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How to make an app promo video with a phone mockup (no screen recording needed)
A phone slides in and your screenshot scrolls inside it under a bold headline. How to prepare the screenshot, write the headline and render the video with AI — plus what App Store previews require.
Oct 27, 2026 · 2 min read
App promo
The phone mockup scroll is the workhorse of app marketing: a phone slides into frame, your app (or mobile site) scrolls smoothly from top to bottom inside it, and a headline tells people what they're looking at. It shows a lot of product in a few seconds, and you can make it from one tall screenshot — no screen recording, no editing.
When to use it
- App launches and update posts on TikTok, Reels and X.
- Showing a long landing page the way a phone visitor sees it.
- Simple app-install ads where the UI is the selling point.
- Website headers — the 16:9 version puts the phone beside the headline.
Prepare the screenshot
- Take a full-length screenshot at phone width (around 1170 px wide on iPhone; any width works). Tall is good — the taller it is, the longer the scroll.
- Use real UI with realistic data. Clear out test entries and personal information.
- Show the best part early. The scroll pauses at the top first, so the first screen matters most.
Write the headline
Up to seven words about the outcome, not the feature: "Your week, planned in one scroll" beats "Calendar app with tasks". Add an optional sub line, such as the app name and platform.
A note on App Store previews
Apple's App Store app previews have their own rules — they should show footage captured from the app itself, at specific resolutions and lengths — so check Apple's app preview specifications before uploading anything there. Mockup videos like this one are best used on social media, in ads and on your website.
Make it with Claude Opus 5.5 (or any agent)
The free Phone Mockup Scroll Skill renders this locally:
Make a 9:16 phone-mockup video scrolling through full-screenshot.png with the headline "Your week, planned in one scroll".
Your agent confirms the copy, checks the image and renders the MP4 — 9:16 for Reels and TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube and the web. For desktop or dashboard products, use a 3D screenshot showcase instead.
FAQ
Which phone is shown? A generic modern phone outline, so it never dates or implies a specific brand.
Can I use a website screenshot? Yes — any tall image scrolls.
Skills in this guide