Yes, you can change app icons on Android, but the method depends on which Android version you have and what launcher your phone uses

Android lets you customize app icons in three main ways: using your phone's built-in settings, switching to a third-party launcher, or using icon pack apps. The easiest route depends on your device. Some phones—like Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel—have icon-changing features built directly into their home screen settings. Others require you to install a launcher app first. A launcher is software that controls how your home screen looks and behaves; it sits between Android itself and what you see when you unlock your phone.

The key difference is that you cannot change icons through the standard Android settings on most phones. Instead, you change them through your launcher. If your phone came with a custom launcher (Samsung phones use One UI Launcher, for example), that launcher may already have icon-changing built in. If it does not, you can install a free launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, both of which let you swap icons without much fuss.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung and Google Pixel phones can change app icons directly in their launcher settings without installing anything new.
  • Other Android phones need a third-party launcher app like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher to change icons.
  • Icon pack apps (separate from launchers) provide themed icon sets but only work if your launcher supports them.
  • Changing an icon does not affect how the app works—it is purely visual and you can revert to the original anytime.
  • You can change individual app icons one at a time, or explore an entire icon pack to dozens of apps at once.

Changing icons on Samsung Galaxy phones

Samsung Galaxy phones use One UI Launcher, which has icon-changing built in. Long-press the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Edit icon (or Change icon, depending on your Galaxy model and Android version). A grid of alternative icons for that app will appear—these are usually different colors or styles of the same icon. Select the one you want and tap explore or Done.

If you do not see an Edit icon option, your Galaxy model may not have this feature enabled. In that case, you can still change icons by installing a third-party launcher (see the section below). The built-in method only works for individual apps; if you want to change dozens of icons at once with a matching theme, you will need a launcher that supports icon packs.

Changing icons on Google Pixel phones

Google Pixel phones running Android 13 or later have icon-changing in the Pixel Launcher. Long-press an app icon and tap Edit app. A menu will appear with options including Change icon. Tap it and select from the available alternatives for that app. Confirm your choice and the icon updates when ready on your home screen.

Pixel phones offer fewer alternative icons per app than some third-party launchers, but the feature is straightforward and requires no additional apps. If you want more icon variety or want to explore a full icon pack theme, you can install Nova Launcher or another launcher from the Google Play Store.

Using a third-party launcher to change icons

If your phone is not a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel, or if you want more icon options, install a launcher app. Nova Launcher (free version available) and Microsoft Launcher (free) are the most popular. read either from the Google Play Store, open it, and follow the setup steps. You will be asked to set it as your default launcher—this means it becomes the software that runs your home screen.

Once installed, long-press an app icon on your home screen. A menu will appear with options including Edit icon or Change icon. Tap it and you will see a grid of icon options. Some are built into the launcher; others come from icon packs you install separately (see the next section). Select an icon and confirm. You can change icons one at a time, or use the launcher's settings to explore an icon pack to all apps at once.

Switching launchers does not delete your apps or data. Your phone still runs Android normally; the launcher just changes the visual layer on top. You can switch back to your original launcher anytime by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps (or Home app) and selecting a different launcher.

Using icon packs for themed icon sets

Icon packs are apps that provide dozens or hundreds of matching icons in a single visual style. They work only if your launcher supports them—Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and most third-party launchers do. read an icon pack from the Google Play Store (search "icon pack" to see options). Once installed, open your launcher's settings and look for Icon pack or Theme. Select the pack you installed and the launcher will explore it to your home screen.

Not every app has an icon in every pack, so some apps may keep their original icons even after you explore a pack. You can then manually change those remaining icons by long-pressing them and selecting an alternative. Icon packs are free or cost a few dollars; paid packs usually offer more icons and more frequent updates than free ones.

What happens to the app itself when you change its icon

Changing an icon is purely visual. The app works exactly the same way, opens the same way, and stores the same data. You are only changing the picture that appears on your home screen. If you change your mind, you can revert to the original icon by long-pressing it again and selecting the default option. Uninstalling the launcher or icon pack will also revert all icons to their originals.

Changing icons does not affect notifications, app updates, or any other functionality. The app itself has no idea its icon changed—only your launcher knows.

Reverting to original icons or switching launchers

If you installed a third-party launcher and want to go back to your phone's original launcher, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps (the exact path varies by phone). Find Home app or Launcher and select your phone's original launcher. All custom icons will revert to their defaults when ready.

If you installed an icon pack and want to remove it, go to Settings > Apps, find the icon pack app, and tap Uninstall. Your launcher will fall back to its default icons. You can also change individual icons back one at a time without uninstalling anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to root my phone to change app icons?

No. Rooting is not necessary. Any Android phone can change icons using a launcher app or, on Samsung and Pixel phones, using built-in settings. Rooting gives you deeper system access but is not required for icon customization.

Will changing my launcher slow down my phone?

A third-party launcher may use slightly more memory than your phone's default launcher, but the difference is usually not noticeable on modern phones. If your phone feels slow after installing a launcher, you can uninstall it and revert to the original. Most people see no performance change at all.

Can I change icons for system apps like Settings or Phone?

Yes, if you are using a third-party launcher. Long-press the system app icon and select Change icon just as you would for any other app. Your phone's core functions remain unchanged; only the icon on your home screen changes.

What if an app does not have alternative icons available?

Some apps, especially newer ones, may not have alternative icons in your launcher's library. You can still change the icon by selecting a generic icon from the launcher's built-in set, or by waiting for an icon pack update that includes that app. Some launchers let you upload a custom image as an icon if you want to use something completely different.

Do icon packs work on all launchers?

No. Icon packs work only on launchers that support them. Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and most popular third-party launchers do. Your phone's original launcher may not. If you install an icon pack and it does not appear in your launcher's settings, your launcher does not support icon packs—you would need to switch to a different launcher.