Expo App Not Displaying Custom Icon and Splash Image

3 min read 04-10-2024

Expo App: Why Your Custom Icon and Splash Screen Aren't Showing

Have you ever built an Expo app, excitedly added a beautiful custom icon and splash screen, only to find your app still sporting the default Expo logo? Frustrating, right? This common issue can be traced back to a few key culprits. Let's dive in and troubleshoot those pesky display problems.

The Scenario: Your Custom Icon and Splash Screen are Lost in the Expo Wilderness

You've diligently configured your app.json file, carefully choosing the correct image formats and sizes, and anxiously awaited the build. But your shiny new icon and splash screen simply refuse to appear. Instead, you're stuck with the generic Expo placeholder.

Here's an example of a typical app.json file that might be causing trouble:

{
  "expo": {
    "name": "My Awesome App",
    "slug": "my-awesome-app",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "orientation": "portrait",
    "icon": "./assets/icon.png",
    "splash": {
      "image": "./assets/splash.png",
      "resizeMode": "contain",
      "backgroundColor": "#ffffff"
    },
    "updates": {
      "fallbackToCacheTimeout": 0
    }
  }
}

The Root of the Problem: Expo's Caching and Build Process

The issue often stems from the way Expo handles caching and builds. Expo strives to speed up development by caching frequently used resources, but this can sometimes hinder the display of newly added assets.

Here are the key points to understand:

Caching: Expo stores assets locally on your machine to make development faster. It might be holding onto an older version of your icon or splash screen, effectively hiding the new ones.
Build Process: Expo might not always fully regenerate the build assets when changes are made to the app.json file. This can leave your app displaying the old versions of the icon and splash screen.

Troubleshooting Steps: Unmasking Your Custom Assets

Clear the Cache: The quickest solution is to clear your Expo cache. This forces Expo to rebuild everything from scratch, ensuring it uses the latest asset versions. You can achieve this by:
- In Expo CLI: Run npx expo start --clear in your project's root directory.
- In Expo Go: Go to the settings menu in the app and choose "Clear Cache."
Restart Your Expo Server: Sometimes restarting the Expo server can also help refresh the build process. Simply stop your current Expo server and start it again.
Rebuild and Deploy: If clearing the cache and restarting the server don't solve the problem, try rebuilding your app entirely. This is a more thorough process but will ensure all assets are generated correctly. You can use the npx expo build:android or npx expo build:ios commands for this.
Check Asset Paths: Double-check the paths specified in your app.json file. Ensure that the paths to your icon and splash screen are correct and point to the actual asset locations within your project.
Image File Format: Make sure your icon and splash screen images are in the correct format. Expo recommends using PNG files for optimal results.
Image Size: Verify that your images meet the size requirements specified by Expo. For the icon, you should use a square image of at least 512x512 pixels. For the splash screen, the dimensions depend on the target platform.

Additional Tips:

Use the npx expo fetch:updates command: This command can help force Expo to fetch the latest update information and assets.
Check Expo's documentation: Refer to the official Expo documentation for the latest information on icon and splash screen configuration: https://docs.expo.dev/versions/latest/guides/app-icons/

Summary: A Clear Path to a Custom Icon and Splash Screen

By following these troubleshooting steps, you can effectively resolve the issue of your custom icon and splash screen not appearing in your Expo app. Remember to clear the cache, restart your Expo server, and double-check your asset configuration. With a few simple adjustments, your app will finally showcase the beautiful design you've crafted!