App Preview Video
Definition
A short video clip (up to 30 seconds) shown alongside screenshots on an App Store or Play Store listing.
What Is App Preview Video?
App preview videos are short autoplaying clips that appear in the first slot of your App Store or Google Play listing, before the screenshots. Apple allows up to three preview videos per device type, each 15–30 seconds long. Google Play allows one promotional video per listing, hosted on YouTube. The video should demonstrate actual in-app footage (Apple requires this — no marketing montages, no UI shown that doesn't exist), with no voice-over or text that depends on translation if the video plays in multiple locales. Many top-grossing apps use app preview videos to lift conversion rate beyond what static screenshots alone can achieve, especially for game and entertainment apps where motion communicates value better than stills.
Why It Matters for App Developers
A well-produced preview video can lift conversion rate 20–35% on top of an already-optimized screenshot set, particularly for games and apps with strong motion-based UI. Apple's 2024 store-page rendering autoplays videos muted on the search results page, meaning a video can act as your "first impression" before users even tap into your listing. Apps without a preview cede that motion-attention slot to competitors.
Technical Details
Apple App Preview specs: 15–30 seconds, .mov/.mp4/.m4v, H.264 codec, 30fps. Vertical dimensions must match the device (e.g., 886×1920 for iPhone 6.5" Display, 1242×2688 for iPhone 6.5"). Google Play uses a YouTube URL; the video shows on the listing with a play overlay. Apple requires the video to start with on-device footage — no logo intros or fade-ins. Captioning is allowed but must be burned in if you want it visible (no SRT support). The first three seconds matter most: search-results autoplay only plays a short loop before the user scrolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an App Preview video?
An App Preview is a 15–30 second video Apple shows on your App Store product page (and in search-results autoplay) before your screenshots. It must be captured from real in-app footage, not a marketing montage, per App Store guidelines.
How long should an App Preview be?
Apple allows 15–30 seconds; most successful previews are 20–25 seconds. The first 3 seconds matter most because that's what plays in search-results autoplay. Lead with your strongest feature or most visually striking moment.
Do App Preview videos increase conversion rate?
Yes — apps that add a strong App Preview video on top of optimized screenshots typically see 15–30% additional install lift, especially for games and motion-heavy apps. Static-only listings underperform in autoplay search results.
Does Google Play support App Preview videos?
Google Play uses a YouTube video as the promotional clip — you supply a public YouTube URL and Google Play renders it as the first slot in your listing carousel. There is no native upload like Apple's, and the video plays muted with a play overlay rather than autoplaying with sound.
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