What You Can Actually Change on the iPhone Home Screen
You cannot change the color of app names or icons directly on the iPhone home screen itself. Apple does not offer a built-in setting to recolor the text labels under your apps or to alter how they appear. However, you have two real ways to change how text looks on your home screen: you can create custom app icons using the Shortcuts app (which replaces the original icon with a picture you design), or you can use iOS's accessibility color filters to shift all colors on your screen, including text.
The most practical option for most people is using custom icons through Shortcuts, because it lets you design exactly what you want without affecting the rest of your phone's display. The color filter method works across your entire screen, so it changes everything—not just your home screen.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's home screen does not have a native font color setting, so you cannot directly change app label colors without using workarounds.
- The Shortcuts app lets you create custom icons that can display any color or design you want, and these replace the original app icons on your home screen.
- Color filters in Accessibility settings shift all colors on your screen, including home screen text, but affect your entire display, not just one area.
- Creating a custom icon through Shortcuts takes about five minutes per app and requires you to open the app through the Shortcuts icon instead of the original.
Creating Custom Icons with the Shortcuts App
The Shortcuts app comes built into every iPhone. Open it, tap the plus icon in the top right, and select "Create Shortcut." Tap "Add Action," then search for and select "Open App." Choose the app you want to customize. Now tap the three dots at the top right of that action, then tap the colored circle icon next to the app name. Select "Choose Photo" and either take a new image or pick one from your library—this becomes your custom icon.
After you set the image, tap the three dots again and select "Add to Home Screen." Give the shortcut a name (this will appear under the icon), choose an icon style if prompted, and tap "Add." The custom icon now appears on your home screen. When you tap it, it opens the app just like the original icon would. You can design these icons in any color or style you want using a photo editor, or read pre-made icon packs from the internet and use them as your images.
The downside is that you now have two icons for the same app—the original and your custom one. You can hide the original by moving it to a folder or to a later home screen page, keeping your main screen clean. Each custom icon you create is a separate shortcut, so if you want to customize ten apps, you will create ten shortcuts.
Using Color Filters to Change All Screen Colors
If you want to shift the color of everything on your home screen at once, including text, go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size. Scroll down and tap "Color Filters." Toggle the switch on, then choose a filter type: Grayscale, Red/Green, Blue/Yellow, or Monochrome. Each one shifts how your entire screen displays color.
The Red/Green and Blue/Yellow filters are designed for people with color blindness and shift specific color ranges. Grayscale removes all color and shows only black, white, and gray. Monochrome is the most extreme, showing only one color tone across your screen. These filters affect not just your home screen but every app, every website, and every image on your phone, so they are useful if you want a consistent look across your entire device but not if you only want to change your home screen.
You can also adjust the intensity of the filter by moving the slider. A lower intensity makes the effect more subtle, while a higher intensity makes it more dramatic. Test different settings to see which one gives you the look you want.
Organizing Your Home Screen After Customizing Icons
Once you have created custom icons, your home screen may feel cluttered if the original app icons are still visible. The cleanest approach is to move the original icons off your main home screen pages. Long-press an app icon, select "Remove App," then choose "Remove from Home Screen"—this keeps the app on your phone but removes the icon from view. You can still find it in the App Library (swipe to the far right of your home screens) or by searching.
Alternatively, create a folder on a later home screen page and move all your original app icons into it. This keeps them out of sight but accessible if you ever need them. Your custom shortcut icons will remain on your main pages, giving your home screen a unified, designed appearance.
Why You Cannot Change Font Color Directly
Apple restricts direct customization of home screen text because the operating system is designed to maintain consistency and readability across all iPhones. The font color, size, and style of app labels are controlled by iOS itself, not by individual user settings. This is different from Android phones, where some manufacturers allow more home screen customization.
Apple's approach prioritizes a clean, uniform look and ensures that text remains readable against the background. If you could change font colors freely, some combinations might make text hard to read, especially for people with vision difficulties. The workarounds available—custom icons and color filters—give you flexibility while keeping the system stable and accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do custom icons created in Shortcuts slow down my phone?
No. Shortcuts are lightweight and do not affect your phone's performance. They straightforward open the app you selected, just like tapping the original icon would. The only difference is that your phone has to load the custom image you chose, which takes negligible time.
Can I change the font color of just one app label?
Not directly through iOS settings. Your only option is to create a custom icon for that app using Shortcuts, which lets you design the icon in any color you want. The app label text itself will still be white or black depending on your wallpaper, but the icon image can be any color.
Will color filters affect how photos and videos look in my apps?
Yes. Color filters explore to everything on your screen, including photos, videos, and app content. If you turn on Grayscale, for example, all images will display in black and white until you turn the filter off. This is why color filters work best if you want a consistent look across your entire phone, not just your home screen.
What happens if I delete a shortcut I created?
The shortcut icon disappears from your home screen, but the original app remains on your phone and in the App Library. You can recreate the shortcut anytime by following the same steps in the Shortcuts app.
Can I use pre-made icon packs instead of designing my own?
Yes. Many websites and design communities offer free icon packs you can read. Save the icon image to your phone's photo library, then use it when creating a shortcut. This is much faster than designing custom icons yourself if you want a coordinated look across multiple apps.