diff --git a/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.h b/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.h
--- a/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.h
+++ b/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     ProjectTemplatesModel* model();
 
     QString createProject(const ApplicationInfo& );
-    bool unpackArchive(const KArchiveDirectory *dir, const QString &dest);
+    bool unpackArchive(const KArchiveDirectory* dir, const QString& dest, const QStringList& skipList = {});
     bool copyFileAndExpandMacros(const QString &source, const QString &dest);
 
     ProjectTemplatesModel* m_templatesModel;
diff --git a/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.cpp b/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.cpp
--- a/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/appwizard/appwizardplugin.cpp
@@ -275,8 +275,42 @@
             }
         }
 
-        if ( !unpackArchive( arch->directory(), unpackDir ) )
-        {
+        // estimate metadata files which should not be copied
+        QStringList metaDataFileNames;
+
+        // try by same name
+        const KArchiveEntry *templateEntry =
+            arch->directory()->entry(templateName + QLatin1String(".kdevtemplate"));
+
+        // but could be different name, if e.g. downloaded, so make a guess
+        if (!templateEntry || !templateEntry->isFile()) {
+            for (const auto& entryName : arch->directory()->entries()) {
+                if (entryName.endsWith(QLatin1String(".kdevtemplate"))) {
+                    templateEntry = arch->directory()->entry(entryName);
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (templateEntry && templateEntry->isFile()) {
+            metaDataFileNames << templateEntry->name();
+
+            // check if a preview file is to be ignored
+            const KArchiveFile *templateFile = static_cast<const KArchiveFile*>(templateEntry);
+            QTemporaryDir temporaryDir;
+            templateFile->copyTo(temporaryDir.path());
+
+            KConfig config(temporaryDir.path() + QLatin1Char('/') + templateEntry->name());
+            KConfigGroup group(&config, "General");
+            if (group.hasKey("Icon")) {
+                const KArchiveEntry* iconEntry = arch->directory()->entry(group.readEntry("Icon"));
+                if (iconEntry && iconEntry->isFile()) {
+                    metaDataFileNames << iconEntry->name();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (!unpackArchive(arch->directory(), unpackDir, metaDataFileNames)) {
             QString errorMsg = i18n("Could not create new project");
             vcsError(errorMsg, tmpdir, QUrl::fromLocalFile(unpackDir));
             return QString();
@@ -363,7 +397,7 @@
     return projectFileName;
 }
 
-bool AppWizardPlugin::unpackArchive(const KArchiveDirectory *dir, const QString &dest)
+bool AppWizardPlugin::unpackArchive(const KArchiveDirectory* dir, const QString& dest, const QStringList& skipList)
 {
     qCDebug(PLUGIN_APPWIZARD) << "unpacking dir:" << dir->name() << "to" << dest;
     const QStringList entries = dir->entries();
@@ -381,8 +415,10 @@
 
     foreach (const QString& entry, entries)
     {
-        if (entry.endsWith(QLatin1String(".kdevtemplate")))
+        if (skipList.contains(entry)) {
             continue;
+        }
+
         if (dir->entry(entry)->isDirectory())
         {
             const KArchiveDirectory *file = (KArchiveDirectory *)dir->entry(entry);