The Three Ways to Change App Icons on Android

You can change how app icons look on your Android home screen in three ways: using a launcher app, using icon pack apps paired with your existing launcher, or using built-in customization if your phone manufacturer included it. Most Android phones do not come with a native icon-changing feature, so a launcher app is the most common route. Launchers replace your home screen entirely and let you pick from thousands of icon designs. Icon packs work differently — they sit in the background and change icons across your phone without replacing your launcher, but they require a launcher that supports them.

The method you choose depends on how much control you want and whether you are willing to change your entire home screen experience. Launchers give you the most options but change how your phone feels overall. Icon packs are lighter and less disruptive but work only if your launcher supports them. Some Samsung, OnePlus, and Google Pixel phones have built-in theme or icon customization, which is the fastest option if your phone has it.

Key Takeaways

  • Launcher apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara replace your home screen and let you choose from icon packs, but they change how your entire phone home screen works.
  • Icon packs are standalone apps that change app icons without replacing your launcher, but only work if your launcher supports them — check your launcher's settings first.
  • Samsung phones have a built-in theme engine, Google Pixel phones have Material You theming, and OnePlus has icon customization in settings — check your phone's settings app before downloading anything.
  • After installing a launcher or icon pack, you usually need to go into the app's settings and select which icon pack to use, then restart your home screen.
  • Icon changes are visual only and do not affect how apps work or what data they access.

Using a Launcher App to Change Icons

A launcher app replaces your home screen with a new one that supports custom icons. Popular launchers include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, Niagara, and Lawnchair. Download one from the Google Play Store, open it, and tap "Set as home" or "Set as default launcher" when prompted. Your phone will ask you to choose which launcher to use when you press the home button — select the new launcher and tap "Always" to make it the default.

Once the launcher is set, open its settings (usually a gear icon in the app or in your phone's Settings under Apps or Home Screen). Look for "Icon pack," "Icons," or "Themes." Tap that option and you will see a list of icon packs you can download. Many are free; some cost money. Select one and tap "Apply" or "Set." Your home screen icons will change immediately. If you do not like it, go back into launcher settings and pick a different icon pack.

To return to your phone's original home screen, go to Settings, then Apps or Applications, find your launcher, and tap "Clear defaults." Press the home button and select your phone's original launcher (usually called "Home" or your manufacturer's name like "Samsung Home").

Using Icon Packs Without Changing Your Launcher

Icon packs are apps that change your icons without replacing your launcher. They work only if your current launcher supports them. To check, open your launcher's settings and look for "Icon pack," "Icons," "Themes," or "Customization." If that option exists, your launcher supports icon packs. If it does not, you will need to use a launcher app instead.

If your launcher supports icon packs, download an icon pack from the Google Play Store — search for "icon pack" and look for ones with high ratings. Open the icon pack app after installing it. Most icon packs have a preview of what your icons will look like. Tap "Apply," "Set," or "Use this pack." Go back to your launcher settings, find the icon pack option, and select the icon pack you just installed. Your icons will change on your next home screen refresh or after you restart your phone.

Icon packs usually cover only the most common apps. If an app is not included in the pack, it will keep its original icon. Some icon packs let you manually change individual icons by long-pressing an app and selecting "Edit icon" or "Change icon," though this feature varies by launcher.

Built-In Icon Customization on Samsung, Google Pixel, and OnePlus

Samsung phones with One UI 5.0 or newer have a built-in theme engine. Open Settings, go to Display, then Themes, and tap the plus icon to browse themes. Many themes include custom icons. Select one and tap "Apply." Your icons will change immediately. You can also go to Settings, Display, Themes, and look for "Icon pack" or "Icons" to change only your icons without changing your entire theme.

Google Pixel phones with Android 12 or newer use Material You, which automatically colors your icons based on your wallpaper. You cannot manually change individual icons, but you can change your wallpaper to change the color scheme. If you want more control, download a launcher app instead.

OnePlus phones have icon customization in Settings under Display and Brightness or Customization. Look for "Icon shape," "Icons," or "Themes." Some OnePlus versions let you choose icon shapes (rounded, square, teardrop) but not custom icon designs. If you want full icon customization, use a launcher app or icon pack.

How to Manually Change Individual App Icons

Some launchers and icon packs let you change a single app's icon without changing all of them. In Nova Launcher, long-press an app on your home screen, tap "Edit," then tap the icon image. A menu will appear showing available icons from your installed icon packs. Select one and tap "OK." The icon will change only for that app on your home screen.

In Microsoft Launcher, long-press an app, tap "Edit icon," and choose from available options. In Niagara, the process is similar: long-press the app and look for an edit or customize option. Not all launchers support this feature, so check your launcher's help documentation if you do not see an edit option.

Manual icon changes are useful when an icon pack does not include an app you use frequently, or when you want a mix of icons from different packs. The changes apply only to your home screen and do not affect the app itself.

Troubleshooting Common Icon-Changing Problems

If icons do not change after you select an icon pack, restart your phone. Some launchers require a full restart to apply icon changes. If that does not work, open your launcher settings, unselect the icon pack, wait a few seconds, and select it again.

If an icon pack does not appear in your launcher's icon pack menu after you install it, the launcher may not support that particular pack. Try a different icon pack, or check the icon pack's description in the Google Play Store to see which launchers it works with. Some icon packs are designed only for specific launchers.

If you accidentally set a launcher as default and cannot find your apps, go to Settings, Apps, and search for your original launcher (usually "Home" or your phone manufacturer's name). Tap it, then tap "Set as default" or "Clear defaults." Press the home button and select your original launcher.

What Icon Packs Cost and Where to Find Them

Most icon packs in the Google Play Store are free, though some charge between $0.99 and $4.99. Free packs usually include 100 to 500 icons. Paid packs often include more icons and receive more frequent updates. You can preview any icon pack before installing it — the store listing shows what your home screen will look like with that pack applied.

Popular free icon packs include Lineage Icon Pack, Oxy Icon Pack, and Crayon Icon Pack. Popular paid packs include Moonrise Icon Pack and Glim Icon Pack. Search the Google Play Store for "icon pack" and sort by rating to find highly-reviewed options. Read the reviews to see which launchers each pack works best with, since compatibility varies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my app icons affect how the apps work?

No. Icon changes are visual only. The app itself, its data, and its permissions remain unchanged. Changing an icon does not affect notifications, app performance, or anything else about how the app functions.

Can I use multiple icon packs at the same time?

Most launchers let you use only one icon pack at a time. However, some launchers like Nova Launcher let you manually change individual app icons, so you can mix icons from different packs by editing each app separately.

Do icon packs work on all Android phones?

Icon packs work on any Android phone, but only if your launcher supports them. If your phone's default launcher does not support icon packs, download a launcher app like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher first.

What happens to my custom icons if I uninstall the icon pack?

Your icons will revert to the app's original icon. If you uninstall the icon pack app, your launcher will automatically switch back to default icons. Your home screen layout and app positions stay the same.

Can I create my own icon pack?

Yes, but it requires Android development knowledge. You would need to create icon images, package them in the correct format, and build an app. Most people use existing icon packs instead. Some launchers like Nova Launcher let you manually change individual icons without creating a full icon pack.