How to Change App Icons on Your iPhone

The fastest way to change app icons on iPhone

You can change how app icons look on your home screen using the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. The process takes about two minutes per icon: you create a shortcut that opens the app you want, assign it a custom image, and place it on your home screen instead of the original icon. The real app stays in your App Library untouched, so you are only changing what you see.

This method works on iPhone XS and newer running iOS 13 or later. If you have an older iPhone or an older iOS version, you can still change icons using a different approach — but the Shortcuts method is faster and cleaner, so start there if your phone supports it.

Key Takeaways

The Shortcuts app lets you create custom icons that open any app, and you can use photos, downloaded images, or emoji as the icon itself.
Each custom icon is technically a shortcut, not the original app, so you create one shortcut per app you want to customize.
You can organize custom icons into folders on your home screen, just like regular apps.
The original app icon remains unchanged in your App Library, so you can always find the real app if you need it.
If your iPhone is older than XS or runs iOS 12 or earlier, you will need to use a third-party launcher app instead.

Creating a custom icon using the Shortcuts app

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 to customize from the list that appears. This is the app that will open when you tap your custom icon.

Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut editor. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen". A dialog will appear asking you to name the shortcut and choose an icon. Tap the icon preview image (the small circle showing the app's current icon) to change it.

You now have three choices for your custom icon: take a photo with your camera, choose an image from your photo library, or select an emoji. Pick whichever you prefer. Once you have chosen, tap "Add" in the top right. The shortcut will be placed on your home screen with your custom icon.

Using photos and images as custom icons

If you want to use a photo or downloaded image as your icon, you will need the image file on your phone first. You can take a screenshot, read an image from the web, or use a photo you already have in your library. Square images work best because they fill the icon space completely.

When you reach the icon selection screen in the Shortcuts app, tap "Choose Photo" and navigate to the image you want. You can crop it to fit the square icon space. Once you have selected and cropped the image, it becomes your custom icon. Many people read icon packs from websites like Flaticon or Noun Project, which offer free or paid sets of matching icons in square format.

Organizing custom icons into folders

Custom icons work exactly like regular app icons once they are on your home screen. You can drag them into folders, arrange them in any order, and move them between screens. To create a folder, drag one custom icon onto another custom icon. A folder will appear, and you can name it whatever you want.

This is useful if you want to group related apps — for example, all your social media apps with custom icons in one folder, or all your productivity apps in another. The folder itself can also have a custom icon if you create a shortcut that opens a folder rather than an app, though that is more advanced.

Removing or editing a custom icon

To remove a custom icon from your home screen, press and hold it until a menu appears. Tap "Remove" and choose whether to remove it from the home screen only or delete the shortcut entirely. Removing it from the home screen keeps the shortcut in the Shortcuts app, so you can add it back later. Deleting the shortcut removes it completely.

To edit a custom icon after you have created it, open the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut in your library, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Edit". You can change the icon image, the name, or which app it opens. Save your changes, and the icon on your home screen will update automatically.

Using a launcher app if your iPhone is older

If your iPhone is older than XS or runs iOS 12 or earlier, the Shortcuts app either does not exist or does not support custom home screen icons. In that case, you can use a third-party launcher app from the App Store. Apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Evie Launcher let you customize your home screen with different icon packs and layouts.

These apps replace your default home screen with their own interface, which means you will see their design instead of Apple's. Some people prefer this approach because launcher apps offer more customization options overall — different grid sizes, icon animations, and widget support. The trade-off is that you are running a separate app as your home screen, which uses a small amount of battery and memory.

Icon packs and where to find them

If you do not want to create icons from scratch, you can read pre-made icon packs. Websites like Flaticon, Noun Project, and Icons8 offer free and paid icon sets in square format. read the icons you want, save them to your photo library, and use them in the Shortcuts method described above.

Some icon packs are designed specifically for iPhone and come with instructions on how to use them with Shortcuts. These packs usually include 50 to 200 matching icons in a consistent style, so your home screen looks cohesive. Free packs are available, but paid packs (usually $2 to $5) often have more icons and higher quality images.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my app icon affect the actual app or my data?

No. The custom icon is just a visual change on your home screen. The real app remains unchanged in your App Library, and all your data, settings, and notifications stay exactly as they are. You can always find and open the original app by searching for it or looking in the App Library.

Can I use emoji as custom icons?

Yes. When you create a shortcut and tap the icon preview, you can choose an emoji instead of a photo or image. Emoji icons are quick to set up and work well if you want a straightforward, colorful look. You can combine emoji with text labels to make your home screen more personal.

Do custom icons work with Siri or voice commands?

Custom icons created with Shortcuts will respond to Siri if you name the shortcut something Siri can recognize. For example, if you create a shortcut named "Open Instagram" and add it to your home screen, you can say "Hey Siri, Open Instagram" and it will work. The original app also responds to Siri, so you have both options.

What happens if I update my iPhone to a new iOS version?

Custom icons created with Shortcuts remain on your home screen and continue to work after iOS updates. Apple has supported this feature since iOS 13, so it is stable and unlikely to break. If you restore your iPhone from a backup, your custom icons will restore along with everything else.

Can I share custom icons with other people?

You can share the shortcut itself by opening it in the Shortcuts app, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Share". Other people can open the shared shortcut link and add it to their own Shortcuts library. However, they will need to choose their own icon image, so they cannot directly copy your exact setup — they can only copy the shortcut logic.

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.