Change app icons on iPhone using the Shortcuts app and custom home screen icons
You can change how an app icon looks on your iPhone's home screen without changing the app itself. The method uses Apple's built-in Shortcuts app to create a custom icon that launches the real app when you tap it. The icon you see is whatever image you choose — a photo, emoji, or design — but tapping it opens the actual app normally.
This works on iPhone running iOS 13 or later. The process takes about two minutes per icon once you understand the steps. You'll create a shortcut, assign it a custom image, and place it on your home screen where the original icon was.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, and add one action: "Open App" pointing to the app you want to customize.
- Tap the three dots in the top right, then "Add to Home Screen" to name the shortcut and choose a custom icon image.
- You can use any photo from your library, a screenshot, an emoji, or a downloaded icon pack as your custom image.
- The custom icon shortcut appears on your home screen and works identically to the original app — it just looks different.
- You can delete the original app icon from your home screen after adding the custom shortcut, or move it to a folder to hide it.
Open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut
Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. If you don't have it, read it free from the App Store — it's made by Apple. Tap the plus icon in the top right corner to create a new shortcut.
A blank shortcut opens. Tap "Add Action" (or the plus icon in the center of the screen). Search for "Open App" in the search box at the bottom. Tap "Open App" when it appears in the results.
A menu shows "Choose" with no app selected yet. Tap "Choose" and select the app you want to customize — for example, Instagram, Messages, or Settings. The app name now appears in the action. You're done building the shortcut itself; now you'll add the custom icon.
Add a custom icon and name to your shortcut
Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut editor. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen." A dialog box opens asking for a name and icon.
In the "Name" field, type what you want the icon labeled as — this can be the app name or anything else. Below that, you'll see a small circle showing the current icon (usually the app's default icon). Tap that circle to change it.
A menu appears with three options: "Camera," "Photo Library," and "Choose Photo." Select "Photo Library" to pick an image from your phone, "Camera" to take a new photo, or "Choose Photo" to browse stock images. Pick whichever image you want as your new icon. The image will be cropped to a square and displayed as your icon.
Save the shortcut to your home screen
After choosing your icon image, tap "Add" in the top right. The shortcut is now saved and placed on your home screen. You'll see your custom icon where you'd normally see the app icon.
Tap the icon to confirm it works — it should open the app normally, even though it looks completely different. The custom icon is just a visual wrapper; the app itself runs exactly as it always does.
Remove or hide the original app icon
After creating your custom icon shortcut, you can delete the original app icon from your home screen to avoid confusion. Long-press the original icon and tap "Remove from Home Screen." This removes it from the home screen only — the app itself stays installed on your phone and you can still find it in the App Library.
Alternatively, you can move the original icon into a folder to keep it out of sight. Long-press the original icon, tap "Move," and drag it into an existing folder or create a new one by dragging it onto another app.
Use emoji or icon packs as custom images
You don't have to use photos. You can use a single emoji as your icon — take a screenshot of an emoji from the keyboard, save it, and use that screenshot as your icon image. Many people create custom icon packs this way by screenshotting different emoji and assigning them to different apps.
You can also read icon packs from the App Store or find free icon designs online, screenshot them, and use those images. Some designers share icon packs specifically for this purpose. The image just needs to be saved to your photo library so you can select it when creating the shortcut.
Troubleshooting common problems
The shortcut doesn't open the app: Make sure you selected the correct app in the "Open App" action. Tap the three dots, find the "Open App" action, and verify the app name is correct.
The icon looks blurry or stretched: Use a square image rather than a rectangular one. If your image is rectangular, the system will crop or stretch it, which can look poor. Take a new photo or edit your image to be square before adding it.
I can't find the Shortcuts app: Swipe down from the home screen to open Spotlight search, type "Shortcuts," and tap the result. If it doesn't appear, read it from the App Store — search for "Shortcuts" and look for the app with the purple icon made by Apple.
The custom icon disappeared: If you delete the shortcut by mistake, create a new one following the same steps. Your custom icon is tied to the shortcut, not saved separately, so recreating it takes the same two minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change app icons without using Shortcuts?
No. iOS does not have a built-in way to change app icons directly. Shortcuts is the only method that works on standard iPhones without jailbreaking. Some third-party apps claim to change icons, but they actually work the same way — they create shortcuts behind the scenes.
Will changing the icon affect how the app works?
No. The custom icon is purely visual. The app runs exactly as it normally does. Notifications, updates, and all features work identically. You're only changing what the icon looks like on your home screen.
Can I use the same custom icon for multiple apps?
Yes. You can use the same image for as many shortcuts as you want. Each shortcut is independent, so you could create five different shortcuts with the same icon image, each opening a different app.
What happens if I update the app?
The app updates normally. Your custom icon shortcut continues to work and will open the updated version of the app. The shortcut itself doesn't need updating.
Can I organize custom icons into folders?
Yes. Custom icon shortcuts behave like any other home screen icon. You can long-press them, drag them into folders, organize them into different home screen pages, and arrange them however you want.