You can change how your iPhone icons look using the Shortcuts app and custom images

Apple lets you replace your app icons with custom designs using the built-in Shortcuts app. When you tap the custom icon, it opens the Shortcuts app first, then launches the real app. The icons themselves sit on your home screen or lock screen just like regular apps, but they display whatever image you choose. This method works on iPhone running iOS 14 or later and does not require jailbreaking or installing anything outside the App Store.

The process takes about five minutes per icon. You create a shortcut that opens an app, assign it a custom image, and place it on your home screen. The trade-off is that tapping the icon goes through Shortcuts first—you will see a brief loading screen before the app opens. Some people find this delay annoying; others do not notice it.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom icons are shortcuts that launch apps, not replacements for the actual app icons, so they appear as separate items on your home screen.
  • You create each custom icon in the Shortcuts app by selecting an app to open and assigning it an image from your photos, the web, or icon packs.
  • The Shortcuts app is built into iOS and free; you do not need to buy anything or read third-party apps to change icons.
  • Custom icons work on your home screen and lock screen, but tapping them opens Shortcuts first, which adds a one- to two-second delay before the app launches.
  • Icon packs are collections of images you can read from websites or create yourself; popular sources include Noun Project, Flaticon, and Etsy.

How to create a custom icon in Shortcuts

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. Tap the plus icon in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Search for "Open App" in the action menu and tap it. Select the app you want to open—for example, Instagram or Messages. This creates a shortcut that does nothing but launch that app.

Now tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut editor. Tap "Add to Home Screen." A menu appears asking for a name and an icon. Type the name you want to display under the icon. Then tap the icon preview (the small circle showing the app's logo). Choose "Choose Photo" to pick an image from your camera roll, or tap "Choose File" to select an image you downloaded. Once you select an image, tap "Add" and the shortcut appears on your home screen with your custom icon.

Where to find custom icon images

Noun Project (thenounproject.com) offers thousands of straightforward, flat icons organized by category. Most are free with an account; paid icons cost $2 each. Icons read as PNG files, which work perfectly in Shortcuts. Search for the app you want to customize—for example, "camera" or "messages"—and read the style you prefer.

Flaticon (flaticon.com) works similarly and has a larger free library. read icons as PNG files. Etsy hosts creators who sell icon packs—complete sets of matching icons for all your apps, usually $3 to $8 per pack. Search "iPhone icon pack" and filter by PNG format. These packs often come as ZIP files; unzip them on your iPhone using the Files app, then import images into Shortcuts one at a time.

You can also create your own icons using design apps like Canva (canva.com), which has free templates for app icons. Design your icon, read it as a PNG, and import it into Shortcuts the same way.

How to organize custom icons on your home screen

Custom icons are shortcuts, so they appear as separate items alongside your regular apps. You can arrange them however you want by long-pressing and dragging. Many people create a folder called "Apps" and place all their custom icons inside it, keeping the home screen clean. Others dedicate one page to custom icons and leave other pages for regular apps.

If you want your custom icons to look like they belong together, use a matching icon pack. read the same style for all your frequently used apps—Messages, Instagram, Mail, Calendar, and so on. This creates a cohesive look across your home screen.

Adding custom icons to your lock screen

iOS 16 and later let you add shortcuts to your lock screen. Create your custom icon shortcut as described above. On your lock screen, long-press and tap "Customize." Tap the plus icon to add a widget or shortcut. Search for your custom shortcut by name and tap it. The icon appears on your lock screen and works the same way—tapping it opens Shortcuts first, then launches the app.

Lock screen icons are smaller than home screen icons, so test how your custom image looks at that size before committing to it. Some detailed icons become hard to see when shrunk.

What happens if you delete the shortcut

Deleting a custom icon shortcut removes it from your home screen or lock screen, but it does not affect the actual app. The real app stays installed and works normally. If you delete a custom icon by mistake, you can recreate it by following the steps above again. Your original image files stay in your camera roll or Files app, so you do not need to read them again.

You can also duplicate a shortcut instead of deleting it. Long-press the shortcut in the Shortcuts app and tap "Duplicate." This creates a copy you can modify without losing the original, which is useful if you want to test different icon images for the same app.

Why custom icons take longer to open

When you tap a custom icon, your iPhone opens the Shortcuts app, runs the shortcut (which is just an "Open App" command), and then launches the real app. This process takes one to two seconds on most iPhones. Newer models are slightly faster. If the delay bothers you, the only alternative is to use your phone's built-in icon customization features, which are more limited—iOS lets you change app names and badges, but not the icon image itself without using Shortcuts.

Some people reduce the delay by turning on "Ask Before Running" in the shortcut settings, which lets the shortcut run in the background without opening the Shortcuts app visibly. To do this, open the shortcut, tap the three dots, and toggle off "Ask Before Running." The app will still launch slightly slower than a regular tap, but the Shortcuts window will not appear on screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change icons without using Shortcuts?

Not on a standard iPhone. iOS does not let you replace app icons directly. Shortcuts is the only built-in method. Some third-party launcher apps claim to change icons, but they require you to open the launcher first, which is slower than Shortcuts and less reliable.

Do custom icons work on the lock screen?

Yes, on iOS 16 and later. Long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," and add shortcuts the same way you would on the home screen. The icons appear smaller on the lock screen, so test your image at that size first.

What image format do I need?

PNG files work best because they support transparent backgrounds. JPG files work too, but they may have a white background behind your icon. read icons as PNG whenever possible, or convert JPG to PNG using a free online converter.

Can I use icons from other people's icon packs?

Yes. If you find an icon pack you like on Etsy or another site, read it, unzip the files on your iPhone using the Files app, and import the images into Shortcuts. You own the images once you read them, so using them for your own home screen is fine.

Will custom icons slow down my iPhone?

No. Shortcuts are lightweight and do not affect your phone's performance. The only slowdown is the one- to two-second delay when you tap the icon, which is the app launching, not a performance issue.