diff --git a/editor/export/editor_export_platform.cpp b/editor/export/editor_export_platform.cpp
index 8b44a6f88ab..f8358dd0728 100644
--- a/editor/export/editor_export_platform.cpp
+++ b/editor/export/editor_export_platform.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "core/extension/gdextension.h"
 #include "core/io/file_access_encrypted.h"
 #include "core/io/file_access_pack.h" // PACK_HEADER_MAGIC, PACK_FORMAT_VERSION
+#include "core/io/image_loader.h"
 #include "core/io/resource_uid.h"
 #include "core/io/zip_io.h"
 #include "core/version.h"
@@ -82,6 +83,28 @@ static int _get_pad(int p_alignment, int p_n) {
 
 #define PCK_PADDING 16
 
+Ref<Image> EditorExportPlatform::_load_icon_or_splash_image(const String &p_path, Error *r_error) const {
+	Ref<Image> image;
+
+	if (!p_path.is_empty() && ResourceLoader::exists(p_path) && !ResourceLoader::get_resource_type(p_path).is_empty()) {
+		Ref<Texture2D> texture = ResourceLoader::load(p_path, "", ResourceFormatLoader::CACHE_MODE_REUSE, r_error);
+		if (texture.is_valid()) {
+			image = texture->get_image();
+			if (image.is_valid() && image->is_compressed()) {
+				image->decompress();
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if (image.is_null()) {
+		image.instantiate();
+		Error err = ImageLoader::load_image(p_path, image);
+		if (r_error) {
+			*r_error = err;
+		}
+	}
+	return image;
+}
+
 bool EditorExportPlatform::fill_log_messages(RichTextLabel *p_log, Error p_err) {
 	bool has_messages = false;
 
diff --git a/editor/export/editor_export_platform.h b/editor/export/editor_export_platform.h
index a79cd4fb528..ed494514335 100644
--- a/editor/export/editor_export_platform.h
+++ b/editor/export/editor_export_platform.h
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ protected:
 	Error _load_patches(const Vector<String> &p_patches);
 	void _unload_patches();
 
+	Ref<Image> _load_icon_or_splash_image(const String &p_path, Error *r_error) const;
+
 public:
 	virtual void get_preset_features(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &p_preset, List<String> *r_features) const = 0;
 
diff --git a/platform/android/export/export_plugin.cpp b/platform/android/export/export_plugin.cpp
index 9f4650d0833..752acc84995 100644
--- a/platform/android/export/export_plugin.cpp
+++ b/platform/android/export/export_plugin.cpp
@@ -1723,18 +1723,18 @@ void EditorExportPlatformAndroid::_process_launcher_icons(const String &p_file_n
 void EditorExportPlatformAndroid::load_icon_refs(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &p_preset, Ref<Image> &icon, Ref<Image> &foreground, Ref<Image> &background, Ref<Image> &monochrome) {
 	String project_icon_path = GLOBAL_GET("application/config/icon");
 
-	icon.instantiate();
-	foreground.instantiate();
-	background.instantiate();
-	monochrome.instantiate();
+	Error err = OK;
 
 	// Regular icon: user selection -> project icon -> default.
 	String path = static_cast<String>(p_preset->get(LAUNCHER_ICON_OPTION)).strip_edges();
 	print_verbose("Loading regular icon from " + path);
-	if (path.is_empty() || ImageLoader::load_image(path, icon) != OK) {
+	if (!path.is_empty()) {
+		icon = _load_icon_or_splash_image(path, &err);
+	}
+	if (path.is_empty() || err != OK || icon.is_null() || icon->is_empty()) {
 		print_verbose("- falling back to project icon: " + project_icon_path);
 		if (!project_icon_path.is_empty()) {
-			ImageLoader::load_image(project_icon_path, icon);
+			icon = _load_icon_or_splash_image(project_icon_path, &err);
 		} else {
 			ERR_PRINT("No project icon specified. Please specify one in the Project Settings under Application -> Config -> Icon");
 		}
@@ -1743,7 +1743,10 @@ void EditorExportPlatformAndroid::load_icon_refs(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &
 	// Adaptive foreground: user selection -> regular icon (user selection -> project icon -> default).
 	path = static_cast<String>(p_preset->get(LAUNCHER_ADAPTIVE_ICON_FOREGROUND_OPTION)).strip_edges();
 	print_verbose("Loading adaptive foreground icon from " + path);
-	if (path.is_empty() || ImageLoader::load_image(path, foreground) != OK) {
+	if (!path.is_empty()) {
+		foreground = _load_icon_or_splash_image(path, &err);
+	}
+	if (path.is_empty() || err != OK || foreground.is_null() || foreground->is_empty()) {
 		print_verbose("- falling back to using the regular icon");
 		foreground = icon;
 	}
@@ -1752,14 +1755,14 @@ void EditorExportPlatformAndroid::load_icon_refs(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &
 	path = static_cast<String>(p_preset->get(LAUNCHER_ADAPTIVE_ICON_BACKGROUND_OPTION)).strip_edges();
 	if (!path.is_empty()) {
 		print_verbose("Loading adaptive background icon from " + path);
-		ImageLoader::load_image(path, background);
+		background = _load_icon_or_splash_image(path, &err);
 	}
 
