How to Change iPhone App Icons: Easy Steps

Changing your iPhone app icons gives your Home Screen a personalized look—matching a color scheme, using your own photos, or just refreshing the style. The official way to do this is with the free Shortcuts app that comes pre-installed on your iPhone. You don’t need to jailbreak or use any third-party icon packs; everything is done through Apple’s own tools. Before you start, make sure you have the Shortcuts app (if you deleted it, you can re-download it from the App Store) and have the images you want to use as icons saved to your Photos app.

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone with iOS 14 or later (the Shortcuts method works on all recent versions)
The Shortcuts app (free, pre-installed on most iPhones)
Icon images saved to your Photos library (square images work best, ideally 180×180 pixels or larger)
The apps you want to customize already installed on your phone

Step-by-Step

Open the Shortcuts app. Locate the Shortcuts app on your Home Screen (it has a purple icon with white symbols). If you can’t find it, swipe down on the Home Screen and search for “Shortcuts.”
Tap the plus (+) icon. In the top-right corner of the Shortcuts app, tap the plus button to create a new shortcut. This opens a new blank shortcut editor.
Add the “Open App” action. Tap “Add Action” (or the search bar at the bottom). Type “Open App” in the search field, then select the “Open App” action from the list. It appears as a blue action block.
Choose the app. In the “Open App” action block, tap the word “App” (or “Choose”) and select the app you want to customize from the list that appears. For example, if you want to change the icon for Instagram, pick Instagram here.
Rename the shortcut. Tap the shortcut name at the top of the screen (it might say “Shortcut” or “My Shortcut”). Type a name that matches the app, like “Instagram” or “My Instagram.” This name will appear under the new icon on your Home Screen.
Add to Home Screen. Tap the share icon (a square with an arrow pointing up) located in the top-right corner of the shortcut editor. Scroll down in the share sheet and tap “Add to Home Screen.”
Choose your custom icon. In the “Add to Home Screen” window, tap the app icon preview (the small square with the app’s default icon). A menu will appear; choose “Choose Photo” or “Choose File” and select the image you saved earlier. You can also take a new photo. Adjust the image if needed, then tap “Add” in the top-right corner.
Repeat for each app. Your new icon now appears on your Home Screen. To customize more apps, repeat steps 2–7 for each one. You can also delete the original app icons from your Home Screen (but keep the apps installed) to avoid duplicates—just tap and hold the original icon, tap “Remove App,” then “Remove from Home Screen” (this does not delete the app itself).

Common Mistakes

Not renaming the shortcut. If you skip step 5, your Home Screen icon will show the default shortcut name (like “Shortcut”) instead of the app name, which looks messy.
Deleting the actual app. When you remove the original icon from the Home Screen, make sure you choose “Remove from Home Screen” and not “Delete App.” Deleting the app will break the shortcut.
Using a low-resolution image. Blurry or pixelated icons look bad. Use a square image that’s at least 180×180 pixels for best results.
Forgetting the shortcut runs the app twice. When you tap your custom icon, it opens the Shortcuts app briefly, then launches the actual app. This is normal and not a mistake—it’s just how Apple’s method works.

Tips

Use a solid color background. For a clean, uniform look, create icons with a matching background color and simple glyphs or letters. You can make these in any photo editing app.
Group your custom icons in a folder. If you customize many apps, put them all in a folder on the Home Screen to keep things tidy.
Keep the original apps in the App Library. Even after removing the original icons, you can still access the apps by swiping left past your last Home Screen page to the App Library.
Use the “Choose Photo” option for live photos. If you select a Live Photo as your icon, it will animate when you press and hold on the Home Screen (though it won’t play automatically).
Test one app first. Before customizing a dozen apps, do one to make sure you like the process and the result.

Troubleshooting

The shortcut opens the Shortcuts app instead of my app. This usually means you didn’t add the “Open App” action correctly. Go back to the shortcut in the Shortcuts app, check that the action is set to the correct app, and save it again.
The icon image appears blurry or cropped. Make sure your image is square and high-resolution. If it’s cropped, try a different image or use an app to resize it to 180×180 pixels.
I can’t find the “Add to Home Screen” option. The share sheet might not show it if you’re scrolling too fast. Scroll down slowly and look for the “Add to Home Screen” button—it’s usually in the bottom row of actions. If you still can’t find it, tap “Edit Actions” and add it.
The custom icon doesn’t appear on the Home Screen. After tapping “Add,” the icon should appear immediately. If not, try restarting your iPhone or going to the last page of your Home Screen to see if it was added there.
I deleted the original app icon but the app is gone. If you accidentally deleted the app, reinstall it from the App Store, then create the shortcut again. The shortcut will still work once the app is reinstalled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the icon affect the app itself?

No. The shortcut just opens the app; it doesn’t change any settings or data inside the app. Your app will function exactly as before.

Can I change the icon back to the original?

Yes. Simply delete the custom shortcut from your Home Screen (tap and hold, then “Remove App” and “Remove from Home Screen”). Then find the original app in the App Library and drag it back to your Home Screen.

Does this work for all apps?

Yes, the Shortcuts method works for any app installed on your iPhone, including Apple’s own apps and third-party apps.

Will the shortcut show a notification or banner when I open the app?

No. The shortcut runs silently in the background. You’ll see the Shortcuts app flash for a split second, but no notification appears.

Can I use a custom icon for a folder?

No, the Shortcuts method only works for individual apps. You cannot change the icon of a folder using this method.

Is there a way to change icons without the Shortcuts app?

No, the Shortcuts app is the only official, supported method on iOS. Third-party apps that claim to change icons often require you to install a profile or use a workaround that can be unreliable.

Sources: Apple Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.