The fastest way depends on your device and what you're changing
Changing an process icon means replacing the small image that appears on your desktop, taskbar, or home screen with a different one. On Windows, you right-click the shortcut, open Properties, click Change Icon, and pick a new image from your computer. On Mac, you open Get Info for the app, paste a new icon image into the icon well at the top left, then delete the original. On Android and iPhone, the process is built into the operating system itself — you long-press the app and select Edit Home Screen or App Library options. The method you use depends on whether you want to change the icon for a shortcut (Windows and Mac) or the app itself (mobile).
The time it takes ranges from two minutes on Windows to five minutes on Mac, since Mac requires you to find or create an icon file first. Mobile devices are fastest — usually under one minute. Changing a shortcut icon does not affect the original process or how it runs, so the process is safe and reversible on all platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Windows lets you change shortcut icons through Properties without touching the original process file, which takes about two minutes.
- Mac requires you to find or create an icon image file, then paste it into the app's Get Info window using the icon well.
- iPhone and Android both allow icon changes through long-press menus, though iPhone requires the Shortcuts app for custom icons on the home screen.
- Icon files come in .ico format on Windows, .icns on Mac, and .png on mobile devices.
- Changing a shortcut icon does not affect the original process or how it runs.
Changing icons on Windows
Right-click the process shortcut on your desktop or taskbar. Select Properties from the menu. In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab if it is not already open, then click the Change Icon button near the bottom of the window.
A dialog box opens showing icon options. Windows displays built-in icons from system files first. If you want to use one of these, click it and then click OK. If you want to use your own icon image, click Browse, navigate to a folder on your computer where you have saved an icon file (usually .ico or .png format), select it, and click Open. Then click OK to explore the change.
The shortcut icon updates when ready on your desktop or taskbar. The original process file remains unchanged, so this method is safe and reversible — you can repeat the process to change it back or pick a different icon. If you are trying to change the icon for the process file itself rather than a shortcut, Windows will not let you — create a shortcut first by right-clicking the app, selecting Send To, then Desktop (Create Shortcut).
Changing icons on Mac
Find the process in your Applications folder or wherever it is stored. Right-click it and select Get Info. A window opens showing the app's details. At the top left of this window is a small icon — this is the icon well, and it is where you paste your new icon.
To change the icon, you need an image file in .icns format (Mac's native icon format) or a .png file. If you have a .png, you can convert it using online tools or the Preview app. Once you have your icon file ready, drag it onto the icon well at the top left of the Get Info window, or click the icon well and paste the image. The icon updates when ready.
If you want to revert to the original icon, click the icon well and press Delete. This removes your custom icon and restores the default one. Unlike Windows, Mac does not create a separate shortcut — you are changing the app's icon directly, but the change affects only how it appears on your computer, not how the app functions. If the icon does not appear after you paste it, try closing and reopening the Get Info window, or restart your Mac.
Changing icons on iPhone
iPhone does not let you change an app's actual icon, but you can create custom home screen icons using the Shortcuts app. Open Shortcuts, tap the plus button to create a new shortcut, and select Add Action. Search for Open App and choose the process you want to customize.
Name the shortcut, then tap the icon (the colored circle) to choose a custom image. You can use a photo from your library, take a new photo, or pick a color. Once you save the shortcut, it appears on your home screen with your custom icon and opens the app when you tap it. The original app icon in your App Library remains unchanged.
This method creates a launcher rather than changing the app itself, but it gives you full control over how the icon looks on your home screen. You can create multiple shortcuts to the same app with different icons if you want. The Shortcuts app comes built into iOS 13 and later, so you should already have it on your phone.
Changing icons on Android
Long-press the app icon on your home screen. A menu appears with options including Edit Home Screen or App Shortcuts (the exact wording varies by Android version and launcher). Tap Edit Home Screen or the pencil icon if one appears.
Tap the app icon itself. A dialog opens letting you choose a new icon from your launcher's built-in icon pack, or upload an image from your device. Select your choice and confirm. The icon on your home screen updates when ready.
If your Android device uses a third-party launcher like Nova or Microsoft Launcher, the process is similar but the menu options may be labeled differently. Some launchers offer icon packs you can read from the Play Store, which give you hundreds of custom icon designs to choose from. The original app icon in your app drawer remains unchanged — only the home screen shortcut is affected.
Where to find icon files
Icon files are small image files that come in different formats depending on your device. Windows uses .ico files, Mac uses .icns files, and mobile devices use .png files. You can find icons in several places.
Icon websites like Icons8, Flaticon, and Noun Project offer thousands of free and paid icons you can read. Many come in multiple formats, so you can pick the one your device needs. You can also create your own icons using design tools like Canva or GIMP, or convert images you already have using online converters. Some applications come with their own icon files buried in their installation folders — on Windows, these are often in Program Files, and on Mac, they are inside the app package (right-click the app and select Show Package Contents to find them).
Troubleshooting icon changes that do not work
If you change an icon and it does not appear, the most common cause is that Windows or Mac is still showing a cached version. On Windows, right-click your desktop, select Refresh, and wait a few seconds. On Mac, open Terminal and type killall Finder, then press Enter — this restarts the Finder and forces it to reload icons.
If the Change Icon button is grayed out on Windows, you are probably trying to change the icon for the process file itself rather than a shortcut. Create a shortcut to the app instead: right-click the app, select Send To, then Desktop (Create Shortcut). Then right-click that shortcut and follow the steps above.
On mobile devices, if a custom icon does not stick, make sure you are using the correct file format (.png for Android and iPhone) and that the image is at least 192 x 192 pixels. If you are using the Shortcuts app on iPhone and the icon does not appear, try closing and reopening the Shortcuts app, or delete the shortcut and create it again. On Android, some launchers cache icons, so restarting your phone may force them to reload.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing an app icon affect how the process works?
No. The icon is only the visual representation — changing it does not alter the app's code, settings, or function. The process runs exactly the same way regardless of what icon you use to launch it.
Can I use any image as an icon?
Technically yes, but icons work best when they are square, at least 256 x 256 pixels, and saved in the right format (.ico for Windows, .icns for Mac, .png for mobile). Smaller or oddly-shaped images may look blurry or distorted.
What if I want to change the icon back to the original?
On Windows, right-click the shortcut, select Properties, click Change Icon, and click Restore Default. On Mac, open Get Info, click the icon well, and press Delete. On mobile, delete the custom shortcut or launcher and use the original app icon from your home screen or app drawer.
Can I change icons for apps I did not install myself?
On Windows and Mac, yes — you can change the icon for any shortcut or app on your computer. On iPhone, you can only create custom launchers using Shortcuts, not change the app's actual icon. On Android, it depends on your launcher, but most allow you to change any app's home screen icon.
Why does my custom icon disappear after I restart my computer?
This usually means the icon file you used was deleted or moved. Icon files need to stay in the same location on your computer — if you move or delete the original image file, the shortcut cannot find it and reverts to a default icon. Keep your icon files in a permanent folder, like Documents or a dedicated Icons folder.