 	// Adaptive monochrome: user selection -> default.
 	path = static_cast<String>(p_preset->get(LAUNCHER_ADAPTIVE_ICON_MONOCHROME_OPTION)).strip_edges();
 	if (!path.is_empty()) {
 		print_verbose("Loading adaptive monochrome icon from " + path);
-		ImageLoader::load_image(path, monochrome);
+		monochrome = _load_icon_or_splash_image(path, &err);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/platform/ios/export/export_plugin.cpp b/platform/ios/export/export_plugin.cpp
index 4f5d2b48ded..ea093061120 100644
--- a/platform/ios/export/export_plugin.cpp
+++ b/platform/ios/export/export_plugin.cpp
@@ -982,9 +982,9 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformIOS::_export_icons(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &p_pr
 				}
 				// Resize main app icon.
 				icon_path = GLOBAL_GET("application/config/icon");
-				Ref<Image> img = memnew(Image);
-				Error err = ImageLoader::load_image(icon_path, img);
-				if (err != OK) {
+				Error err = OK;
+				Ref<Image> img = _load_icon_or_splash_image(icon_path, &err);
+				if (err != OK || img.is_null() || img->is_empty()) {
 					add_message(EXPORT_MESSAGE_ERROR, TTR("Export Icons"), vformat("Invalid icon (%s): '%s'.", info.preset_key, icon_path));
 					return ERR_UNCONFIGURED;
 				} else if (info.force_opaque && img->detect_alpha() != Image::ALPHA_NONE) {
@@ -1003,9 +1003,9 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformIOS::_export_icons(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &p_pr
 				}
 			} else {
 				// Load custom icon and resize if required.
-				Ref<Image> img = memnew(Image);
-				Error err = ImageLoader::load_image(icon_path, img);
-				if (err != OK) {
+				Error err = OK;
+				Ref<Image> img = _load_icon_or_splash_image(icon_path, &err);
+				if (err != OK || img.is_null() || img->is_empty()) {
 					add_message(EXPORT_MESSAGE_ERROR, TTR("Export Icons"), vformat("Invalid icon (%s): '%s'.", info.preset_key, icon_path));
 					return ERR_UNCONFIGURED;
 				} else if (info.force_opaque && img->detect_alpha() != Image::ALPHA_NONE) {
@@ -1089,13 +1089,11 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformIOS::_export_loading_screen_file(const Ref<EditorExpor
 	const String custom_launch_image_3x = p_preset->get("storyboard/custom_image@3x");
 
 	if (custom_launch_image_2x.length() > 0 && custom_launch_image_3x.length() > 0) {
-		Ref<Image> image;
 		String image_path = p_dest_dir.path_join("splash@2x.png");
-		image.instantiate();
-		Error err = ImageLoader::load_image(custom_launch_image_2x, image);
+		Error err = OK;
+		Ref<Image> image = _load_icon_or_splash_image(custom_launch_image_2x, &err);
 
-		if (err) {
-			image.unref();
+		if (err != OK || image.is_null() || image->is_empty()) {
 			return err;
 		}
 
@@ -1103,13 +1101,10 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformIOS::_export_loading_screen_file(const Ref<EditorExpor
 			return ERR_FILE_CANT_WRITE;
 		}
 
-		image.unref();
 		image_path = p_dest_dir.path_join("splash@3x.png");
-		image.instantiate();
-		err = ImageLoader::load_image(custom_launch_image_3x, image);
+		image = _load_icon_or_splash_image(custom_launch_image_3x, &err);
 
-		if (err) {
-			image.unref();
+		if (err != OK || image.is_null() || image->is_empty()) {
 			return err;
 		}
 
@@ -1117,19 +1112,16 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformIOS::_export_loading_screen_file(const Ref<EditorExpor
 			return ERR_FILE_CANT_WRITE;
 		}
 	} else {
+		Error err = OK;
 		Ref<Image> splash;
 
 		const String splash_path = GLOBAL_GET("application/boot_splash/image");
 
 		if (!splash_path.is_empty()) {
-			splash.instantiate();
-			const Error err = ImageLoader::load_image(splash_path, splash);
-			if (err) {
-				splash.unref();
-			}
+			splash = _load_icon_or_splash_image(splash_path, &err);
 		}
 
