The fastest way to change your app icons
You can change how app icons look on your iPhone's home screen using the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. The process takes about five minutes per icon: you create a shortcut that opens the app you want, then assign a custom image to that shortcut. When you tap the custom icon on your home screen, it opens the app just like the original icon would.
This method works on iPhone XS and newer running iOS 13 or later. If you have an older iPhone, you can still use it, but the steps may differ slightly depending on your iOS version. The custom icons you create live on your home screen alongside your regular apps—they don't replace the original icons in your app library.
Key Takeaways
- You create custom icons using the Shortcuts app by making a shortcut that opens an app, then assigning an image to it.
- Custom icons appear on your home screen as separate tiles and don't change the original app icons in your app library.
- You can use any image as an icon—photos from your camera roll, downloaded images, or images you create in design apps.
- Removing a custom icon only deletes the shortcut; the original app stays on your phone untouched.
Creating a custom icon using Shortcuts
Open the Shortcuts app (it has a purple icon with white lines). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App." Select "Open App" from the results, then tap "Choose" and pick the app you want to create an icon for.
Once you've selected your app, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut editor. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen." A dialog will appear asking you to name the shortcut and choose an icon. Tap the colored circle next to the name field—this is where you'll set your custom image.
Assigning an image to your custom icon
When you tap the colored circle, you'll see options to choose a photo, take a photo, or pick a color. Select "Choose Photo" to use an image from your camera roll or files. You can also search for images online, save them to your phone, and use those. Once you've picked your image, the app will crop it to fit the icon shape.
If you want to use an emoji or symbol instead of a photo, tap the circle again after selecting your image, then tap "Choose Photo" and look for the emoji keyboard option. You can also use design apps like Canva or Pixlr to create custom icon images and save them to your phone before assigning them in Shortcuts.
Where your custom icons appear and how to organize them
When you finish creating the shortcut, tap "Add" in the top right. Your custom icon will appear on your home screen as a new tile. You can move it around by long-pressing it and dragging it to a new position, just like any other app icon. You can also place it in a folder with other apps or custom icons to keep your home screen organized.
Your original app icon stays in your app library (swipe left past your last home screen page to see it). Having both the custom icon on your home screen and the original in your app library means you can open the app two ways, but you only need to use the custom icon if you prefer it.
Using images from websites and design apps
You can read images from websites and use them as custom icons. Long-press an image on a website in Safari, tap "Save Image," and choose where to save it (usually "Photos"). Then follow the steps above to assign that image to your shortcut. Many websites offer free icon packs and app icon templates designed specifically for this purpose.
If you want to design your own icons, apps like Canva, Pixlr, and Adobe Express let you create square images and save them to your phone. Make your image square (like 512 × 512 pixels) so it looks clean when cropped to the icon shape. After saving your design to your camera roll, you can use it when ready in Shortcuts.
Removing or changing a custom icon
To remove a custom icon from your home screen, long-press it and tap "Remove from Home Screen." This only deletes the shortcut—your original app stays on your phone and in your app library. If you want to change the image on an existing custom icon, long-press the icon, tap "Edit," then tap the colored circle to pick a new image.
You can also delete the entire shortcut by long-pressing it, tapping "Remove from Home Screen," then going to the Shortcuts app and swiping left on the shortcut to delete it. Again, this only affects the shortcut and custom icon—the original app is unharmed.
Troubleshooting common problems
If your custom icon doesn't open the app when you tap it, make sure the shortcut was created correctly. Open the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut you created, and tap it to test it. If it doesn't work, delete it and create a new one, making sure you selected the right app in the "Open App" step.
If the image you chose looks blurry or stretched, try using a square image instead of a rectangular one. The Shortcuts app crops images to fit the icon shape, so square images usually look better. If you're having trouble finding an image to use, search for "free app icons" or "icon pack" online—many websites offer free downloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icons of apps I already have on my home screen?
No—you create a new shortcut with a custom icon instead of changing the original app icon. You'll have both the original app and the custom icon on your home screen. If you prefer the custom icon, you can delete the original from your home screen (long-press and tap "Remove from Home Screen"), but the app stays in your app library.
Will changing an icon affect how the app works?
No. The custom icon is just a shortcut that opens the app. The app itself works exactly the same way. Removing the custom icon doesn't affect the app at all.
Can I use the same image for multiple app icons?
Yes. You can create as many shortcuts as you want and assign the same image to all of them. Each shortcut is independent, so you can organize them however you like on your home screen.
What if I don't like how the image looks as an icon?
Long-press the custom icon, tap "Edit," and tap the colored circle to choose a different image. You can change it as many times as you want without affecting the original app.
Do custom icons work on the lock screen?
Custom icons created in Shortcuts appear only on your home screen, not on your lock screen. Lock screen customization uses a different feature in iOS that lets you add widgets, but app icons themselves cannot be changed on the lock screen.