You can change iPhone icons by creating custom shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, then replacing the original app icons with those shortcuts on your home screen
iPhone does not let you swap out the actual app icons the way you can on Android. Instead, you create a shortcut — a small program that opens the app you want — and assign it a custom image. That shortcut then sits on your home screen looking like whatever icon you designed. The original app still exists in your phone's system, but you interact with the shortcut instead.
This method works on iPhone 13 and later, and on any iPhone running iOS 16 or newer. Older phones can use the same steps but may have slightly different menu names. The process takes about five minutes per icon once you understand the steps.
Key Takeaways
- Custom icons are actually shortcuts that open apps, not replacements of the real icons.
- You create shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone.
- You can use any image as an icon — a photo, a design from the web, or an image you create yourself.
- The shortcut appears on your home screen, and tapping it opens the app just as tapping the original icon would.
- You can organize custom icons into folders to keep your home screen clean.
Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut
Tap the Shortcuts app on your home screen. If you do not see it, swipe left to find it, or search for "Shortcuts" using the search function at the top of your screen. Once the app opens, tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner to start a new shortcut.
A blank shortcut window appears. This is where you will tell the shortcut what to do — in this case, open a specific app. You do not need to write code or understand programming. You will use the app's built-in actions.
Add an "Open App" action to your shortcut
In the blank shortcut window, tap the search box at the bottom and type "open app". The action called Open App appears in the results. Tap it to add it to your shortcut.
After you tap Open App, a menu appears asking which app you want to open. Tap the blue text that says "App" and choose the app you want this shortcut to launch — for example, Instagram, Spotify, or Messages. The app name now appears in the shortcut.
You have now created a working shortcut. If you stopped here and added it to your home screen, tapping it would open that app. But you want a custom icon, so continue to the next step.
Assign a custom image to your shortcut
At the top of the shortcut window, you see a small circle with a default icon — usually a gear or the app's logo. Tap that circle. A menu appears with options including Choose Photo, Choose File, Take Photo, and Emoji.
If you want to use a photo from your phone, tap Choose Photo and select an image from your library. If you want to use an emoji, tap Emoji and pick one. If you have downloaded an icon image from the web and saved it to your Files app, tap Choose File and navigate to it.
After you select an image, a preview appears. You can crop it or adjust it if needed. Tap Add or Done to confirm. The circle at the top of your shortcut now shows your custom image.
Name your shortcut and add it to your home screen
At the top of the shortcut window, tap the text field that says "Shortcut" and type a name for this shortcut — for example, "Instagram" or "Spotify". This name appears below the icon on your home screen, so keep it short.
Once you have named it, tap the three dots (…) in the top right corner of the window. A menu appears. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen. Another menu appears asking you to confirm the name and icon one more time. Tap Add in the top right.
Your custom icon now appears on your home screen. Tapping it opens the app you selected. You can move it around by holding it and dragging it, just like any other app icon.
Finding and downloading pre-made icon sets
You do not have to design icons yourself. Many websites and social media accounts share free icon sets made specifically for this purpose. Search for "iPhone custom icons free" or "[app name] custom icon" on Google or Pinterest. Most results are PNG image files that you can read directly to your phone.
When you read an icon image, it usually goes to your Files app or your Downloads folder. When you create a shortcut and tap the circle to choose an image, navigate to that folder and select the icon you downloaded. The process is the same as using a photo from your library.
Some icon sets come as a ZIP file, which you will need to unzip first. On iPhone, tap the ZIP file and it automatically extracts into a folder. Then you can browse that folder when choosing an image for your shortcut.
Organize custom icons into folders
If you create many custom icons, your home screen can become crowded. You can group them into folders by holding one icon, dragging it on top of another icon, and releasing. iPhone automatically creates a folder and puts both icons inside.
You can add more icons to the folder by dragging them into it. Tap the folder to open it and see all the icons inside. You can rename the folder by tapping the text field at the top of the folder window and typing a new name — for example, "Social Media" or "Music".
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is trying to change the icon of the original app itself. You cannot do that — you can only create a shortcut with a custom icon. If you want your home screen to show only custom icons and hide the original apps, you can move the original apps to a folder or to a different home screen page that you do not look at often.
Another mistake is using an image that is too small or blurry. iPhone scales up whatever image you choose, so a tiny icon will look pixelated on your home screen. Use images that are at least 512 pixels wide and 512 pixels tall for the best result. Most icon sets made for this purpose are already the right size.
If your shortcut does not open the app when you tap it, go back into the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut, and check that the correct app is selected in the Open App action. Sometimes the app name gets disconnected if you update the app or change your phone settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change icons on an older iPhone or older iOS version?
The Shortcuts app method works on iOS 16 and newer. If you have an older iPhone, you can still create shortcuts, but the process for adding them to your home screen may be slightly different. Tap and hold the shortcut in the Shortcuts app and look for an option like "Add to Home Screen" or "Share". If you cannot find it, your iOS version may not support this feature.
Will changing my icons slow down my phone?
No. Shortcuts are lightweight and do not affect your phone's speed or battery life. They open apps just as quickly as the original icons do. The only difference is that you see a custom image instead of the app's default icon.
What happens if I delete a shortcut from my home screen?
Deleting the shortcut from your home screen does not delete the app itself. The app stays on your phone and works normally. If you want to use the custom icon again, you can recreate the shortcut by following the same steps, or you can hold the shortcut in the Shortcuts app and tap "Add to Home Screen" again.
Can I use the same custom icon for multiple apps?
Yes. You can create a shortcut for each app and assign the same image to all of them. This is useful if you want a matching set of icons across your home screen. Just create a new shortcut for each app and choose the same image when you assign the icon.
Do I need to read an app to create custom icons?
No. The Shortcuts app comes built into every iPhone, so you do not need to read anything. You can create custom icons using only the tools that are already on your phone.