LOCALIZATION GUIDE · zh-Hans

Localize App Store Screenshots to Chinese (Simplified)

简体中文

Mainland China + Singapore = ~1.3B speakers. China iOS App Store is Apple's #1 market by revenue.

Text expansion
-50%
vs English
Layout risk
High
overflow severity
Locale code
zh-Hans
App Store Connect

Why Chinese (Simplified) matters

China App Store is a world of its own. Google Play does not operate there — Android users use local stores (Huawei AppGallery, Xiaomi, OPPO). For iOS, localization quality is scrutinized heavily: Chinese users actively read reviews looking for translation errors.

English (source)

Design stunning app store screenshots in minutes

48 chars

几分钟内设计出令人惊艳的应用商店截图

18 chars

Localization tips for Chinese (Simplified)

  1. 1 Use Noto Sans SC or PingFang SC. Do NOT use a Traditional Chinese font for Simplified.
  2. 2 Simplified (zh-Hans) for mainland, Traditional (zh-Hant) for Taiwan and Hong Kong. These are NOT interchangeable.
  3. 3 Avoid culturally sensitive imagery (flags, maps, political references). Screenshots get rejected.
  4. 4 The App Store locale code on Apple is "zh-Hans" (script tag). Google Play uses "zh-CN" (region tag). Don't mix them up.

Fonts for Chinese (Simplified)

Noto Sans SC, PingFang SC, Source Han Sans SC.

Most common mistake

Submitting Traditional Chinese screenshots to mainland China, or vice versa. Users will leave 1-star reviews and you will not understand why.

Chinese (Simplified) localization FAQ

What App Store Connect locale code should I use for Chinese (Simplified)?

Use zh-Hans when adding Chinese (Simplified) (简体中文) screenshots in App Store Connect or Google Play Console. Using the wrong code means your localized screenshots never reach Chinese (Simplified) users.

Does text expansion affect Chinese (Simplified) screenshot design?

Chinese (Simplified) runs -50% vs English on average character count. You should design buttons and headlines with explicit overflow headroom — text that fits in English will break in Chinese (Simplified).

Does Shotlingo automatically localize screenshots to Chinese (Simplified)?

Yes. Shotlingo auto-translates your App Store screenshot text to Chinese (Simplified) (简体中文) with AI that respects text expansion, and platform-appropriate fonts. Export the localized bundle ready for App Store Connect locale zh-Hans.

Do I have to translate my App Store screenshots to Chinese (Simplified)?

If Chinese (Simplified) is a major market for your app, yes. Unlocalized screenshots significantly reduce conversion — users scroll past copy they cannot read. Even partial localization (headlines only) typically beats English-only.

Localize your screenshots to Chinese (Simplified) automatically

Shotlingo handles expansion, fonts, and App Store Connect locale codes for you. Free to try.

Try Shotlingo free →

Compare screenshot localization tools

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