Where to find color customization in iOS 18

iOS 18 lets you change the color of individual apps on your home screen through the App Library and home screen settings. You do this by long-pressing an app icon, tapping "Edit Home Screen," and then selecting a color from the palette that appears. The colors available depend on the app — some offer a wide range, others offer only a few preset options.

The process works the same whether you're using an iPhone 15, iPhone 16, or any device running iOS 18. You don't need to download a separate tool or use a computer. Everything happens directly on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Long-press any app icon on your home screen, then tap "Edit Home Screen" to access the color picker.
  • Not all apps support custom colors — only those that have been updated to work with iOS 18's color system will show color options.
  • You can change colors for individual app icons without affecting the app itself or how it works.
  • If an app doesn't offer color options, it means the developer hasn't added that feature yet, and you'll need to wait for an update.

Step-by-step: changing a single app's color

Start by finding the app icon you want to change on your home screen. Press and hold the icon for about two seconds until a menu appears with several options.

Tap "Edit Home Screen" from that menu. The screen will enter edit mode, and the app icon will show a small color wheel or palette icon in the corner. Tap that icon to open the color picker. A grid of colors will appear — swipe through the available options and tap the one you want. Once you've selected a color, tap outside the picker or press "Done" to save the change.

The app icon on your home screen will now display in the new color. The change is instant and doesn't affect how the app runs or what it looks like when you open it.

Changing colors for multiple apps at once

If you want to change several app colors to match a theme, you can do this one app at a time using the method above, but there's no batch tool to change multiple apps simultaneously. However, you can speed up the process by keeping your home screen in edit mode.

After you change the first app's color and tap "Done," stay in edit mode by tapping the home screen background. Then long-press the next app you want to change. This keeps you from having to exit and re-enter edit mode for each icon. Repeat this for as many apps as you want to customize.

Which apps support color changes in iOS 18

Not every app in the App Store supports custom colors yet. Apple's built-in apps — Mail, Messages, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, and others — all support color changes. Many third-party apps have also been updated to include this feature, but it depends on whether the developer has added it.

If you long-press an app and don't see a color option, it means that app hasn't been updated to support iOS 18's color customization. You can check the App Store to see if an update is available, or wait for the developer to add the feature in a future release. There's no way to force an app to support colors if the developer hasn't built it in.

Resetting an app to its default color

If you change an app's color and later want to go back to the original, the process is the same. Long-press the app icon, tap "Edit Home Screen," and tap the color wheel icon. Look for a "Default" or grayscale option at the beginning of the color palette — this will restore the app to its standard appearance.

If you don't see a default option, scroll through the color picker to find the original color. For most Apple apps, the default is usually a muted gray or the app's brand color. Once you select it, the change takes effect immediately.

Troubleshooting color changes that don't appear

If you change an app's color but the icon doesn't update on your home screen, try these steps: first, make sure you're not in Safe Mode or using a restricted profile that limits customization. Second, restart your iPhone by turning it off and back on. Third, check that the app itself is updated to the latest version available in the App Store.

If the color picker doesn't appear when you tap the icon in edit mode, the app simply doesn't support color customization yet. This is a limitation of the app, not your phone. You can contact the app's developer to request the feature, or check back after future updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of app folders?

No. iOS 18 only allows color changes for individual app icons, not for folders. If you want to organize apps by color, you'll need to arrange them on your home screen without using folders, or use folders with their default appearance.

Do color changes sync across my devices?

No. App color customizations are stored locally on each device. If you change an app's color on your iPhone, that change won't appear on your iPad or Mac. You'll need to make the same changes on each device separately.

Will changing app colors use more battery?

No. Changing app icon colors has no effect on battery life or performance. It's purely a visual change to the home screen and doesn't alter how the app runs in the background.

What if I update iOS after changing colors?

Your color changes will remain after you update to a newer version of iOS 18 or to iOS 19 when it releases. Updates don't reset home screen customizations. However, if you restore your iPhone from a backup, the colors will only return if that backup included your home screen layout.