25 Must-Know iPhone Menu Icons and What They Do

Overview

iPhone menu icons are the small graphical symbols used across iOS to represent apps, system controls, actions, and settings. They communicate function quickly and consistently, rely on Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG), and appear in places such as the Home Screen, Control Center, Settings, system menus, and in-app toolbars.

Categories

• App icons: Distinctive square-with-rounded-corners icons that represent apps on the Home Screen and App Store.
• System icons (SF Symbols): Scalable, monochrome glyphs used throughout iOS for UI elements (buttons, tabs, lists).
• Control Center icons: Tappable symbols indicating system toggles (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Music controls).
• Status bar icons: Tiny indicators at the top of the screen (battery, cellular signal, Wi‑Fi, Do Not Disturb).
• Contextual/menu icons: Icons within menus, action sheets, and contextual menus (share, delete, edit).
• Badge icons: Small overlays (notification counts) displayed on app icons.

Design Principles

• Clarity: Icons should clearly convey purpose at a glance.
• Consistency: Use platform-standard styling (SF Symbols or matching visual weight) and consistent metaphors.
• Simplicity: Prefer minimal, easily recognizable shapes; avoid unnecessary detail.
• Scalability: Design for multiple sizes and resolutions (regular and Retina displays).
• Legibility: Ensure sufficient contrast and distinct silhouettes, including when used as monochrome glyphs.
• Affordance: Icons should suggest interactivity when tappable (e.g., within buttons).

Technical Notes

• Apple provides SF Symbols (a large library of vector glyphs) that integrate with UIKit and SwiftUI; they adapt to weight, size, and accessibility settings.
• App icons must follow Apple’s specs (square with continuous corner radius, precise sizes for different devices and App Store).
• Use vector formats (PDF for Xcode asset catalogs, or SVG during design) and provide raster assets at required scales (@1x, @2x, @3x) when needed.
• Test icons in Light and Dark modes and with Dynamic Type and accessibility settings.

Common Examples & Meanings

• Gear (⚙️): Settings/preferences.
• Magnifying glass: Search.
• Trash can: Delete/remove.
• Pencil/edit: Edit or compose.
• Share (box with arrow): Share/export.
• Plus (+): Add/new.
• Chevron (>) or back arrow: Navigate deeper/back.
• Bell: Notifications/alerts.
• Cloud with arrow: Download/upload or cloud sync.

Accessibility & Localization

• Provide descriptive accessibility labels (VoiceOver) for every icon.
• Don’t rely solely on color—use shape and labels for meaning.
• Localize icons only when cultural metaphors differ; otherwise localize labels and accessibility text.

Quick Best Practices

1. Prefer SF Symbols where appropriate for consistency.
2. Keep app icon distinct and recognizable at small sizes.
3. Validate contrast and touch target sizes (Apple recommends 44×44 pt minimum).
4. Test across devices, orientations, and accessibility settings.
5. Follow Apple HIG for app icon and symbol requirements to avoid App Store rejections.