The fastest way to change iPhone app icons
You can change how app icons look on your iPhone home screen using the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. The process takes about two minutes per icon: you create a shortcut that opens the app you want, then assign a custom image to that shortcut. When you tap the custom icon on your home screen, it opens the app normally, but it displays your chosen image instead of the app's default icon.
This method works on iPhone XS and newer running iOS 13 or later. If you have an older iPhone or an earlier iOS version, you cannot change individual app icons through Apple's built-in tools — you would need to use a third-party launcher app instead, which replaces your entire home screen.
The custom icons you create stay on your home screen as separate shortcuts. Your original app icons remain unchanged in the App Library. This means you can have both the default icon and your custom version on your phone at the same time.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Shortcuts app, tap the plus button, select "Open App," choose the app you want to customize, and save the shortcut with a name.
- Long-press the new shortcut, tap "Edit," scroll down to "Home Screen Icon," and choose either a photo from your library or a solid color with text.
- Custom icons are shortcuts that open apps normally but display your chosen image on the home screen.
- Your original app icons stay in the App Library unchanged, so you can keep both versions if you want.
- This method requires iOS 13 or later and works on iPhone XS and newer models.
Step-by-step: Creating a custom icon shortcut
Open the Shortcuts app on your home screen. If you do not see it, swipe left to the App Library, search for "Shortcuts," and tap it to open. Tap the plus button in the top right corner to create a new shortcut.
Tap "Add Action," then search for "Open App" in the search box. Tap "Open App" when it appears. A menu will show all your installed apps. Scroll to find the app you want to customize and tap it. The shortcut now contains one action: opening that app.
Tap "Next" in the top right. Give your shortcut a name — this is what will appear below the icon on your home screen. Tap "Add to Home Screen" at the bottom of the screen. A new menu opens asking you to choose an icon.
Choosing and assigning a custom image
When the icon menu appears, you see two options: a photo icon and a color circle. Tap the photo icon if you want to use an image from your phone's photo library or take a new photo. Tap the color circle if you want a solid color background with text or a symbol on top.
If you choose a photo, your phone opens the Photos app. Select any image from your library — it can be a full photo, a screenshot, a downloaded icon pack, or anything else. The image will be cropped to a square and resized to fit the icon space. Once you select the image, tap "Add" to confirm.
If you choose a color, tap the color circle to pick a background color, then tap the symbol or text option to add what appears on top. You can type letters, numbers, or emoji. Tap "Add" when you are done.
Adding the icon to your home screen
After you assign an image, tap "Add" in the top right corner. Your phone asks where to place the shortcut. You can add it to your home screen, your lock screen, or your home screen and lock screen together. Choose "Home Screen" to place it on your main screen where you can see it every day.
Your phone then shows you a preview of how the icon will look. Tap "Add" one more time to place it on your home screen. The custom icon now appears wherever you chose, and tapping it opens the app normally.
If you want to move the icon to a different location on your home screen, long-press it and drag it to the spot you want. You can also delete it by long-pressing and tapping "Remove from Home Screen" — this does not delete the app itself, only the custom shortcut.
Editing or replacing a custom icon
To change the image on an existing custom icon, long-press the icon on your home screen. Tap "Edit Shortcut" from the menu that appears. Scroll down until you see "Home Screen Icon" and tap it. You can now choose a different photo or color just as you did when you created it.
Make your changes and tap "Done" in the top right. The icon on your home screen updates when ready. You can repeat this process as many times as you want — there is no limit to how many times you can edit a custom icon.
If you want to change the name that appears below the icon, long-press the shortcut and tap "Edit Shortcut." At the top of the screen, tap the name field and type a new name. Tap "Done" to save.
Using icon packs and themed sets
Many designers create icon packs — sets of matching custom icons in a consistent style. You can find these packs by searching "iPhone icon pack" in your web browser or on social media platforms like Pinterest and Reddit. Designers usually share them as image files or collections you can read to your photo library.
Once you read an icon pack, create a shortcut for each app you want to customize. When you reach the icon selection step, open your photo library and select the matching icon from the pack. This way you can build a home screen where all your icons follow the same visual theme.
Some icon packs come as large image files with all icons arranged in a grid. You may need to crop or screenshot individual icons from the grid before you can use them. Others come as separate files, one per icon, which you can use directly.
What happens to your original app icons
Creating a custom icon does not change or hide your original app. The real app stays in your App Library with its default icon intact. If you swipe left on your home screen to reach the App Library, you will still see the original app listed under its category with its original icon.
This means you can have both a custom icon shortcut and the original app icon on your phone at the same time. Some people keep the original in the App Library and use only the custom icon on their home screen. Others keep both visible for different reasons — for example, a custom icon for quick access and the original for backup.
If you delete the custom shortcut from your home screen, the original app is not affected. You can always create a new custom icon later if you change your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change icons for apps that do not have a shortcut?
No. You can only create custom icons for apps that support the Shortcuts app. Most common apps like Messages, Mail, Safari, and social media apps work fine. Some lesser-known or older apps may not have shortcut support. If an app does not appear in the "Open App" menu, you cannot create a custom icon for it using this method.
Will my custom icons work if I update my iPhone?
Yes. Custom icons are shortcuts stored on your phone, so they remain after you update iOS. If you back up your phone to iCloud or a computer, the shortcuts back up too and restore when you set up a new iPhone.
Can I share custom icons with other people?
You can share the image files themselves, but each person has to create their own shortcuts. You cannot send someone your shortcut and have it work on their phone the way you set it up. You can share the icon images through email, messaging, or cloud storage, and they can use those images to create their own custom icons.
Do custom icons slow down my iPhone?
No. Shortcuts are lightweight and do not affect your phone's speed or battery life. Opening an app through a custom icon takes the same amount of time as tapping the original app icon.
What if I want to change my icons back to the default look?
Delete the custom shortcuts from your home screen by long-pressing each one and tapping "Remove from Home Screen." Your original apps remain in the App Library with their default icons unchanged. You can use those original icons, or create new custom icons whenever you want.