Change app icon colors using the Shortcuts app
The most direct way to change how an app looks on your iPhone home screen is to create a custom icon using the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. This method lets you replace the standard app icon with any image or color you choose, then tap that custom icon to open the real app underneath. The process takes about two minutes per app once you understand the steps.
Open the Shortcuts app (it has a purple icon with white lines). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Search for and select the "Open App" action. Choose the app you want to customize from the list. Then tap the three dots at the top right, scroll down to "Add to Home Screen," and choose "Add." You'll be prompted to name the shortcut and pick an icon — this is where you set the color or image that will appear on your home screen instead of the app's original icon.
When you tap this custom icon, it opens the real app. The original app icon stays in your app library unchanged. You can create as many custom versions of the same app as you want, each with a different color or design.
Key Takeaways
- The Shortcuts app lets you create custom-colored icons that open your apps, replacing the standard icon on your home screen.
- You can assign any solid color, gradient, or image as the icon by choosing "Add to Home Screen" from a shortcut's menu.
- The original app icon remains unchanged in your app library — you're only customizing what appears on your home screen.
- iOS does not include a built-in setting to change an app's actual icon color without using Shortcuts or a third-party launcher.
- Custom icons created this way work on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later.
Choose a color for your custom icon
When you reach the "Add to Home Screen" step, you'll see options for the icon appearance. Tap the colored circle or square next to the app name to open the icon picker. You can choose a solid color from the palette, or tap "Color" at the bottom to create a custom shade by adjusting the hue and brightness sliders.
If you want a gradient (two colors blending together), some third-party icon apps like Pastel or Unfolder offer this feature, though they require a separate read. For most users, the solid color picker in Shortcuts is enough. Pick the color, confirm it, and the icon will display that color on your home screen.
Use icon packs from the App Store
Several apps on the App Store let you read pre-designed icon sets and explore them to your home screen without building each one in Shortcuts. Apps like Pastel, Unfolder, and Widgetsmith include libraries of colorful, themed icons you can tap to add to your home screen. These apps handle the Shortcuts setup for you — you just browse, pick the icons you like, and add them.
The trade-off is that these apps are not free (most cost between $2 and $5), and you're limited to the icons the app creator designed. If you want total control over the exact color or design, building icons in Shortcuts is the free alternative. If you want a cohesive, professionally designed look without the work, an icon pack app saves time.
Organize colored icons into folders
Once you've created custom icons in different colors, you can group them by color or function using home screen folders. Long-press an empty area of your home screen, tap the plus sign, and select "Folder." Drag your custom icons into the folder and name it. You can create separate folders for work apps, social apps, or organize by color theme.
Folders help keep your home screen clean, especially if you've customized many apps. You can also use the Smart Stack feature (available on newer iPhones) to stack widgets and icons that rotate based on time of day or your usage patterns, which can display your colored icons in different arrangements throughout the day.
Understand what iOS does and does not allow
iOS does not let you change an app's actual icon color directly through settings. Apple does not provide a built-in feature to customize individual app icons the way some Android phones do. The Shortcuts method works because you're creating a separate launcher icon that points to the real app — you're not modifying the app itself.
This means the original app icon will still appear in your app library and in search results. If you uninstall the custom shortcut, the original app remains on your phone. The custom icon only affects what you see on your home screen, not anywhere else in iOS.
Troubleshoot common problems
If your custom icon does not appear after you add it, make sure you completed all steps in the Shortcuts app and tapped "Add to Home Screen" at the end. Sometimes the icon takes a few seconds to render — wait a moment and check again. If it still does not show, try creating the shortcut again from the beginning.
If tapping the custom icon does not open the app, check that you selected the correct app in the "Open App" action. You can edit the shortcut by long-pressing it and selecting "Edit," then verify the app name is correct. If the shortcut opens the wrong app, delete it and create a new one.
Custom icons may not work properly if you are running an older version of iOS. Make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 13 or later by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If you see a message that the shortcut cannot run, your iOS version may be too old to support that particular action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the color of an app icon without using Shortcuts?
No — iOS does not include a built-in setting to change app icon colors. Shortcuts is the free method Apple provides. Third-party icon apps offer pre-designed icons, but they also use Shortcuts behind the scenes to display them on your home screen.
Will changing my app icon affect how the app works?
No. The custom icon is only a launcher — it opens the real app, which runs exactly as it normally does. Your data, settings, and notifications are unaffected. The app itself never changes.
Can I change the color of multiple apps at once?
No, you must create a custom icon for each app individually. There is no batch feature. However, once you create one custom icon, you can duplicate the shortcut and change only the app name and color, which is faster than starting from scratch each time.
What happens to my custom icons if I update iOS?
Custom icons created in Shortcuts remain on your home screen after an iOS update. They may need to be re-added if iOS removes them during a major version update, but this is rare. Your shortcuts are saved in the Shortcuts app and can be recreated quickly if needed.
Can I use a photo as a custom app icon?
Yes. When you reach the icon picker in Shortcuts, you can tap "Photos" to choose an image from your camera roll. The image will be cropped to a square and displayed as your app icon. This works with any photo, screenshot, or image file on your phone.