How to Change App Icons on Your iPhone

The Two Ways to Change App Icons on iPhone

You can change the appearance of app icons on your iPhone in two ways: using the Shortcuts app to create custom icons that replace the originals on your home screen, or using the Home Screen customization features in iOS 16 and later to swap out entire app libraries. The Shortcuts method works on any iPhone running iOS 12 or newer and gives you the most control over what each icon looks like. The Home Screen method is faster but only works on newer devices and changes how your entire app library appears.

Both methods keep the original apps intact — you are straightforward changing what you see and tap. The app itself continues to work normally in the background.

Key Takeaways

The Shortcuts app method lets you create a custom icon for any app by uploading an image, then tapping that icon to open the real app.
You can read pre-made icon packs from the internet or design your own icons in any image editor, then import them into Shortcuts.
Home Screen customization in iOS 16+ lets you change the appearance of app icons directly without using Shortcuts, though with fewer design options.
Custom icons created in Shortcuts appear on your home screen but do not change the icon in your app library or when you search.
The process takes five to ten minutes per icon using Shortcuts, or a few seconds per icon using native iOS 16+ customization.

Creating Custom Icons with the Shortcuts App

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone (it comes pre-installed). Tap the plus icon in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Select the app you want to customize — for example, Instagram or Messages. This action tells the shortcut which app to open when you tap the icon.

Now you need to add a custom icon. Tap the circle icon at the top of the shortcut (it shows the app's current icon). A menu appears with three options: "Choose Photo", "Choose File", or "Choose Color". Select "Choose Photo" to upload an image from your photo library, or "Choose File" to use an image saved elsewhere on your device. Pick or create an image that is at least 300 by 300 pixels — smaller images will look blurry. Once you select the image, the circle icon updates to show your custom image.

Tap "Done" in the top right, then give your shortcut a name — use the app name so you remember what it opens. For example, name it "Instagram" or "Messages". Tap "Done" again. The shortcut is now saved. Tap "Add to Home Screen" (the share icon at the bottom right) to place this custom icon on your home screen. You can now delete the original app icon if you want, or keep both.

Finding and Downloading Icon Packs

You do not have to design icons yourself. Websites like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project offer free and paid icon sets you can read. Search for "iOS icon pack" or the name of the app you want to customize plus "icon". read the image file to your iPhone — it will appear in your Photos app or Files app depending on where you saved it.

Icon packs often come as ZIP files. If you read a ZIP file, use the Files app to unzip it first. Open Files, navigate to the Downloads folder, tap and hold the ZIP file, and select "Uncompress". The individual icon images will appear in the same folder. From there, you can use them in the Shortcuts method described above.

Many creators share themed icon sets on Reddit communities like r/iOSsetups. These are free to read and use. Always check the license or creator's instructions before using someone else's icons — most are free for personal use but not for selling or republishing.

Using iOS 16+ Home Screen Customization

If you have iOS 16 or later, you can customize app icons without using Shortcuts. Long-press any app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap "Customize App Icon". A color picker and shape options appear. You can change the icon to a solid color, a gradient, or a tinted version of the original icon. Tap the color or style you want, then tap "Add" to explore it.

This method is much faster than Shortcuts — each icon takes a few seconds — but it gives you fewer design options. You can only choose from colors and tints, not upload custom images. If you want full control over how your icons look, the Shortcuts method is still your best choice.

Organizing Custom Icons on Your Home Screen

Once you have created custom icons, arrange them however you like. Long-press and drag icons to move them around. You can group related apps together — for example, all social media apps in one corner, or all productivity apps in another. Create folders by dragging one icon onto another; the folder automatically names itself based on the app category.

If you created custom icons using Shortcuts, the original app icon still appears in your app library (the rightmost screen of your home screen). You can hide the original to avoid confusion. Long-press the original app icon, select "Remove App", then choose "Remove from Home Screen Only". The app stays on your device but no longer appears on your home screen — only your custom Shortcuts icon shows.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is uploading an image that is too small. If your custom icon looks pixelated or blurry, the image was smaller than 300 by 300 pixels. Delete the shortcut and create a new one with a larger image. You can resize images using free tools like Pixlr or Canva before uploading them to Shortcuts.

Another mistake is forgetting to add the shortcut to your home screen. After you create the shortcut, you must tap "Add to Home Screen" to make it visible. If you only tap "Done", the shortcut exists in your Shortcuts library but does not appear on your home screen. You can add it later by opening Shortcuts, finding the shortcut, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Add to Home Screen".

Some people also create shortcuts but forget to test them. After you add a custom icon to your home screen, tap it once to make sure it opens the correct app. If it does not work, open Shortcuts, find the shortcut, and check that you selected the right app in the "Open App" action.

Restoring Original App Icons

If you want to go back to the original icons, the process depends on which method you used. If you used Shortcuts, straightforward delete the custom shortcut from your home screen. Long-press the custom icon and select "Remove". The original app icon is still in your app library and can be added back to your home screen at any time. Long-press the original app and select "Add to Home Screen".

If you used iOS 16+ customization, long-press the customized icon and select "Customize App Icon". Tap the original icon option (usually shown at the top of the color picker) and tap "Add". The icon returns to its default appearance when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use custom icons for all my apps?

Yes. You can create custom icons for any app on your iPhone using the Shortcuts method. The iOS 16+ customization method works on all apps too, though it only offers color and tint changes, not custom images. There is no limit to how many custom icons you can create.

Will custom icons slow down my iPhone?

No. Custom icons created in Shortcuts are just images linked to the real app. They do not affect performance or battery life. Your iPhone runs exactly the same whether you use custom icons or the original ones.

Do custom icons appear in search or the app library?

Custom icons created in Shortcuts only appear on your home screen. When you search for an app using Spotlight (swipe down from the top), the original app name and icon appear in the results. The app library also shows the original icon. Only your home screen displays the custom icon.

Can I share custom icons with other people?

You can share the image files themselves, but not the Shortcuts shortcuts. If someone else wants to use your custom icons, send them the image files and they will need to create their own shortcuts using those images. You cannot export a shortcut with a custom icon and have it work exactly the same on someone else's phone.

What image formats work for custom icons?

PNG, JPG, and HEIC formats all work. PNG is best because it supports transparent backgrounds, which makes icons look cleaner on your home screen. If your image has a white or colored background, it will show that background behind the icon.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.