The Two Ways to Change iPhone Icons

You can change the look of your iPhone's home screen icons in two ways: using the Shortcuts app to create custom icons that launch apps, or using Focus modes to hide apps and rearrange what you see. The Shortcuts method is more flexible and lets you use any image you want, but it adds an extra step each time you open an app. The Focus method is simpler but only hides or reorganizes existing icons rather than replacing them with new images.

Both methods work on iPhones running iOS 15 or later. Neither one changes the actual app icons in your settings or app library—they only change what appears on your home screen. If you want to go back to the original icons, you can delete the shortcuts or turn off the Focus mode.

Key Takeaways

  • The Shortcuts app lets you create custom icons by pairing any image with an app, but opening the app will show a Shortcuts confirmation screen first.
  • You can find free icon packs online, take your own screenshots, or use any image file saved to your phone's Photos app.
  • Focus modes let you hide certain apps from your home screen without using Shortcuts, though this only works if you have iOS 16 or later.
  • Custom icons appear on your home screen but the original app icons remain in your App Library, so you always have a backup.
  • Changing icons does not affect how your phone works or how apps run—it is purely visual.

Creating Custom Icons with the Shortcuts App

Open the Shortcuts app (it comes pre-installed on most iPhones). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Select the app you want to create a custom icon for—for example, Instagram or Messages. This tells the shortcut which app to launch when you tap the icon.

Next, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut editor. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen". A dialog will appear asking you to name the shortcut and choose an icon. Tap the colored circle next to the name field to change the icon. You can choose a photo from your library, take a new photo, or pick from Shortcuts' built-in symbols. Once you have selected an image, tap "Add" in the top right. The custom icon will now appear on your home screen.

When you tap the custom icon, you will see a Shortcuts confirmation screen for a split second before the app opens. This is normal and cannot be removed, though it happens very quickly on newer iPhones. If this delay bothers you, the Focus method (described below) is a better choice.

Finding and Organizing Icon Packs

Icon packs are collections of matching images designed to look like app icons. Websites like Etsy, Pinterest, and Reddit communities dedicated to iPhone customization offer free and paid icon packs. Search for "free iPhone icon pack" or the name of the app you want to customize plus "icon". Most packs come as image files you can read directly to your phone.

When you read an icon pack, the images usually land in your Photos app or Files app depending on your browser. Open the image file, take a screenshot of it (or save it if the option appears), and then use that image when creating your shortcut. If you are using a pack with many icons, organize them into a folder on your home screen so they do not clutter your layout. Tap and hold an empty area of your home screen, tap the plus sign, and create a new folder to group your custom icons together.

You can also create your own icons by taking screenshots of images you like, using a photo editing app to resize them, or downloading single images from Google Images. Make sure the image is square-shaped (or close to it) so it looks right as an icon.

Using Focus Modes to Hide and Rearrange Icons

If you have iOS 16 or later, you can use Focus modes to change which apps appear on your home screen without using Shortcuts. Open Settings and tap "Focus". Tap the plus sign to create a new Focus (or edit an existing one). Give it a name—for example, "Work" or "Evening".

Scroll down and tap "Home Screen". Toggle off the apps you want to hide from this Focus mode. When you set up this Focus, only the apps you left toggled on will appear on your home screen. You can create multiple Focus modes with different app layouts, so your home screen changes depending on which Focus is active. This method does not create new icon images, but it does let you completely change which apps are visible.

To switch between Focus modes, swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open Control Center, then tap the Focus you want to set up. Your home screen will update when ready to show only the apps in that Focus.

Arranging Custom Icons on Your Home Screen

Once you have created custom icons, arrange them the same way you would arrange regular apps. Tap and hold any icon until a menu appears, then tap "Edit Home Screen". You can now drag icons to new positions, delete them, or move them to different pages. Tap "Done" when you are finished.

To organize custom icons into a folder, drag one icon onto another. A folder will appear automatically. You can rename the folder by tapping it and editing the name. This is useful if you have created many custom icons and want to keep your home screen clean. You can also move custom icons to your second or third home screen page to keep frequently used apps at the top.

Removing or Changing Custom Icons Later

If you want to remove a custom icon, tap and hold it and select "Remove from Home Screen". The original app will still be in your App Library, so you have not deleted anything. You can always add the custom icon back later by recreating the shortcut.

To change a custom icon's image, open the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut you created, tap the three dots, and select "Edit". Tap the three dots again and go to "Add to Home Screen". You can now choose a new image for the icon. Tap "Add" and the home screen icon will update.

If you decide custom icons are not for you, you can delete all of them at once by going to your home screen, tapping and holding each custom icon, and selecting "Remove from Home Screen". Your phone will look exactly as it did before, with no trace of the changes.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is using an image that is not square. Rectangular or oddly-shaped images will not look right as icons. Before you use an image, check that it is roughly square in size. If it is not, you can crop it using the Photos app or a free image editor.

Another mistake is creating a shortcut without actually selecting an app to open. If you tap "Add to Home Screen" without adding an "Open App" action first, the shortcut will not do anything when you tap it. Always add the "Open App" action before you create the home screen icon.

Some people also forget that custom icons created with Shortcuts will show a confirmation screen before the app opens. If you find this annoying, switch to using Focus modes instead, which do not have this delay. There is no way to remove the Shortcuts confirmation screen, so plan ahead if speed is important to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the icons of built-in apps like Settings or Phone?

Yes. You can create a shortcut that opens any app, including built-in ones. Follow the same steps: create a new shortcut, add an "Open App" action, select the app, and add it to your home screen with a custom image. The original app icon will remain in your App Library.

Will changing icons slow down my iPhone?

No. Custom icons are just images linked to shortcuts. They do not affect your phone's performance or battery life. The only difference you will notice is the extra Shortcuts confirmation screen when you open an app through a custom icon.

Can I share custom icons with other people?

You can share the image files themselves, but each person has to create their own shortcuts in the Shortcuts app. You cannot send someone a shortcut and have it appear on their home screen automatically. However, you can share the icon images and instructions on how to create the shortcuts.

What happens to custom icons if I update my iPhone?

Custom icons and shortcuts stay on your phone after an update. If you back up your iPhone to iCloud before updating, your shortcuts will restore automatically. If you do a factory reset, you will lose the shortcuts and have to recreate them.

Can I use animated images or GIFs as custom icons?

No. iPhone icons must be static images. If you try to use a GIF or video file, only the first frame will appear as the icon. Stick to regular image files like JPG or PNG.