You can change how an app icon looks on your home screen by creating a Shortcut that opens the app with a custom icon

The Shortcuts app lets you build a small automation that opens any app you choose, then display that automation on your home screen with whatever icon and name you want. When you tap the custom icon, it runs the shortcut and opens the real app. This works on iPhone and iPad, and the custom icon replaces the original one in your view — the app itself stays unchanged.

The process takes about five minutes per app. You'll use the Shortcuts app (built into iOS 15 and later), choose an icon image or symbol, and add the shortcut to your home screen. No jailbreaking, no paid tools, and you can undo it anytime by deleting the shortcut.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, and add a single action: "Open App" pointing to the app you want to customize.
  • Tap the three dots at the top right, then tap the icon circle to choose a custom image, emoji, or SF Symbol for your shortcut.
  • Name the shortcut whatever you want it to display as on your home screen.
  • Tap "Add to Home Screen" from the menu, and the custom icon will appear on your home screen instead of the original app icon.
  • You can use photos from your camera roll, emoji, or built-in symbol libraries — the choice is yours for each app.

Opening Shortcuts and creating a new shortcut

Find the Shortcuts app on your home screen or in the App Library. Tap it to open. On the main screen, you'll see a "+" button in the top right corner — tap that to start a new shortcut.

A blank shortcut opens. You'll see a search bar at the top that says "Add an action". Tap it and search for "Open App". The action appears in the list — tap it to add it to your shortcut.

After you add "Open App", a blue button appears that says "Choose". Tap it and select the app you want to customize from the list. The app name now shows in the action. You've built the core of your shortcut — it will open that app when you run it.

Choosing a custom icon and name

At the top of the shortcut, you'll see the app name and a small icon circle. Tap the three dots (menu button) in the top right corner of the screen. A menu slides up from the bottom. Tap "Add to Home Screen".

A new screen appears asking for the name and icon. The name field shows the app's real name — change it to whatever you want to display on your home screen. Below that is an icon circle showing the app's original icon.

Tap the icon circle to open the icon picker. You have three choices: take a photo, choose an emoji, or pick a symbol from the SF Symbols library. Tap whichever you prefer.

If you choose "Photo", your camera roll opens — select any image. If you choose "Emoji", a keyboard appears with thousands of emoji to browse. If you choose "Symbol", you get a searchable library of Apple's built-in design symbols (like hearts, stars, gears, and document icons). Pick one and tap it. The icon circle updates to show your choice.

Adding the shortcut to your home screen

After you've set the name and icon, tap "Add" at the bottom right. iOS asks where you want the shortcut to appear — choose a home screen or folder. Tap "Add" again.

The shortcut is now on your home screen with your custom icon and name. When you tap it, it opens the app. The original app icon remains in the App Library unchanged — you're only changing what appears on your home screen.

Using emoji and symbols for quick customization

Emoji are the fastest way to customize an icon if you don't want to hunt through photos. Open the icon picker, choose "Emoji", and search by keyword — type "camera" to find camera emoji, "music" to find music symbols, and so on. Tap the one you want.

SF Symbols are Apple's design library and work well if you want a clean, professional look. They're the same icons you see in Apple's own apps. Search by name — "gear" finds settings-style icons, "heart" finds heart shapes, "document" finds file icons. Each symbol comes in several weights (thin, regular, bold) so you can pick the style that matches your taste.

Changing or removing a custom icon later

If you want to change the icon after you've added the shortcut to your home screen, long-press the shortcut icon and tap "Edit Shortcut". The shortcut opens in the editor. Tap the three dots menu, then "Add to Home Screen" again. Change the name or icon as you did the first time, and tap "Add". iOS updates the existing shortcut on your home screen.

To remove the custom icon entirely, long-press the shortcut and tap "Remove from Home Screen". The shortcut stays in the Shortcuts app — you can add it back anytime. If you want to delete the shortcut completely, swipe left on it in the Shortcuts app and tap "Delete".

Troubleshooting common issues

If the shortcut doesn't open the app, check that you selected the correct app in the "Open App" action. Long-press the shortcut, tap "Edit Shortcut", and verify the app name in the blue button. If it's wrong, tap the button and choose the correct app.

If the icon doesn't appear on your home screen after you tap "Add", check that you have space available. iOS won't add a shortcut if your home screen is full. Delete or move an existing icon to make room, then try adding the shortcut again.

If you're using a photo as an icon and it looks blurry or stretched, the photo may be the wrong size or shape. Try a square photo instead of a landscape or portrait one — iOS crops photos to fit the icon circle, so square images work best.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from the internet as a custom icon?

Yes. Save the image to your camera roll first (long-press the image in Safari and tap "Save Image"), then open the icon picker in your shortcut and choose "Photo". Select the saved image from your camera roll.

Will the custom icon work if I move the app to a different folder?

The custom icon is a separate shortcut, not the app itself. Moving the real app to a folder doesn't affect the shortcut on your home screen. Both the custom icon and the original app icon will still work.

Can I use the same custom icon for multiple apps?

Yes. Create a new shortcut for each app, and use the same icon for all of them. Each shortcut is independent, so they'll all open their own app even though they look identical.

What happens if I delete the original app?

The shortcut will no longer work — it can't open an app that isn't installed. If you reinstall the app later, the shortcut works again.