Make a Complete Windows App Icon Set (WinUI/UWP visual assets)

Windows still uses multiple icon surfaces (taskbar, All apps list, Start pins, context menus). Below you’ll export a desktop ICO set plus Visual Assets PNGs for WinUI/UWP from one SVG in Axialis IconVectors—then connect them in Package.appxmanifest. Microsoft’s guidance recommends a baseline of 16×16, 24×24, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256, and documents where larger sizes appear in Windows 11 (for example, 24/32 for All apps/taskbar and up to 256 for Start pins).

Which sizes matter today (and how to avoid upscaling)

• Desktop ICO (classic shell surfaces) — include: 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48, 64, 256 (PNG‑compressed inside the ICO). This covers title bar, taskbar, context menus, and high DPI. Microsoft notes the baseline set 16/24/32/48/256 to ensure Windows only scales down.
• WinUI/UWP Visual Assets (PNG with scale qualifiers) — Windows picks the best file by display scale (100–400%). Provide the App Icon (“App list”) at Square44x44Logo with .scale-100/125/150/200/400 variants (base 44 px → 44/55/66/88/176).
• Optional classic tiles — If you still target Windows 10 tile surfaces, include Square150x150Logo (medium tile) at required scale(s).

Export everything from one SVG in IconVectors

1. Open or create your icon in IconVectors:
   • File → Open… (Ctrl+O) or New Icon (Ctrl+N).
   • Use currentColor fills/strokes and a tidy viewBox for easy theming and scaling.

   

2. Export the desktop ICO pack
   • In the dialog, choose Windows Icon (ICO) as format.
   • Select sizes: 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48, 64, 256.
   • Pick a destination folder (left pane) and set the root name (e.g., AppIcon).
   • Click OK to generate a single ICO containing all sizes.
3. Export WinUI/UWP Visual Assets PNGs
   • Still in the dialog, select PNG and add these groups:
     • Square44x44Logo at scale‑100/125/150/200/400 (export 44/55/66/88/176 px files).
     • Optional (Windows 10 tiles): Square150x150Logo at the scales you support.
   • Name files clearly (you can add the scale in the filename now, or let Visual Studio rename/qualify on import).

   Windows selects assets by scale qualifiers such as .scale-200. Visual Studio’s Manifest Designer (“Visual Assets” tab) can also Generate the set from a base image if desired (acceptable for a first pass, but handcrafted exports look crisper).

Wire the assets into Package.appxmanifest

1. Visual Studio (recommended)
   • Double‑click Package.appxmanifest → Visual Assets.
   • Under App Icon (App list), browse to your Square44x44Logo images. VS will manage scale qualifiers (scale-100/125/150/200/400).
   • Optionally add Square150x150Logo (Medium tile) for Windows 10 tile surfaces.
   • Point desktop surfaces (EXE icon) to your ICO if your project type exposes an application icon setting.
2. Manual XML (advanced)

   <uap:VisualElements
       DisplayName="My App"
       Square44x44Logo="Assets\Square44x44Logo.png"
       Square150x150Logo="Assets\Square150x150Logo.png"
       BackgroundColor="transparent"
       Description="My app">
     <!-- Windows uses scale-qualified variants like:
          Assets\Square44x44Logo.scale-100.png, .scale-125.png, .scale-150.png, .scale-200.png, .scale-400.png -->
   </uap:VisualElements>

   The uap:VisualElements element owns Square44x44Logo and Square150x150Logo properties; provide the base logical name and place the scale‑qualified PNGs alongside it.

Quality tips (keep it crisp)

• Design at grid sizes (e.g., 24×24 or 48×48), use whole‑pixel coordinates, and snap strokes; export a 256×256 icon so Windows never upscales.
• Alpha & background — use transparent PNGs (no hard background). The manifest’s BackgroundColor can remain transparent for modern icons.
• Test scales — on HiDPI, Windows chooses .scale‑200 or higher; verify how your icon reads at 24/32 px in the shell.

Troubleshooting

• Compile errors about logo sizes — ensure exact pixel dimensions per asset (no off‑by‑one).
• Mixed qualifiers — don’t mix qualified and unqualified names for the same logical asset (e.g., StoreLogo.png alongside StoreLogo.scale‑125.png).
• Plated vs unplated — Windows may plate some logos depending on surface. Use the App Icon flow in WinUI/VS and supply transparent PNGs.