Easily Customize Your iPhone's App & Widget Icons

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Add more personality and style to your device in just a few simple steps
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This wikiHow teaches you how to change the displayed app and widget icons on your iPhone. Since iOS 17, several new customization features allow you to adjust the look of your app icons and widgets with just a few taps. If you have iOS 14 or later, you can also use the Shortcuts app to create completely custom app icons. If you are using an older version of iOS, you need to download a separate icon changer app. You can also use a jailbroken phone to change app icons, but be aware of the risks before you try this.

Easy Ways to Customize App Icons on iPhone

If you have iOS 17 or later, you can change the size and tint of your apps and widgets, or switch between dark and light versions, by pressing and holding the Home Screen and selecting Customize from the Edit menu. To create totally custom app icons, use the built-in Shortcuts app or a third-party icon changer app.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Built-in Options (iOS 17 and Later)

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  1. You can make simple changes to the appearance of your app icons right from the Home Screen. To get started, tap and hold any empty spot on your screen until the app icons start wiggling. [1]
    • These customization tools will also affect the appearance of your widgets, although there are additional options for editing widgets.
  2. This button will appear in the top left corner of your screen.
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  3. You’ll see this option in the popout menu.
  4. This toggle is at the top of the customization menu at the bottom of your screen. Touch it to switch between the default (smaller) icons and larger icons.
    • If you choose large icons, you won’t be able to see the text labels below each app.
  5. To make your app icons stand out more, adjust the brightness of the Home Screen background. Tap the icon that looks like a sun in the top left corner of the customization menu to make the background brighter or darker.
  6. Many iOS app icons now come with separate light and dark modes. Typically, the background of the icon will become darker in dark mode (e.g., the Google app’s background goes from white to black). Other elements may change color as well (such as the “f” in the Facebook app icon, which changes from white to dark blue). To change the dark/light mode:
    • Tap Light if you want your icons to always display in light mode.
    • Tap Dark to always display your icons in dark mode.
    • Tap Automatic if you want your icons to shift between light and dark mode depending on the time of day (they will turn dark at night and stay light during the day).
    • Note that not all apps have separate dark and light icons. This will only change the appearance of some of your apps.
  7. If you want to give your icons a sleek, monochromatic look, tap the Tinted option. Use the sliders to adjust the tint and color saturation of your icons.
    • The top slider adjusts the tint, while the bottom slider changes the color saturation.
  8. Widgets are larger icons that allow you to see specific app data or use app shortcuts from your Home Screen. You can change the look for your widgets just like any regular app icon using the steps described above, or edit the appearance of individual widgets: [2]
    • Tap and hold a widget to see a menu of options.
    • Use the icons at the top of the menu to choose the size and shape of the widget.
    • Select Edit Home Screen if you want to change the location of your widget on the screen. You’ll see a screen full of wiggling app icons. Hold and drag the widget to move it.
      • You can also use the “handle” in the lower right corner of the widget to adjust its size and shape.
    • If you’re on the Today View screen (keep swiping right on the Home Screen to access it), only some widgets can be edited. Others will only give you the option to remove the widget or edit the entire screen.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Shortcuts (iOS 14 and Later)

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  1. It has an icon that resembles overlapping pink and blue squares. Shortcuts is a free app that comes pre-installed on your iPhone and iPad. This app was introduced with iOS 14, so if you’re running an earlier version, you’ll need to update to use it.
    • Use this option to customize the appearance of individual apps instead of changing the look of all your icons at once. This is also a good option if you want to use a unique icon rather than using the limited customization options that come with iOS.
    • If you can't find the Shortcuts app, be sure to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.
    • If you uninstalled Shortcuts, you can download it again from the App Store.
  2. The plus icon (+) is in the upper-right corner. This opens the New Shortcuts menu.
    • On iPad, it's in the upper-left corner.
  3. Tap the Search Actions text field in the menu at the bottom of your screen, then type in open app . Tap the Open App option when it appears.
    • You might already see this option in the list of suggested actions under the search bar. If so, tap it to add it to your shortcut.
  4. In the action you selected, tap the word App . It’s in blue text on a pale blue background. Tapping it will open a list of all your apps. Search or browse for the one you want, then tap the app’s name to select it.
  5. This will open a dropdown menu where you can edit details about your shortcut.
  6. For example, you can give it the same name as the app that your shortcut will open, or give it a custom name if you prefer (like “Facebook Shortcut”). To do this, tap Rename in the dropdown menu, then type your new name into the text field at the top of the screen.
  7. In the same menu where you renamed your shortcut, tap Add to Home Screen . This will open a new screen with customization options.
  8. If you gave the shortcut a long name, it might be cut off in the text below the icon on your Home Screen. Check how the text appears in the preview at the top of the menu, and edit the name with your iPhone’s keyboard if you like.
  9. If you want to use a custom image from your gallery, select the icon that looks like a simplified greyscale image of a landscape. From there, tap Choose Photo to browse your photo library, Take Photo to capture a new image with your camera, or Choose File to select an image from your iPhone’s file manager.
    • Once you’ve selected the image you want, tap Choose to confirm your choice.
    • Looking for a cool, aesthetic collection of app icons to use? You can get theme kits from the app store, download them from websites like https://iosicons.com/ , or use the free customizable templates on Canva to make your own!
    • If you prefer, you can also choose from the options built into Shortcuts. Tap the radio button under the generic shortcut icon (it looks like two overlapping squares), then choose your preferred color. Or, scroll down and select an option from the long list of symbols.
  10. It’s in the top right corner of the screen. Your custom icon will now appear on your Home Screen!
    • Tap the icon to launch the app using the shortcut you created. It may take a tiny bit longer than launching directly from the app’s regular icon.
    • If you don’t want to see the app’s default icon on your Home Screen anymore, tap and hold it, then tap Remove App > Remove from Home Screen . You’ll still be able to find it in your App Library .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Third-Party Icon Changers

