You can change iPhone icon colors by creating custom icons in the Shortcuts app, then replacing the originals on your home screen

iPhone does not let you change icon colors directly through Settings. Instead, you create a shortcut — a small automation that opens an app — and give that shortcut a custom icon with the color you want. When you place the shortcut on your home screen instead of the original app icon, it looks like a colored version of the app. The original app stays unchanged in your App Library.

This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. It takes about two minutes per icon once you understand the steps. The colored icons will open the apps just as fast as the originals.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom icon colors are created in the Shortcuts app by making a shortcut that opens an app, then assigning it a custom icon and color.
  • You place the colored shortcut on your home screen, leaving the original app icon in your App Library untouched.
  • Each colored icon is a separate shortcut, so changing the color of ten apps means creating ten shortcuts.
  • You can use any image as an icon — a solid color, a photo, a symbol, or a downloaded icon pack — and resize it to fit.

Opening Shortcuts and creating a new shortcut

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. If you do not have it, read it free from the App Store — it comes pre-installed on most iPhones.

Tap the + button in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. You will see a blank canvas with a search bar at the top. Tap the search bar and type the name of the app whose icon you want to change — for example, "Mail" or "Photos". When the app appears in the results, tap it. A block labeled with the app name will appear on your canvas. This block is the action that makes your shortcut open that app.

Tap the three dots in the top right corner, then tap Add to Home Screen. A menu will open asking you to name the shortcut and choose an icon.

Choosing a color and icon design

In the "Add to Home Screen" menu, you will see a small circle showing the app's original icon. Tap that circle to open the icon editor. You now have three choices: use a photo from your library, use a symbol from Apple's built-in symbol library, or use a solid color.

For a solid color, tap Color at the bottom of the screen. A color wheel will appear. Tap any color you want — the circle at the top shows your selection. Once you have chosen, tap outside the color wheel to close it, then tap Add in the top right. Your shortcut will now have a solid-color icon in that shade.

For a symbol (like a heart, star, or gear), tap Symbols at the bottom. Search for the symbol you want or scroll through the library. Tap the symbol, choose its color the same way, then tap Add. For a photo or downloaded icon, tap Photos, choose your image, and tap Add.

Naming your shortcut and placing it on the home screen

After you choose your icon, you will return to the "Add to Home Screen" menu. The name field at the top shows the app name by default — you can change it to anything you want, or leave it as is. Many people leave the name blank so only the colored icon shows on the home screen.

Tap Add in the top right corner. Your iPhone will ask where to place the icon. Choose which home screen page you want it on, then tap Add again. The colored icon will now appear on your home screen and will open the app when you tap it.

Organizing your home screen after adding colored icons

Once you have created a few colored icons, your home screen may feel crowded. You can delete the original app icons and keep only the colored shortcuts, or organize them into folders by color or category.

To delete an original icon, press and hold it, then tap Remove App and choose Remove from Home Screen. The app stays in your App Library and you can still search for it by swiping down from the home screen. This keeps your home screen clean while preserving access to the app.

To create a folder, press and hold one icon, then drag it onto another icon. A folder will form. You can name it and drag more icons into it. Many people create folders like "Red Icons" or "Blue Icons" to keep their color scheme organized.

Using icon packs and downloaded designs

If you do not want to design icons yourself, you can read pre-made icon packs from the App Store. Apps like Brass, Unfolder, and Icon Themer offer collections of matching icons in different styles and colors. These apps usually show you the icon, let you tap it, and automatically create the shortcut for you.

Some icon packs are free; others cost a few dollars. Once you read an icon pack, open it, find the icon you want, and follow the app's instructions to add it to your home screen. The process is similar to creating your own but faster if you want a coordinated look across many apps.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your colored icon does not open the app, check that the shortcut was created correctly. Open the Shortcuts app, find your shortcut in the My Shortcuts tab, and tap it to test it. If it opens the app there, the problem is usually just that the home screen icon needs to refresh — try restarting your iPhone.

If the icon looks blurry or stretched, the image you chose may be the wrong size. For solid colors and symbols, this is not usually a problem. For photos, try a square image at least 180 pixels wide. If you are using a downloaded icon pack and the icon does not appear, make sure you tapped the correct button to add it to your home screen — some apps have multiple options.

If you want to change a colored icon's color later, press and hold the shortcut on your home screen, tap Edit Home Screen Icon, and repeat the icon selection process. You do not need to delete and recreate the shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing icon colors slow down my iPhone?

No. Shortcuts open apps just as fast as the original icons. The only difference is that you are tapping a shortcut instead of the app itself, which makes no noticeable difference in speed.

Can I change the colors of all my apps at once?

No, you have to create a shortcut for each app individually. If you want to color twenty apps, you will need to create twenty shortcuts. Using an icon pack app can speed this up because those apps often let you add multiple icons in sequence.

What happens if I update an app after creating a colored icon for it?

The shortcut will still work and will open the updated app. The colored icon itself does not change unless you edit it manually. The original app icon in your App Library will update as usual.

Can I use a photo of my own as an icon?

Yes. In the icon editor, tap Photos, choose any image from your library, and it will become your icon. Square images work best, and the image will be cropped to fit the icon shape.

Do I need to keep the original app icon on my home screen?

No. You can delete the original icon from your home screen and use only the colored shortcut. The app will still be in your App Library and searchable, so you have not lost access to it.