ability to adjust blur, translucency, highlights, and shadows, your icon transcends its static image form. It reacts to light as if it were a real object.
2. Multiplatform consistency: A single design can be used across various platforms. I can make platform-specific tweaks without having to maintain separate projects for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
3. Real-time previews: Say goodbye to guessing how an icon will appear on a home screen or in dark mode. I can instantly see changes across all sizes and backgrounds.

My process for updating my applications

Here’s how I used Icon Composer for my iOS 26 updates:

1. Prepare the base layers: I began in Figma, meticulously creating clean vector layers for each element of my icon. These layers served as the foundation for the Liquid Glass effects.
2. Import into Icon Composer: Importing my layered design into Icon Composer was a breeze. The app preserved the structure and allowed me to logically label each layer.
3. Apply Liquid Glass effects: I fine-tuned the blur and translucency to achieve depth, added subtle highlights for realism, and ensured that the shadows complemented the icon’s silhouette.
4. Set up rendering modes: I customized the Dark mode version to reduce glare and adjusted Mono mode for maximum clarity.
5. Preview across devices: Instantly seeing the icon on simulated iPhones, iPads, and Macs provided me with confidence in the design’s consistency.
6. Export & integrate into Xcode: Icon Composer’s export is natively supported in Xcode 26. There’s no need for manual resizing or guessing. Simply drop the saved file into Xcode and build. I was searching for an export option, but it turns out that you simply need to “Save” and then drag and drop the .icon bundle into your Xcode project, selecting your app target.

Tips if you’re trying it

• Use vector artwork to keep scaling crisp.
• Always check Mono mode—it’s crucial for accessibility and certain system contexts.
• Test against busy wallpapers to ensure contrast.
• Resist over-glossing—Liquid Glass looks best when subtle.

Final thoughts

Updating my icons for iOS 26 felt less like a chore and more like a creative session. Icon Composer’s layered approach and Liquid Glass effects make icons feel alive, and the multi-platform workflow saves hours of tedious resizing.

If you’re an iOS developer or designer, give it a try—you might find yourself enjoying icon design again. You can download it from Apple’s developer site here: developer.apple.com/icon-composer.