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  1. If you’re using an iPhone that’s running an older version of iOS, or if you don’t feel like going through the hassle of changing all your icons with Shortcuts, there are several icon customizer apps available. Launch the App Store and search for icon changer or icon customizer .
    • Some popular options include Themify, X Icon Changer, and Color Widgets.
    • Some of these apps require a subscription, while others offer free themes and icons as well as premium features.
  2. Most of these apps offer custom sets of icons or widgets that work well together. While the details vary from one app to another, they all work basically the same way–by creating app or widget shortcuts for you using the custom icons you selected. Choose an icon, theme, or set, then follow the instructions to install it.
    • For example, in the Color Widgets app, select an icon set and then tap Save Pack . From there, you can edit which icon will be assigned to which app. When you’re done making any edits you want, tap the Install [number] Icons button and follow the prompts to install the pack on your iPhone.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using a Jailbroken iPhone

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  1. Ensure that you have a jailbroken iPhone . If you have a jailbroken iPhone, you can use tools from Cydia to change the icon of any app on your device, system, or otherwise.
    • Warning: This method requires that you first jailbreak your iPhone, which will void your phone's warranty and put your iPhone at greater risk of malware and viruses. Additionally, jailbreaking may not be possible on all versions of iOS.
  2. Cydia has a brown icon with an image that resembles a cardboard box.
  3. You can only use Cydia on jailbroken devices. If you don't have a jailbroken device, try one of the other methods in this article. Download the following tools from Cydia, all of which should be available in the main repository:
    • iFile
    • IconMaker
    • Terminal
  4. Copy the image to your iPhone by either sending it to yourself via email or by using iFile. You can also take images with your iPhone's camera.
    • You can download icon replacements from various websites like DeviantArt or you can create your own. You can use any image you'd like and IconMaker will convert it to the proper size.
  5. It has a blue icon with the Apple logo and a ruler and sheet of paper. Tap the icon on your home screen to open IconMaker.
  6. This app will convert your image file into the proper size and format. Tap the Camera button icon in the upper-right corner. Then tap an image that you have in your Camera roll. If the image is located somewhere else on your iPhone, use iFile to find it and then select "IconMaker" after opening it.
  7. These two settings are necessary to generate proper icon files. Tap the toggle switch next to both of these options on the main page.
  8. This will create five icon files.
  9. It's in the upper-right corner of the app screen.
  10. Tap the radio button next to the five icon files. Then tap the clipboard icon in the lower-right corner. This will copy the newly-created icon files to your clipboard.
  11. The location will vary depending on if the app was downloaded from the App Store or if it's a Stock (pre-installed app) or Cydia app. Navigate to one of the following locations in iFile and then select the app you want to change icons for:
    • Stock/Cydia - /var/stash/Applications.XXXXXX
    • App Store - /var/mobile/Applications
  12. There may be several icon files present. Either rename these files or delete them completely. Note that sometimes the file will have the app's name instead of "icon" in the file name. The five icon files are as follows:
    • icon.png
    • icon@2x.png
    • icon~ipad.png
    • icon@2x~ipad.png
    • iconClassic.png
  13. To do so, Tap Edit in the upper-right corner. Then tap the clipboard icon and tap Paste . This will paste the new icon files that you copied into the folder. They will already be named properly thanks to IconMaker.
  14. Terminal will allow you to reset your UI so that you don't have to reboot to see your changes.
  15. After a few moments, your interface will refresh and you'll be able to see your new icon. [3]
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  • Question
    How can I select an app without it going to the page that was clicked on?
    Community Answer
    if you want to delete the app, hold down the 'home' button for a few seconds. All of your apps will 'jiggle.' You can delete an by clicking the "x" in the corner of the icon for the app you're deleting.
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      Warnings

      • Deleting the program used to create your new app icons may also delete the icons or prevent them from working.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/customize-apps-and-widgets-on-the-home-screen-iph385473442/ios
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iphb8f1bf206/18.0/ios/18.0
      3. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/iOSthemes/comments/1uajy0/guide_how_to_change_custom_icons_for_apps_ios_7/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Shortcuts.
      2. Tap + in the upper-right corner.
      3. Tap Add Action .
      4. Tap Scripting
      5. Tap Open App .
      6. Tap Choose next to "Open".
      7. Tap the app you want to open and tap Next .
      8. Tap the square with action name you just made on the Shortcuts home screen.
      9. Tap the icon with three dots ( … ) in the upper-right corner.
      10. Tap Add to Home Screen .
      11. Tap the icon next to the action name.
      12. Select a photo you want to use as an icon and tap Choose .
      13. Tap Add .
      14. Move the old app icon to a separate folder or to your App Library.

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