The fastest way depends on your phone type
On iPhone, you use the Shortcuts app to create custom icons that launch your real apps. On Android, most phones let you long-press an app icon directly and choose a new one from your launcher settings, though some Android phones require a third-party launcher app instead. The iPhone route takes a few more steps but works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. Android is usually faster but varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, and OnePlus phones all handle it slightly differently.
Before you start, decide whether you want to change just the visual icon or also rename the app label underneath. Both are possible on either phone, but the method differs. iPhone's Shortcuts method changes both the icon and the name you see on your home screen. Android's native method usually changes only the icon.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users create a Shortcut in the Shortcuts app, choose a custom image, and set it to open the real app — this changes both the icon and the label on your home screen.
- Android users can usually long-press an app icon and tap "Edit icon" or similar, then select a new image from their phone's gallery or icon pack.
- Some Android phones require you to install a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher if the native method is not available.
- Custom icons on iPhone live in your home screen as Shortcuts, not in your app library, so they take up space separately from the original app.
- Icon packs and image libraries like Flaticon and Icons8 offer free downloadable icons you can use for either phone.
How to change app icons on iPhone using Shortcuts
Open the Shortcuts app (it comes pre-installed on iPhone). Tap the plus icon 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 — for example, Messages or Safari.
Next, tap the three dots at the top right of your shortcut and scroll down to "Add to Home Screen." A menu appears asking for a name and icon. Tap the icon preview (usually a small circle showing your app's current icon). You can now choose a photo from your library, take a new photo, or use an emoji. Select your custom image, then tap "Add" in the top right. Your custom icon now appears on your home screen as a Shortcut that opens the real app.
The downside: your custom icon is technically a Shortcut, not the app itself, so it lives separately on your home screen and does not appear in your app library. If you want to keep your home screen clean, you can delete the original app icon after creating the Shortcut version.
How to change app icons on Android phones
The native method works on most recent Android phones. Long-press the app icon you want to change. A menu appears with options like "App info," "Uninstall," and "Edit icon" or "Customize." Tap "Edit icon" (the exact wording varies by phone). Your phone opens a menu showing icon options — usually your current icon, a few alternatives built into the app, and the option to choose a photo from your gallery.
Select a new icon from the gallery or use one of the app's built-in alternatives, then confirm. The icon on your home screen updates when ready. Unlike iPhone, this method changes only the visual icon, not the app name underneath.
If your Android phone does not show an "Edit icon" option when you long-press, your launcher does not support native icon customization. In that case, read a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Niagara Launcher. Install it, set it as your default launcher in Settings, then long-press app icons in that launcher to customize them. Third-party launchers usually offer more icon options and let you rename apps as well.
Where to find custom icons
You do not have to create icons from scratch. Free icon libraries like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project let you read PNG files that work on either phone. Search for the app or function you want — for example, "camera icon" or "notes icon" — read the image to your phone, and use it in your Shortcut (iPhone) or launcher (Android).
Icon packs designed for Android are also available on the Google Play Store. These are collections of themed icons that work with third-party launchers. Popular packs include Linebit, Oxy Icon Pack, and Crayon Icon Pack. Install the pack, then select it in your launcher settings to explore the theme across multiple apps at once.
Renaming apps alongside icon changes
On iPhone, the Shortcut method automatically lets you rename the app — the name you enter when adding the Shortcut to your home screen becomes the label underneath the custom icon. You can call it anything you want.
On Android, renaming depends on your launcher. Native Android launchers usually do not let you rename apps without using a third-party launcher. If you install Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, you can long-press an app and select "Edit" to change both the icon and the name. Some launchers also let you hide the label entirely, showing only the icon.
Reverting to original icons
On iPhone, delete the Shortcut from your home screen by long-pressing it and selecting "Remove from Home Screen." The original app remains in your app library unchanged. If you deleted the original app icon to clean up your home screen, you can find it again in your app library and move it back to your home screen.
On Android, long-press the customized app icon and select "Reset icon" or "Restore default icon" if your launcher offers that option. If you used a third-party launcher, you can switch back to your phone's default launcher in Settings, and the original icons reappear. Uninstalling a third-party launcher also reverts all customizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any image as a custom app icon?
Yes, on both iPhone and Android you can use any image from your phone's gallery — photos, screenshots, or downloaded PNG files. The image will be cropped to fit the icon shape. For best results, use square images at least 512 pixels wide so they do not look blurry when scaled down.
Will custom icons slow down my phone?
No. Custom icons are just images linked to your apps, and they do not affect performance. On iPhone, Shortcuts run slightly slower than native apps because they go through an extra layer, but the delay is usually under a second and most people do not notice it.
Can I change icons for all my apps at once?
On Android, yes — if you install an icon pack through a third-party launcher, it applies the new theme across all your apps in one step. On iPhone, you have to create a separate Shortcut for each app you want to customize, so there is no one-step method.
Do custom icons appear in my app library or app drawer?
On iPhone, custom Shortcuts appear only on your home screen, not in the app library. The original app still appears in the library. On Android, the original app appears in your app drawer regardless of icon customization — the custom icon only changes what you see on your home screen.
What happens to custom icons if I update my phone?
On iPhone, your Shortcuts and custom icons stay on your home screen after an iOS update. On Android, custom icons persist through updates as long as you keep the same launcher. If you switch launchers or reset your phone, you lose the customizations.