You can change how your iPhone app icons look using the Shortcuts app and custom icon packs

iPhone does not let you swap out the actual app icons the way Android does. Instead, you create a shortcut — a small automation that opens the app you want — and assign it a custom image. When you tap that shortcut from your home screen, it launches the app. The icon you see is the picture you chose, not Apple's default. This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later.

The process takes about five minutes per icon. You will need the free Shortcuts app (made by Apple and built into most iPhones) and a source for custom images — either ones you design yourself, ones you read from a website, or ones you find in design apps like Canva.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom icons are actually shortcuts that open apps, not replacements of the real icons, so they only work from your home screen.
  • You create each custom icon in the Shortcuts app by making a new shortcut, assigning it an image, and choosing which app it opens.
  • Custom icon packs are available free on websites like Etsy, Pinterest, and design communities, usually as PNG or JPEG files you read to your phone.
  • If you want icons that match your home screen aesthetic, you can design your own in Canva or Photoshop and save them as image files.
  • Custom icons appear only on your home screen — your app library and Spotlight search still show the original Apple icons.

How to create a custom icon using Shortcuts

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Select the app you want the shortcut to open — for example, Instagram or Messages. Tap the three dots at the top right of the shortcut, then tap "Add to Home Screen".

A menu will appear asking for a name and icon. Type the name you want to appear under the icon (or leave it blank if you prefer no label). Tap the icon preview image — it will show the app's default icon. Choose "Choose Photo" and select the custom image file you want to use. Tap "Add" to place the shortcut on your home screen.

The custom icon now appears on your home screen. When you tap it, the shortcut runs and opens the app. You can repeat this process for as many apps as you want custom icons for.

Where to find custom icon packs and images

Etsy has thousands of iPhone icon packs, most priced between $2 and $8. Search "iPhone icon pack" or "iOS icon set" and filter by PNG files, which work best with Shortcuts. Many sellers offer packs themed around seasons, aesthetics (cottagecore, minimalist, dark mode), or specific interests. You read the files to your phone, then use them when creating shortcuts.

Pinterest has free icon packs if you search "iPhone custom icons" or "iOS icon pack free". Many pins link to Google Drive folders or Dropbox links where designers share their work. Canva (canva.com) lets you design your own icons from templates — you can customize colors, add text, and read them as PNG files directly to your phone. Design communities like Dribbble and Behance also host free icon packs created by designers.

If you want a cohesive look, read a full pack rather than mixing individual icons. Packs usually include 20 to 100+ icons in the same style, so your home screen will look intentional rather than random.

How to organize custom icons on your home screen

Custom icons behave like any other home screen app. You can move them by long-pressing and dragging, group them into folders, or arrange them in rows. Many people create a dedicated page for custom icons so the original app icons stay in the app library. This keeps your home screen clean and makes it straightforward to find apps if you need the real icon.

You can also use the Focus feature to show different home screens depending on your activity. For example, a Work focus could show only work-related apps, while a Personal focus shows custom icons for social media and entertainment. This does not change the icons themselves, but it changes which ones are visible at any moment.

What happens to custom icons when you update iOS

Custom icons stay in place after iOS updates. The shortcuts themselves do not break, and the images you assigned remain on your home screen. However, if Apple changes how Shortcuts works in a major update, you may need to recreate some shortcuts. This is rare, but it has happened in the past with large iOS releases.

If a shortcut stops working after an update, delete it from your home screen and create a new one using the same process. Your custom image files will still be in your Photos app, so you can reuse them when ready.

Limitations of custom icons on iPhone

Custom icons only appear on your home screen. When you search for an app using Spotlight (swipe down from the top), you still see the original Apple icon. The app library also shows the real icon, not your custom one. This means custom icons are purely visual — they do not change how the app actually appears or functions.

Custom icons also add a tiny delay when you tap them because the shortcut has to run before the app opens. The delay is usually under one second, but it is noticeable compared to tapping a real app icon. If speed matters to you, keep frequently used apps as real icons and use custom icons for apps you open less often.

Designing your own custom icons

If you want icons that match your exact aesthetic, you can design them yourself. Canva has an iPhone icon template (search "app icon" in Canva) that is 1024 by 1024 pixels — the standard size for iOS icons. You can customize colors, add text, upload images, and read the finished icon as a PNG file to your phone.

Photoshop and Affinity Designer also work, but they have a steeper learning curve. If you are comfortable with either, create a new document at 1024 by 1024 pixels, design your icon, and export it as PNG. Keep the design straightforward — details smaller than about 100 pixels will be hard to see at home screen size.

Once you have designed an icon, save it to your Photos app or Files app, then use it when creating a shortcut in the Shortcuts app. You can design one icon and use it for multiple shortcuts if you want a consistent look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do custom icons work on the lock screen?

No. Lock screen widgets and shortcuts are a separate feature in iOS 16 and later, but they do not use the custom icons you created for your home screen. Lock screen shortcuts show as small icons in a dedicated area, and you cannot customize their appearance the same way.

Can I use custom icons in the app library?

No. The app library always shows the original app icons. Custom icons only work on your home screen. If you want to hide the real app icon from your home screen, you can move it to a folder or delete it from the home screen entirely — it will still be in the app library.

What image format works best for custom icons?

PNG files work best because they support transparent backgrounds, which makes icons look polished. JPEG files also work but may have a white or colored background behind your design. read or design your icons as PNG when possible.

Will custom icons work if I share my iPhone with someone else?

Custom icons appear only in your user account or profile. If another person uses a different account on the same iPhone, they will not see your custom icons — only their own home screen. If you share a single account, custom icons will appear for both of you.

Can I make custom icons open multiple apps at once?

Yes, but only through a shortcut that runs multiple actions. In the Shortcuts app, add multiple "Open App" actions to a single shortcut, and they will all run when you tap the icon. However, iOS will only bring one app to the foreground — the others will open in the background. This is useful for launching a set of apps you always use together.