Short answer: store preview videos are short (15–30s on the App Store), portrait-first, and must show the real app. The workflow that works: capture genuine footage on the device or simulator, then edit like a pro, reframe to 9:16, add restrained zooms on the moments that matter, title overlays for each beat, and export at the store's resolution. Polish is allowed; fakery isn't.
Know the rules before the edit
- Apple App Previews: 15–30 seconds, device-appropriate resolution, footage must reflect the actual app experience (no hands-holding-phone mockups). Verify current specs in App Store Connect, they change by device generation.
- Google Play: more lenient, a YouTube promo video slot plus screenshots; portrait demo footage still converts best.
The edit that converts browsers to installs
- Beat sheet first: 4–6 beats × ~4 seconds, open on the single strongest moment, not the splash screen.
- Zoom with restraint: store viewers are on the target device already; zooms should emphasise taps, not compensate for tiny text. Straight zooms read cleaner than 3D tilt at phone size.
- Text overlays as beat titles: three words max, scoped per section ("Track every trade").
- Design for mute, store previews autoplay silent. Captions if there's speech; otherwise let overlays carry the story.
- Export per device class and upload, expect a review pass on the video itself.
Where a desktop tool fits honestly
Capture happens on the device; the craft happens on the desktop. Reframing, zoom timing, overlay typography, caption burn-in, that's editor work, and it's identical to demo-video craft. If your app also has a web version, you can of course record that directly and the whole pipeline is one tool.
Frequently asked questions
What are the App Store preview specs?
- Previews run 15–30 seconds.
- Portrait or landscape, to match your screenshots.
- Device-specific resolutions, e.g. 1080×1920-class for phones.
- Apple requires captured-on-device footage of the actual app experience.
- Check App Store Connect for the current per-device list.
Can I use a desktop screen recorder for a mobile app preview?
- Capture on the device; a desktop editor handles the polish.
- Record with iOS screen recording, or the simulator/emulator.
- The editor reframes to 9:16 and adds zooms and text.
- Footage must remain genuine app experience per store guidelines.
See it on your screen
- Record and edit in your browser, nothing to install
- Desktop apps zoom on every click
- Free to start, no time limit