The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Before making an itch.io project public, check more than whether the build launches: make sure the page explains the project accurately, the cover and screenshots represent it well, the platform and category details are correct, and the upload is packaged for the type of project you are releasing. This checklist follows itch.io’s creator guidance; its recommendations and upload limits can change, so consult the linked official pages when you publish.
Check the page fields and description
Each part of an itch.io page does a different job. The title, short description, and cover image appear in listings; the longer description appears on the project page. A free itch.io account can create a project page. See Your first itch.io page.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Title: Name the project clearly and consistently with the uploaded work.
- Short description: Give visitors a concise explanation of what the project is.
- Long description: Explain what visitors will get and how to use or experience it. The description supports formatting, so use headings and lists when they make details easier to scan.
Choose description details that fit the project rather than treating every item as mandatory. A game might need its story, features, controls, input devices, and minimum or recommended system requirements. A tool may need instructions and requirements; a comic or soundtrack may need neither controls nor system requirements. Where relevant, include credits, current development status and plans, links for fans, and a way to contact you. itch.io specifically recommends contact information in the instructions: “Make sure to add contact information to the instructions, so that your fans know how to reach you, should they need to.”
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Prepare a cover and decide whether screenshots fit
itch.io recommends a cover-image aspect ratio of 315:250, with 315×250 pixels as the minimum and 630×500 given as an example of a larger image at the same ratio. These are platform recommendations for presentation, not a universal image file-format specification. The cover appears when people encounter the project in browse pages, and itch.io lists having a cover image as one condition relevant to Search and Browse indexing. Neither a cover nor an otherwise complete page guarantees placement or traffic. See the creator guide and the indexing guidance.
#1 Best Overall
| Project presentation | Image check |
|---|---|
| Projects with useful visual material | Use a cover that represents the actual project, and add screenshots where they help visitors judge what they will experience. itch.io recommends three to five screenshots. |
| Text-only or otherwise image-unsuitable projects | Do not add misleading screenshots just to fill a quota. itch.io’s quality guidance gives text-only Twine projects as an example where screenshots are not needed. |
Animated GIFs can be used for covers and screenshots; avoid seizure-inducing effects in animated covers. If your page design does not use the screenshots column, itch.io recommends showing relevant images another way, such as embedding them in the description. See Content creator quality guidelines and Designing your page.
Verify classifications, tags, and platform claims
Choose genre, tags, language, categories, and supported platforms to match the project—not to chase a broader audience. Incorrect or irrelevant tags and classifications can jeopardize eligibility for discovery features. itch.io advises selecting only platforms on which the project directly runs; if you are uncertain, select only platforms you have tested. A PNG or other non-executable asset should be classified as the appropriate asset type, not as an executable simply because a computer can open it. See the quality guidelines and the creator guide.
If generative AI applies to the uploaded work, consult itch.io’s current quality guidelines for the disclosure and tagging rules for the relevant category. Requirements may depend on the kind of project or asset, so do not assume a label or threshold without checking the current guidance.
Check the upload package for its project type
Use the project editor to upload files, and make sure the page has an upload available if you intend to make the project purchasable. A typical downloadable game release may provide one ZIP per platform; bonus artwork or a soundtrack can be separate downloads. itch.io supports multiple project types, so do not apply one project’s package rules to another.
Downloadable projects
Check that each download contains the files a buyer or player needs and is clearly named for its platform or contents. itch.io’s Creator FAQ says individual file sizes are limited and recommends no more than 10 files per page; it does not state a numeric general per-file limit on the cited FAQ page, and says limits can be raised by request. Do not treat the HTML5 extraction limits below as general upload limits. See Creator FAQ.
Browser-playable HTML5 games
For a multi-file HTML5 game, upload a ZIP with index.html as the entry point and every file the game needs. File names are case-sensitive. itch.io’s documented limits for this HTML5 ZIP are:
Rank #4
- 1,000 extracted files.
- 240 characters maximum for a filename, including its path.
- 500 MB maximum for all extracted content.
- 200 MB maximum for any single extracted file.
These figures apply specifically to HTML5 uploads, not every itch.io upload type. Check the current HTML5 upload instructions before release.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteReview the page before its first public release
itch.io advises creators to wait until a public project has its needed images, files, and classifications ready. The first public release enters Most Recent, and the project cannot be put back at the top of that page. Draft or restricted pages can be shared for review without appearing in browse or search pages. Use that opportunity to check the visitor-facing page, not only the build.
Best Value
- Open the project page as a visitor would. Confirm the title and short description identify the same project as the download.
- Read the long description for missing project-specific instructions, useful contact details, working links, and claims that need correction.
- Check that the cover and any screenshots are legible, representative, and appropriate to the project; verify the cover proportions against itch.io’s current recommendation.
- Review tags, categories, language, and platform selections against the actual uploaded work and platforms you have tested.
- Download or preview the uploaded files as appropriate. For HTML5, verify the ZIP’s entry point, required files, case-sensitive paths, and applicable extraction limits.
- Make the page public only when its copy, classifications, images, and files are ready for visitors.
Meeting these checks makes a page more complete and accurate; it does not guarantee Search or Browse indexing, ranking, or audience reach. itch.io’s guidance describes relevant eligibility conditions, not a promise of placement. See Getting indexed on Search & Browse.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