-		if (splash.is_null()) {
+		if (err != OK || splash.is_null() || splash->is_empty()) {
 			splash.instantiate(boot_splash_png);
 		}
 
diff --git a/platform/macos/export/export_plugin.cpp b/platform/macos/export/export_plugin.cpp
index 66a7637fd77..140839f1a1a 100644
--- a/platform/macos/export/export_plugin.cpp
+++ b/platform/macos/export/export_plugin.cpp
@@ -1883,10 +1883,8 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformMacOS::export_project(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &p
 						icon->get_buffer(&data.write[0], icon->get_length());
 					}
 				} else {
-					Ref<Image> icon;
-					icon.instantiate();
-					err = ImageLoader::load_image(icon_path, icon);
-					if (err == OK && !icon->is_empty()) {
+					Ref<Image> icon = _load_icon_or_splash_image(icon_path, &err);
+					if (err == OK && icon.is_valid() && !icon->is_empty()) {
 						_make_icon(p_preset, icon, data);
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/platform/web/export/export_plugin.cpp b/platform/web/export/export_plugin.cpp
index ae936eb937b..8929699d2a6 100644
--- a/platform/web/export/export_plugin.cpp
+++ b/platform/web/export/export_plugin.cpp
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformWeb::_add_manifest_icon(const String &p_path, const St
 
 	Ref<Image> icon;
 	if (!p_icon.is_empty()) {
-		icon.instantiate();
-		const Error err = ImageLoader::load_image(p_icon, icon);
-		if (err != OK) {
+		Error err = OK;
+		icon = _load_icon_or_splash_image(p_icon, &err);
+		if (err != OK || icon.is_null() || icon->is_empty()) {
 			add_message(EXPORT_MESSAGE_ERROR, TTR("Icon Creation"), vformat(TTR("Could not read file: \"%s\"."), p_icon));
 			return err;
 		}
diff --git a/platform/web/export/export_plugin.h b/platform/web/export/export_plugin.h
index bd449bb16de..d6de8481a73 100644
--- a/platform/web/export/export_plugin.h
+++ b/platform/web/export/export_plugin.h
@@ -77,20 +77,28 @@ class EditorExportPlatformWeb : public EditorExportPlatform {
 	}
 
 	Ref<Image> _get_project_icon() const {
+		Error err = OK;
 		Ref<Image> icon;
 		icon.instantiate();
 		const String icon_path = String(GLOBAL_GET("application/config/icon")).strip_edges();
-		if (icon_path.is_empty() || ImageLoader::load_image(icon_path, icon) != OK) {
+		if (!icon_path.is_empty()) {
+			icon = _load_icon_or_splash_image(icon_path, &err);
+		}
+		if (icon_path.is_empty() || err != OK || icon.is_null() || icon->is_empty()) {
 			return EditorNode::get_singleton()->get_editor_theme()->get_icon(SNAME("DefaultProjectIcon"), EditorStringName(EditorIcons))->get_image();
 		}
 		return icon;
 	}
 
 	Ref<Image> _get_project_splash() const {
+		Error err = OK;
 		Ref<Image> splash;
 		splash.instantiate();
 		const String splash_path = String(GLOBAL_GET("application/boot_splash/image")).strip_edges();
-		if (splash_path.is_empty() || ImageLoader::load_image(splash_path, splash) != OK) {
+		if (!splash_path.is_empty()) {
+			splash = _load_icon_or_splash_image(splash_path, &err);
+		}
+		if (splash_path.is_empty() || err != OK || splash.is_null() || splash->is_empty()) {
 			return Ref<Image>(memnew(Image(boot_splash_png)));
 		}
 		return splash;
diff --git a/platform/windows/export/export_plugin.cpp b/platform/windows/export/export_plugin.cpp
index 4795d2a9753..4111aac8af7 100644
--- a/platform/windows/export/export_plugin.cpp
+++ b/platform/windows/export/export_plugin.cpp
@@ -93,10 +93,9 @@ Error EditorExportPlatformWindows::_process_icon(const Ref<EditorExportPreset> &
 			f->seek(prev_offset);
 		}
 	} else {
-		Ref<Image> src_image;
-		src_image.instantiate();
-		err = ImageLoader::load_image(p_src_path, src_image);
-		ERR_FAIL_COND_V(err != OK || src_image->is_empty(), ERR_CANT_OPEN);
+		Ref<Image> src_image = _load_icon_or_splash_image(p_src_path, &err);
+		ERR_FAIL_COND_V(err != OK || src_image.is_null() || src_image->is_empty(), ERR_CANT_OPEN);
+
 		for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(icon_size) / sizeof(icon_size[0]); ++i) {
 			int size = (icon_size[i] == 0) ? 256 : icon_size[i];