You can change how app icons look on your home screen using the Shortcuts app
iPhone lets you replace the standard app icons that appear on your home screen with custom images you choose. The method uses Apple's built-in Shortcuts app, which creates a shortcut to the app and lets you assign a custom icon to it. When you tap the custom icon, it opens the app normally—the icon itself is just a visual change on your home screen.
This works on iPhone running iOS 13 or later. The process takes a few minutes per app, and you can customize as many or as few apps as you want. Your original apps stay unchanged in the App Library; you're only changing what appears on your home screen.
Key Takeaways
- Custom app icons are created using the Shortcuts app and appear only on your home screen, not in the App Library or Spotlight search.
- You need an image file for each custom icon—you can use photos, screenshots, or read icon packs from the internet.
- Each custom icon requires its own shortcut, so customizing ten apps means creating ten separate shortcuts.
- Tapping a custom icon opens the real app normally; the change is purely visual.
Finding or creating icon images to use
Before you start, gather the images you want to use as icons. These can be photos from your camera roll, screenshots you've edited, or icon packs you read. Icon images work best at square dimensions—512 by 512 pixels is ideal, though the Shortcuts app will resize whatever you provide.
If you don't want to create your own, search the App Store for "icon pack" or look online for free icon sets. Many designers share custom iOS icon packs on sites like Pinterest or design communities. read the images to your iPhone's Photos app or Files app so you can access them in Shortcuts.
Creating a custom icon shortcut in the Shortcuts app
Open the Shortcuts app (it comes pre-installed on most iPhones). Tap the plus icon in the top right to create a new shortcut. You'll see a blank canvas where you can add actions.
Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Select the app you want to customize from the list. This is the app that will actually open when you tap your custom icon. Then tap the three dots next to the app name and select "Add to Home Screen".
A dialog will appear asking for a name and icon. Type the name you want to appear under the icon (or leave it blank if you prefer no label). Then tap the icon preview image—this opens your photo library. Select the image you want to use as your custom icon. The Shortcuts app will crop it to a square and use it as the icon.
Tap "Add" in the top right. The shortcut is now saved, and a new icon appears on your home screen with your custom image.
Organizing custom icons on your home screen
Custom icons created this way appear as individual shortcuts on your home screen. You can move them around like any other app icon—long-press and drag them to rearrange, or move them into folders to keep your home screen organized.
If you create many custom icons, consider grouping them by category in folders. For example, put all your social media custom icons in one folder, all your productivity apps in another. This keeps your home screen from becoming cluttered while still showing your custom designs.
Why custom icons don't appear in search or the App Library
When you search for an app using Spotlight (swipe down from the home screen and type), the custom icon shortcut won't appear—only the original app will. The same applies to the App Library: your original apps are still there, but the custom icon versions exist only on your home screen as shortcuts.
This is by design. The custom icons are visual overlays; the actual apps remain unchanged. If you delete a custom icon from your home screen, the app itself is unaffected and still works normally.
Changing or removing a custom icon later
To change a custom icon's image, long-press the icon on your home screen and tap "Edit". Select "Edit Shortcut" and then tap the icon preview. Choose a new image from your photos. Tap "Done" to save the change.
To remove a custom icon, long-press it and tap "Remove from Home Screen". The original app remains on your iPhone and in the App Library. You can create a new custom icon for the same app anytime by repeating the shortcut process.
Limitations and what to know before you start
Each custom icon requires its own shortcut, so if you want to customize 20 apps, you'll create 20 separate shortcuts. This takes time but is straightforward once you've done it once or twice.
Custom icons may show a small Shortcuts badge (a purple square with a play button) in the corner, depending on your iOS version and settings. If this bothers you, you can disable it: go to Settings > Shortcuts > Show Shortcut Details and toggle it off.
Some people find that custom icons open slightly slower than the original app icons because they're technically launching through Shortcuts first. The delay is usually under a second and most users don't notice it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the icons of apps without using Shortcuts?
No. iOS does not provide a built-in way to change app icons directly. Shortcuts is the official method Apple supports. Some third-party apps claim to change icons, but they use the same Shortcuts method behind the scenes or require workarounds that may not be reliable.
Will changing an app icon affect how the app works?
No. The custom icon is only a visual change on your home screen. The app itself functions exactly as it normally does. Notifications, updates, and all features work the same way.
What happens if I update an app after creating a custom icon for it?
The custom icon continues to work. App updates don't affect shortcuts. Your custom icon will still open the updated version of the app normally.
Can I share custom icons with other people?
You can share the shortcut itself through the Shortcuts app, but the person receiving it will need the same image file to use the same icon. You can share the image file separately through Messages, email, or AirDrop, and they can create their own shortcut with it.
Do custom icons work on the iPad?
Yes. The Shortcuts app works on iPad the same way it does on iPhone, and you can create custom icons using the same process. They appear on your iPad home screen just as they do on iPhone.