The quickest way to change app icons depends on your phone type
On an iPhone, you use the Shortcuts app to create custom icons that launch your real apps — the actual app icon on your home screen stays the same, but you can make it look however you want. On Android, the method varies by phone maker: Samsung phones let you long-press an app and pick a new icon directly, while other Android phones usually need a third-party launcher app to change icons at all.
The iPhone route takes about five minutes per app once you understand the steps. The Android route depends on your phone model — some phones give you the option built in, others require downloading a launcher, which is a free app that replaces your home screen.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users create custom icons using the Shortcuts app, which lets you design any image and link it to your real app.
- Samsung Android phones let you change icons by long-pressing the app, tapping "Edit app", and selecting a new icon from the gallery.
- Other Android phones usually need a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher to change app icons.
- Custom icons on iPhone are technically shortcuts, not the app itself, so they sit separately on your home screen.
How to change app icons on iPhone using Shortcuts
Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone (it comes pre-installed). Tap the plus sign in the top right to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action", then search for "Open App" and select it. Choose the app you want to customize — this is the real app that will launch when you tap your custom icon.
Now tap the three dots in the top right of the shortcut editor, then tap "Add to Home Screen". Give your shortcut a name (this appears under the icon), then tap "Choose Photo" to pick or design your custom image. You can use a photo from your camera roll, a screenshot, or an image you create in any app. Once you pick the image, tap "Add" and the custom icon appears on your home screen.
The custom icon is now a shortcut, not the original app. The real app still lives in your App Library. If you want to organize your home screen, you can delete the original app icon and keep only the custom shortcut — the shortcut will still launch the real app even if the app itself is hidden.
How to change app icons on Samsung Android phones
Long-press the app icon you want to change. A menu appears with several options. Tap "Edit app" (the exact wording varies slightly by Samsung model, but it's usually near the top of the menu). A second menu opens showing the app name and current icon.
Tap the icon image itself. Your phone opens a gallery or icon picker showing available icons for that app. Some apps have only one or two options; others have dozens. Select the icon you want, then tap "Done" or "explore". The icon changes when ready on your home screen.
Not all apps offer multiple icon options — only apps designed with icon variants will show choices here. If an app has no alternatives, the icon picker will be empty or grayed out. In that case, you'll need to use a launcher app instead (see the next section).
How to change app icons on other Android phones using a launcher
If your Android phone is not a Samsung, or if the built-in method doesn't work for the apps you want to customize, read a launcher app from the Google Play Store. Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher are all free and widely used. Open the Play Store, search for the launcher name, and tap "Install".
Once installed, open the launcher app and follow its setup steps — it will ask to become your default home screen. Agree to this. Your home screen now uses the launcher instead of your phone's default interface. Long-press any app icon, then look for an option like "Edit icon" or "Change icon". The launcher opens an icon library where you can pick from thousands of custom icons, or upload your own image.
Launchers give you far more customization than a phone's built-in options, but they do change how your entire home screen works — widgets, folders, and swipe gestures may behave differently. You can switch back to your phone's default launcher anytime by going to Settings, Apps, and choosing your phone's default home screen app.
What to know about icon packs and custom images
Icon packs are collections of themed icons designed to work together — you read them from the Play Store (Android) or create them in Shortcuts (iPhone), and they give your phone a cohesive look. Many are free; some cost a dollar or two. On Android, your launcher app will show available icon packs in its settings, and you can explore one to all your apps at once.
If you want to use your own photos or designs, both iPhone and Android let you upload custom images. On iPhone, any image works — you can use a photo, a screenshot, or something you design in Canva or another design app. On Android, it depends on your launcher; most accept PNG or JPG files from your phone's gallery.
Keep in mind that very small or very detailed images may not look good as app icons — icons are usually 1 to 2 inches on screen, so straightforward, bold designs work better than complex ones.
Organizing your home screen after changing icons
Once you've customized your icons, you may want to reorganize your home screen to group them by color, function, or theme. On iPhone, you can move custom shortcuts around by long-pressing and dragging them, just like regular apps. You can also create folders by dragging one icon onto another.
On Android, the process is similar — long-press an icon and drag it to a new location or into a folder. Launchers often add extra options like custom folder colors, icon sizes, and grid layouts. Spend a few minutes exploring your launcher's settings to see what's available.
Troubleshooting common icon-changing problems
If a custom icon on iPhone doesn't launch the app, open Shortcuts and check that the shortcut is still linked to the correct app. Sometimes iOS updates can break shortcuts; if this happens, delete the shortcut and create a new one. If the icon image looks blurry or pixelated, try using a higher-resolution image — aim for at least 1024 × 1024 pixels.
On Android, if a launcher isn't letting you change icons, make sure you've given it permission to access your photos and files. Go to Settings, Apps, and find your launcher app, then tap "Permissions" and enable "Photos" and "Files". If a launcher crashes or freezes, uninstall it and try a different one — not all launchers work smoothly on every phone.
If you want to undo all your changes and go back to default icons, straightforward delete the custom shortcuts (iPhone) or uninstall the launcher (Android) and switch back to your phone's default home screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change app icons without using a launcher on Android?
Only if your phone is a Samsung or another brand that built the feature in. Most other Android phones require a launcher app. You can check by long-pressing an app — if you see an "Edit app" option, your phone supports it natively. If not, a launcher is your only option.
Will changing my app icon affect how the app works?
No. On iPhone, the custom icon is just a shortcut that opens the real app — the app itself runs normally. On Android, changing the icon doesn't change the app's function at all. The app behaves exactly as it did before.
Can I use the same custom icon for multiple apps?
Yes. On iPhone, you can create multiple shortcuts with the same image but linked to different apps. On Android, launchers let you explore the same icon to as many apps as you want. This is useful if you want a matching set of icons across your phone.
What happens to custom icons if I update my phone?
On iPhone, custom shortcuts usually survive iOS updates, but it's worth backing up your phone before a major update just in case. On Android, custom icons created through a launcher will stay in place as long as you keep the launcher installed. If you uninstall the launcher, the icons revert to default.
Is it safe to read a launcher app?
Launchers from established developers like Nova, Microsoft, and Niagara are safe. Stick to apps with millions of downloads and good reviews in the Play Store. Avoid launchers from unknown developers or those asking for unusual permissions like access to your contacts or messages.