capacitor-splash-screen

---
name: capacitor-splash-screen
description: Guide to configuring splash screens in Capacitor apps including asset generation, animation, and programmatic control. Use this skill when users need to customize their app launch experience.
---

# Splash Screen in Capacitor

Configure and customize splash screens for iOS and Android.

## When to Use This Skill

- User wants to customize splash screen
- User needs splash screen assets
- User wants animated splash
- User has splash screen issues

## Quick Start

### Install Plugin

```bash
npm install @capacitor/splash-screen
npx cap sync
```

### Basic Configuration

```typescript
// capacitor.config.ts
import type { CapacitorConfig } from '@capacitor/cli';

const config: CapacitorConfig = {
  plugins: {
    SplashScreen: {
      launchShowDuration: 2000,
      launchAutoHide: true,
      backgroundColor: '#ffffff',
      androidSplashResourceName: 'splash',
      androidScaleType: 'CENTER_CROP',
      showSpinner: false,
      splashFullScreen: true,
      splashImmersive: true,
    },
  },
};
```

### Programmatic Control

```typescript
import { SplashScreen } from '@capacitor/splash-screen';

// Hide after app is ready
async function initApp() {
  // Initialize your app
  await loadUserData();
  await setupServices();

  // Hide splash screen
  await SplashScreen.hide();
}

// Show splash (useful for app refresh)
await SplashScreen.show({
  autoHide: false,
});

// Hide with animation
await SplashScreen.hide({
  fadeOutDuration: 500,
});
```

## Generate Assets

### Using Capacitor Assets

```bash
npm install -D @capacitor/assets

# Place source images in resources/
# resources/splash.png (2732x2732 recommended)
# resources/splash-dark.png (optional)

npx capacitor-assets generate
```

### iOS Sizes

| Size | Usage |
|------|-------|
| 2732x2732 | iPad Pro 12.9" |
| 2048x2732 | iPad Pro portrait |
| 2732x2048 | iPad Pro landscape |
| 1668x2388 | iPad Pro 11" |
| 1536x2048 | iPad |
| 1242x2688 | iPhone XS Max |
| 828x1792 | iPhone XR |
| 1125x2436 | iPhone X/XS |
| 1242x2208 | iPhone Plus |
| 750x1334 | iPhone 8 |
| 640x1136 | iPhone SE |

### Android Sizes

| Density | Size |
|---------|------|
| mdpi | 320x480 |
| hdpi | 480x800 |
| xhdpi | 720x1280 |
| xxhdpi | 960x1600 |
| xxxhdpi | 1280x1920 |

## iOS Storyboard

```xml
<!-- ios/App/App/Base.lproj/LaunchScreen.storyboard -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<document type="com.apple.InterfaceBuilder3.CocoaTouch.Storyboard.XIB" version="3.0">
    <scenes>
        <scene sceneID="1">
            <objects>
                <viewController id="2" sceneMemberID="viewController">
                    <view key="view" contentMode="scaleToFill" id="3">
                        <rect key="frame" x="0" y="0" width="414" height="896"/>
                        <color key="backgroundColor" systemColor="systemBackgroundColor"/>
                        <subviews>
                            <imageView
                                contentMode="scaleAspectFit"
                                image="splash"
                                translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO"
                                id="4">
                            </imageView>
                        </subviews>
                        <constraints>
                            <constraint firstItem="4" firstAttribute="centerX" secondItem="3" secondAttribute="centerX" id="5"/>
                            <constraint firstItem="4" firstAttribute="centerY" secondItem="3" secondAttribute="centerY" id="6"/>
                        </constraints>
                    </view>
                </viewController>
            </objects>
        </scene>
    </scenes>
</document>
```

## Android Configuration

### XML Splash Screen (Android 11+)

```xml
<!-- android/app/src/main/res/values/styles.xml -->
<resources>
    <style name="AppTheme.NoActionBarLaunch" parent="Theme.SplashScreen">
        <item name="windowSplashScreenBackground">@color/splash_background</item>
        <item name="windowSplashScreenAnimatedIcon">@drawable/splash</item>
        <item name="windowSplashScreenAnimationDuration">1000</item>
        <item name="postSplashScreenTheme">@style/AppTheme.NoActionBar</item>
    </style>
</resources>
```

### Colors

```xml
<!-- android/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml -->
<resources>
    <color name="splash_background">#FFFFFF</color>
</resources>

<!-- android/app/src/main/res/values-night/colors.xml -->
<resources>
    <color name="splash_background">#121212</color>
</resources>
```

## Dark Mode Support

```typescript
// capacitor.config.ts
plugins: {
  SplashScreen: {
    launchAutoHide: false, // Control manually
    backgroundColor: '#ffffff',
    // iOS will use LaunchScreen.storyboard variations
    // Android uses values-night/colors.xml
  },
},
```

```typescript
// Detect dark mode and configure
import { SplashScreen } from '@capacitor/splash-screen';

const isDark = window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches;

// Show appropriate themed content
await SplashScreen.hide({
  fadeOutDuration: 300,
});
```

## Animated Splash

### Lottie Animation

```typescript
import { SplashScreen } from '@capacitor/splash-screen';

async function showAnimatedSplash() {
  // Keep native splash while loading
  await SplashScreen.show({ autoHide: false });

  // Load Lottie animation in web
  const lottie = await import('lottie-web');

  // Show web-based animated splash
  document.getElementById('splash-animation').style.display = 'block';

  const animation = lottie.loadAnimation({
    container: document.getElementById('splash-animation'),
    path: '/animations/splash.json',
    loop: false,
  });

  animation.addEventListener('complete', async () => {
    // Hide native splash
    await SplashScreen.hide({ fadeOutDuration: 0 });
    // Hide web splash
    document.getElementById('splash-animation').style.display = 'none';
  });
}
```

## Best Practices

1. **Keep it fast** - Under 2 seconds total
2. **Match branding** - Use consistent colors/logo
3. **Support dark mode** - Provide dark variants
4. **Don't block** - Load essentials only
5. **Progressive reveal** - Fade out smoothly

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| White flash | Match splash background to app |
| Stretching | Use correct asset sizes |
| Not hiding | Call `hide()` manually |
| Dark mode wrong | Add values-night resources |

## Resources

- Capacitor Splash Screen: https://capacitorjs.com/docs/apis/splash-screen
- Capacitor Assets: https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor-assets
- Android Splash Screens: https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/views/launch/splash-screen