The fastest way to change an app icon on iPhone
You can change how an app looks on your home screen by creating a shortcut that points to the app and assigning it a custom icon. This works on all iPhones running iOS 13 or later. The process takes about two minutes per app and uses the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone.
Open the Shortcuts app (the blue icon with white lines). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Search for "Open App" and tap it. Select the app you want to change. Then tap the three dots in the top right, scroll down, and tap "Add to Home Screen". Choose a custom icon and name, then tap "Add". The new icon will appear on your home screen alongside the original app.
The original app icon stays in your app library unchanged. You are creating a visual replacement on your home screen, not modifying the app itself. If you delete the shortcut, the original app remains untouched.
Key Takeaways
- Custom app icons are created using the Shortcuts app, which is free and built into every iPhone.
- You can use any image as an icon — a photo, emoji, symbol, or downloaded icon pack.
- The original app icon stays the same; you are only changing how it appears on your home screen.
- Each custom icon is a separate shortcut, so changing multiple apps means repeating the process for each one.
- Deleting a custom icon does not delete the app itself, only the shortcut you created.
Using emoji and symbols as custom icons
The simplest way to customize an icon is to use an emoji or symbol. When you reach the "Add to Home Screen" step, tap the icon preview (the small circle showing the app icon). A menu appears with options to choose a photo, emoji, or symbol.
Tap the emoji option and select any emoji from your keyboard. You can use a single emoji, combine multiple emojis, or search for specific ones. Symbols work the same way — tap the symbol option and browse the available shapes and icons. This method is fast and requires no downloads or image files.
Downloading and using custom icon packs
If you want a coordinated set of icons that match a theme or aesthetic, you can read icon packs from the App Store. Search for "icon pack" or "custom icons" and look for apps that provide collections of icons designed for shortcuts. Popular options include Brass, Unfolder, and Pastel, though availability and names change over time.
These apps show you a gallery of icons. Take a screenshot of the icon you want, save it to your photos, then follow the shortcut process above. When prompted to choose an icon, select "Photo" and pick the screenshot from your camera roll. The icon will appear on your home screen using the image you selected.
Some icon pack apps let you read icons directly to your files, which you can then select during the shortcut setup. Check the app's instructions to see which method it uses.
Organizing custom icons into folders
After creating several custom icons, your home screen can become crowded. You can organize them by dragging custom icons into folders, just like regular apps. Long-press an icon, tap "Move", and drag it onto another icon to create a folder, or drag it into an existing folder.
Name the folder something descriptive like "Social Media" or "Productivity". This keeps your home screen clean while keeping your custom icons straightforward to find. You can create as many folders as you need and move icons in and out at any time.
Changing icons for built-in Apple apps
You can create custom icons for Apple's built-in apps — Mail, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Maps, and others — using the same shortcut method. Search for "Open App" in Shortcuts, select the Apple app you want to customize, and follow the same steps to add it to your home screen with a new icon.
This is useful if you want a consistent visual theme across your home screen. For example, you could replace the default Mail icon with a custom envelope design, or change the Calendar icon to match your preferred color scheme. The original app remains in your app library with its standard icon.
Troubleshooting custom icons that do not work
If a custom icon does not appear or shows a generic icon instead, the shortcut may not have saved correctly. Open the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut you created, and tap the three dots. Tap "Edit" and scroll to the bottom. Make sure "Add to Home Screen" is still there and the icon is still selected. Tap "Done" and try adding it to your home screen again.
If the icon still does not work, delete the shortcut and create a new one. Make sure you are using a photo or emoji that is actually saved to your phone — screenshots and downloaded images work best. If you are using a photo from the internet, save it to your camera roll first before selecting it as an icon.
Custom icons may also fail to load if your iPhone storage is very low. Check your storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you are near capacity, delete unused apps or photos and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icon of an app without using Shortcuts?
No. Shortcuts is the only built-in method on iPhone. Some third-party apps claim to change icons, but they work the same way — by creating shortcuts with custom images. Using the built-in Shortcuts app is faster and does not require downloading anything.
Will changing an app icon affect how the app works?
No. You are only changing the visual appearance on your home screen. The app itself works exactly the same way. All notifications, data, and functionality remain unchanged. The original app icon is still in your app library.
Can I change the icon of every app on my iPhone?
Yes, but it takes time. You create a separate shortcut for each app you want to customize. If you want to change 20 apps, you will need to create 20 shortcuts. Many people customize only their most-used apps to save time.
What happens if I delete a custom icon from my home screen?
The shortcut is deleted, but the original app remains in your app library and on your phone. You can recreate the custom icon anytime by making a new shortcut. Your app data is never affected.
Can I share custom icons with other people?
You can share the shortcut itself through the Shortcuts app. Open the shortcut, tap the three dots, and tap "Share". You can send it via Messages, Mail, or AirDrop. The person receiving it can add it to their own phone, though they may need to adjust the icon or app selection if their phone is set up differently.