You can change app icons using the Shortcuts app, which lets you create custom launchers that point to your real apps
The Shortcuts app (built into iOS and available free on Android) lets you create a custom icon that opens any app you want. When you tap the custom icon on your home screen, it runs a shortcut that launches the real app behind it. This means you get a different look without changing how the app actually works.
The process is straightforward: you build a shortcut that opens an app, assign it a custom icon and name, then add it to your home screen. The original app stays in your app library untouched. You're just creating a new launcher with a different appearance.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, use the Shortcuts app to create a shortcut that opens an app, then customize its icon and add it to your home screen.
- On Android, the process depends on your launcher app — some built-in launchers support icon packs, while others require the Shortcuts app or a third-party launcher.
- Custom icons you create are separate from the original app, so both will appear on your device unless you hide or delete the original.
- You can use any image as a custom icon — photos, emoji, downloaded icon packs, or images you create yourself.
How to change app icons on iPhone using Shortcuts
Open the Shortcuts app and tap the plus icon to create a new shortcut. Search for "Open App" and select it. Choose the app you want to customize from the list that appears. This is the app that will actually launch when you tap your custom icon.
Tap the three dots at the top right of the shortcut, then tap "Add to Home Screen." A dialog will appear asking for a name and icon. Tap the icon preview (usually a small circle showing the app's logo) to change it. You can choose a photo from your library, use an emoji, or pick from the built-in icon options. Name the shortcut whatever you want — this is the label that appears below the icon on your home screen. Tap "Add" and the custom icon will appear on your home screen.
The original app remains in your app library. If you want to hide it from your home screen, press and hold the original app icon, select "Remove from Home Screen," and it will move to the app library but stay installed.
How to change app icons on Android
Android offers several routes depending on which launcher you use. Your launcher is the app that manages your home screen — it might be the default one that came with your phone, or you might have installed a different one.
If you use a launcher that supports icon packs (like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or POCO Launcher), you can download an icon pack from the Google Play Store, then go into your launcher settings and select that pack. The launcher will automatically replace your app icons with the ones from the pack you chose. This changes icons across your entire home screen at once.
If your launcher doesn't support icon packs, or if you want to customize individual apps differently, use the Shortcuts app (available free on Google Play). The process mirrors iPhone: create a shortcut that opens an app, customize its icon and name, then add it to your home screen. You can also use third-party launchers like Nova or Microsoft Launcher, which let you long-press an app icon, select "Edit," and change the icon directly without creating a shortcut.
Where to find custom icons and icon packs
Icon packs on the Google Play Store range from minimalist designs to themed collections. Search "icon pack" and filter by your phone's Android version. Most are free or cost a few dollars. Once installed, go into your launcher settings to activate the pack.
For individual custom icons, you can use any image: download icon sets from sites like Flaticon or Icons8, take screenshots of emoji, or use photos. On iPhone, the Shortcuts app lets you pick any image from your Photos library. On Android with a third-party launcher, you can usually select an image the same way. If you're using icon packs, the pack itself provides all the icons — you don't source them separately.
Why custom icons sometimes look different than you expect
On iPhone, custom icons appear exactly as you set them. On Android, some launchers apply their own styling or masks to icons, which can change how they look. If you set a square icon but your launcher applies a circular mask, the icon will appear circular. Check your launcher's icon settings — most let you turn off masks or choose different shapes.
Also, if you use an icon pack, the pack designer controls the look. You can't edit individual icons within a pack — you either use the pack as designed or switch to a different one. If you want full control over individual icons, use the Shortcuts app method instead, which lets you set any image as the icon.
Managing duplicate apps after customizing icons
When you create a custom icon using Shortcuts, both the custom icon and the original app appear on your device. On iPhone, you can hide the original by removing it from your home screen (it stays in the app library). On Android, the approach depends on your launcher. Some launchers let you hide apps directly in settings. Others require you to uninstall the original app if you want it completely gone — but this also removes the app itself, not just the icon.
A safer approach: keep the original app in your app library or app drawer, and use only the custom icon on your home screen. This way, if you ever need to access the app's settings or reinstall it, the original is still there. You avoid the risk of breaking the shortcut by accidentally deleting the underlying app.
What happens if you delete the original app
If you delete the original app, any custom shortcuts pointing to it will stop working. The custom icon will remain on your home screen, but tapping it will show an error message. If you later reinstall the app, the shortcut will work again.
This is why it's usually better to hide the original app rather than delete it — you get the cleaner look without breaking the shortcut. On iPhone, hiding takes seconds: press and hold the original app, select "Remove from Home Screen," and it moves to the app library. On Android, check your launcher settings for a hide or uninstall option that removes the icon without removing the app itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change icons for apps that don't have a Shortcuts action?
On iPhone, most apps support the "Open App" action in Shortcuts, so you can create a custom icon for nearly any app. On Android, it depends on your launcher. Icon packs change all icons at once regardless of the app. If you're using the Shortcuts method and an app doesn't appear in the "Open App" list, try searching for the app's name directly in Shortcuts.
Will changing my app icon affect how the app works?
No. A custom icon is just a launcher — it opens the real app, which runs exactly as normal. Your data, settings, and notifications all stay the same. The only thing that changes is what the icon looks like on your home screen.
Can I use animated icons or GIFs?
On iPhone, the Shortcuts app accepts static images only — GIFs and animations won't work. On Android, some third-party launchers support animated icons if the icon pack includes them, but most custom icon methods are limited to static images.
What if I want to change back to the original icon?
Delete the custom icon from your home screen. The original app remains in your app library (iPhone) or app drawer (Android) and will still work. If you used an icon pack on Android, go into your launcher settings and turn off the pack to revert to the default icons.
Do custom icons work on the lock screen?
On iPhone 16 and later, you can add custom app icons to your lock screen using the same Shortcuts method. On older iPhones and most Android devices, custom icons only appear on the home screen, not the lock screen.