You can change how app icons look on your iPhone using the Shortcuts app, which lets you create custom icons that launch the apps you use

Apple does not let you swap out the actual app icons in your home screen the way you can on Android. Instead, you create a shortcut — a small automation that points to the app you want — and assign a custom image to that shortcut. When you tap the custom icon, it opens the app. The shortcut sits on your home screen or lock screen in place of the original app icon.

This method works on iPhone running iOS 14 or later. The process takes about five minutes per icon once you understand the steps. You will need the Shortcuts app, which comes built into your iPhone, and an image file for each custom icon you want to create.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom app icons are actually shortcuts that launch apps, not replacements for the real icons themselves.
  • You create shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, assign an image to each one, and place them on your home screen or lock screen.
  • Custom icons work best when you use consistent image sizes and styles, typically 120 by 120 pixels or larger.
  • You can find free icon packs online, create your own images, or use screenshots and edit them in Photos or a design app.
  • Once created, a shortcut icon opens the app just as fast as the original icon would, with no noticeable delay.

Getting the Shortcuts app and finding icon images

The Shortcuts app comes pre-installed on most iPhones. Open it by searching for "Shortcuts" in Spotlight or finding it in your app library. If you do not see it, download it free from the App Store.

For icon images, you have three main options. Search for "iPhone icon packs" online — many designers share free collections as PNG files you can download and save to your Photos app. You can also create your own using a free design tool like Canva, or take a screenshot of something you like and crop it to a square. Icon packs often come in folders organized by app name, so you can find the exact look you want for each app.

Save any images you plan to use to your Photos app or iCloud Drive before you start building shortcuts. This makes them easy to find when you need them.

Creating a shortcut for a single app

Open the Shortcuts app and tap the plus icon in the top right to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Select "Open App" from the results. A menu will appear asking which app to open — tap it and choose the app you want the shortcut to launch.

Now you need to add the custom image. Tap the three dots at the top right of the shortcut, then tap "Add to Home Screen". A dialog will appear with a preview of the shortcut. Tap the icon preview (the small image at the top) to open the image picker. Choose "Choose Photo" and select the image you saved earlier from your Photos app.

Give the shortcut a name — this is what will appear below the icon on your home screen. You can use the app name or leave it blank if you prefer just the icon with no label. Tap "Add" and the shortcut will be placed on your home screen.

Adding custom icons to your lock screen

iOS 16 and later let you place shortcuts directly on your lock screen, which is useful if you want quick access without unlocking your phone. Create the shortcut the same way, but instead of tapping "Add to Home Screen", tap "Add to Lock Screen" from the three-dot menu.

Lock screen shortcuts appear as small icons in a grid at the bottom of your lock screen. You can add up to four shortcuts per lock screen, and you can create multiple lock screens with different shortcuts on each one. When you tap a lock screen shortcut, it opens the app and may ask for Face ID or Touch ID confirmation, depending on your settings.

Organizing and managing multiple custom icons

If you create custom icons for many apps, keep them organized by grouping them into folders on your home screen. Create a folder by dragging one shortcut onto another, then add more shortcuts to it. You can name the folder by the app category — for example, "Social" or "Productivity".

You can also hide the original app icons to avoid confusion. Long-press the original app icon, tap "Remove App", and choose "Remove from Home Screen" — this keeps the app installed but removes its icon from view. You will still be able to find the app in your app library or by searching.

If you want to change a custom icon later, open the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut, tap the three dots, and select "Edit". Tap the icon preview and choose a new image. Your changes will appear on your home screen or lock screen immediately.

Troubleshooting common problems

If a shortcut does not open the app, make sure the app is actually installed on your phone. Shortcuts cannot launch apps that have been deleted. Also check that you selected the correct app when you created the shortcut — tap the three dots, select "Edit", and verify the app name in the "Open App" action.

If the custom image does not appear or looks stretched, the image file may be too small or the wrong shape. iPhone app icons work best at 120 by 120 pixels or larger, and they should be square. If your image is rectangular or very small, crop it to a square in the Photos app before adding it to the shortcut.

If you see a delay when tapping a custom icon, this is normal — shortcuts take about one second longer to open than native app icons. This is a limitation of how iOS handles shortcuts and cannot be avoided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will custom icons work if I update my iPhone?

Yes. Shortcuts and custom icons persist through iOS updates. However, if you restore your iPhone from scratch rather than updating over the air, you will need to recreate your shortcuts. Backing up to iCloud before a major update helps preserve them.

Can I use custom icons for folders or web links?

Yes. When you create a shortcut, you can choose "Open URL" instead of "Open App" to create a custom icon that opens a website. You can also create a shortcut that opens a folder by selecting "Open Folder" as the action. The process is the same as creating an app shortcut.

Do custom icons use more battery or storage?

No. Shortcuts are very lightweight and have no meaningful impact on battery life or storage space. The image files themselves are small, typically under 100 kilobytes each.

What happens if I delete the original app?

The shortcut will stop working and will show an error when you tap it. You can delete the shortcut from your home screen, or keep it and reinstall the app later. The shortcut will resume working once the app is reinstalled.

Can I share custom icons with other people?

You can share the shortcut itself by opening it in the Shortcuts app, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Share". Other people can receive the shortcut and add it to their own phone, though they will need to have the same app installed for it to work.