The fastest way to change icon colors on your iPhone

You can change icon colors on iPhone in two ways: by creating custom icons in the Shortcuts app, or by using the Home Screen customization features in iOS 16 and later. The Shortcuts method works on any iPhone running iOS 12 or newer and gives you the most control. The Home Screen method is faster but only works on iOS 16 and up, and it changes the appearance of icons system-wide rather than individual apps.

Both methods require you to use your iPhone's built-in tools — you do not need to jailbreak your phone or read a third-party app to change colors. The trade-off is time: custom icons take longer to set up but look exactly as you want them, while Home Screen customization is quicker but offers fewer color options.

Key Takeaways

  • The Shortcuts app method works on any iPhone and lets you create custom-colored icons that replace the originals on your home screen.
  • iOS 16 and later offer a built-in Home Screen customization feature that changes icon colors across your entire phone without creating new shortcuts.
  • Custom icons created in Shortcuts open the app when tapped, so they function exactly like the original icons.
  • Changing icon colors does not affect how apps work or how they appear in your app library — only what you see on your home screen.

Creating custom icons using the Shortcuts app

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Tap the plus icon in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Search for "Open App" in the action library and tap it. Select the app whose icon you want to change — for example, Messages or Photos.

Tap the three dots at the top right of the shortcut editor. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen." A dialog box will appear asking you to name the shortcut and choose an icon. Tap the icon preview (the colored circle) to open the icon picker. You can choose a solid color, a gradient, a photo from your library, or an emoji. Select your color and tap "Add." The custom icon will now appear on your home screen and open the app when you tap it.

To change multiple app icons, repeat this process for each app. You can organize these custom icons into folders just like regular apps. If you want to remove a custom icon later, press and hold it on your home screen, tap "Remove," and choose "Remove from Home Screen."

Using Home Screen customization on iOS 16 and later

On iOS 16 and newer, you can change icon colors directly through Settings without creating shortcuts. Open Settings and go to Home Screen. Tap "App Icon Style" and choose from the available color options — these vary by iPhone model and iOS version. Your selection will change the appearance of app icons across your entire home screen.

This method is faster than the Shortcuts approach because it applies to all compatible apps at once. However, you cannot customize individual apps to different colors — the setting applies system-wide. If you want more granular control, the Shortcuts method is your only option.

Some apps do not support Home Screen customization and will keep their original appearance even after you change the setting. This is controlled by the app developer, not by your iPhone.

Changing icon colors for specific apps only

If you want to change the color of one app while leaving others unchanged, the Shortcuts method is the only way. Create a custom shortcut for that app as described above, and choose your color. Leave the other apps with their original icons on your home screen.

You can mix custom-colored icons and original icons on the same home screen. This is useful if you want to highlight certain apps — for example, making your messaging app a bright color so it stands out, while leaving productivity apps in their default colors.

Organizing custom icons into folders

Once you have created custom icons, you can organize them the same way you organize regular apps. Press and hold a custom icon on your home screen and drag it onto another icon to create a folder. Name the folder and tap outside it to save.

You can also drag custom icons between home screen pages and rearrange them by pressing and holding and dragging. Custom icons behave exactly like regular app icons once they are created, so all standard home screen organization features work with them.

Troubleshooting custom icons that do not work

If a custom icon does not open the app when you tap it, the most common cause is that the "Open App" action was not set up correctly. Open the shortcut in the Shortcuts app, tap the three dots, and verify that the correct app is selected in the "Open App" action.

If the icon appears blank or shows a generic symbol, the icon image may not have saved properly. Delete the shortcut from your home screen, create a new one, and choose a solid color instead of a photo or emoji. Solid colors are more reliable across different iPhone models.

If you cannot find the Shortcuts app on your iPhone, it may have been deleted. Go to the App Store, search for "Shortcuts," and tap "Get" to reinstall it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change icon colors without using Shortcuts?

On iOS 16 and later, yes — use the Home Screen customization feature in Settings. On older iPhones, the Shortcuts method is the only built-in way to change icon colors. Third-party launcher apps exist but require you to use a different home screen interface.

Will changing icon colors affect how the app works?

No. Changing icon colors is purely visual and does not change the app's function, performance, or data. The app works exactly the same way whether you use a custom icon or the original.

Can I change the color of every app on my iPhone?

Using the Shortcuts method, yes — you can create custom icons for any app. Using Home Screen customization on iOS 16, the setting applies to all compatible apps at once, but some apps may not support it depending on the developer.

What happens to custom icons if I update iOS?

Custom icons created in Shortcuts remain on your home screen after an iOS update. They will continue to work as long as the Shortcuts app is installed on your phone.

Can I share custom icons with other people?

You can share a shortcut by opening it in the Shortcuts app, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Share." The person receiving it can add it to their own phone, but they will need to set up the icon appearance themselves.