App icon is blurry on macOS

[brandonweiss]

Version

0.19.9

Operating System

macOS

Distribution Method

dmg (Mac OS - Apple Silicon)

Describe the issue

I’m not sure what is going on but on macOS it seems like the app icon in the dock and in the app switcher (CMD + tab) is blurry. Is that just me?

When I look at the icon for the app in the Finder it looks fine.

Was maybe one of the smaller icon sizes in the icns format generated wrong?

How to reproduce (Optional)

No response

Expected behavior (Optional)

No response

Relevant log output (Optional)

[Byron]

Thanks a lot for sharing.

I can definitely see what you mean. Here's my overview of all the icons I'm aware of.

@PavelLaptev would know everything about it.

[brandonweiss]

Okay great, glad it’s not my eyes 😅

[PavelLaptev]

The issue likely stems from how macOS handles raster app icons. Currently, Tauri does not support the newer macOS icon formats that are SVG-based. There are two probable reasons for the blurriness:

• Resolution Scaling: Tauri might not be generating the icons at a high enough resolution for Retina displays.
• Optical Illusion: The 3D effect on the icon’s edge might be creating a visual feathering effect, making the bo rders appear blurry rather than crisp.

Also I've tried to generate a new icon from the larger one 1600px

Unfortunately, the result is pretty much the same. The only notable improvement is that the alpha channel (transparency) is now being handled more accurately.

Screen.Recording.2026-05-04.at.13.59.32.mov

[brandonweiss]

@PavelLaptev Thanks for taking a look! I did wonder if it might be an illusion caused by the design, but something about it didn’t seem like it…

Okay I actually just tested it. I put the app in a standalone folder in Finder, switched to Icon view, opened the folder settings and slid the Icon size from 72 x 72 upwards. It looks blurry right up through 128 x 128. The moment it goes higher than that it sharpens. So I don’t think it’s an illusion. I think it’s something about the exported icons at the smaller sizes.

I hope that helps! Thanks!