Guide
App Store preview video: plan a short product story
October 25, 2026 · 3 min read
A preview video takes more effort to produce than a still screenshot, so it needs a simple job. Show a short, understandable slice of the product that helps a visitor decide whether the app fits their need.
Choose one flow to demonstrate
Pick a task that represents the app and can be understood without a spoken explanation. A focused sequence is easier to follow than a montage of unrelated screens.
Write down what a viewer should understand by the end. Use that sentence to decide which screens belong and which are just extra footage.
Make the opening readable
The first moments need to establish the use case quickly. Keep the screen uncluttered, use text sparingly, and make sure any caption remains legible at the size and crop where the video may appear.
Do not rely on sound to explain the product. Many people browse stores with audio off or in a setting where they cannot listen.
Show the product, not a promise it cannot keep
Use current app footage and show interactions the product actually supports. If you add framing, captions, or transitions, make sure they clarify the flow instead of hiding the interface.
Promotional claims and comparisons should be accurate and supported. Check the current App Store review guidelines before making claims about results, rankings, or other products.
Coordinate the video with screenshots
The still images and the video should feel like one listing. They can cover different parts of the product, but use consistent terminology and do not make the visitor piece together conflicting claims.
Plan the first screenshots even when a preview video is available. The listing should still make sense to someone who skips the video.
Check technical requirements before export
Supported durations, dimensions, formats, and display rules can vary by device and change over time. Confirm the current App Store Connect specifications for every slot and locale you plan to submit.
Review the final export on a phone, with sound off, and at a reduced size. This catches small captions and confusing cuts before upload.
Write a shot list before recording
Break the selected workflow into a small number of actions: the starting state, the meaningful interaction, and the result. For each shot, note what the viewer should understand and what on-screen detail proves it.
Capture clean app states with realistic data and no notification banners or debug UI. If the flow requires several setup steps, cut directly to the useful moment only when the edit remains honest about how the product works.
Review pacing, captions, and platform rules
Watch the export muted and at the size it will appear in the store. Captions should be readable without covering controls, and cuts should leave enough time to understand each interaction.
Confirm the current duration, dimension, and content requirements for the target device slot before export. A polished edit can still be rejected or displayed poorly if it does not meet the submission specifications.
Do a final product-accuracy review
Compare every visible screen with the released app and remove interface elements that are simulated or no longer available. If a sequence is edited for clarity, make sure it does not imply a capability or result the product cannot deliver.
Ask a reviewer to watch once without narration and describe what the app does. Their interpretation is a useful check that the story is understandable without extra explanation.
Design the stills around your video story
Prepare screenshot canvases for the device slots that accompany your preview.
Open App Snaps