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How To Change iPhone App Icons: A Complete Customization Tutorial

By Mark McDonnell

How To Change iPhone App Icons A Complete Customization Tutorial

Apple has made it easier for users to change app icons. If you are bored of the same old app icons on your phone and want to customize them, you can use the Home Screen editing tools or Shortcuts app. The features of Apple have been limited regarding changing the app icons and customization. However, the introduction of iOS14 and later versions brought a change. You can now personalize your home screen and apps as the iOS 18 features allow you to customize icons and unlock them from the grid.

Changing app icons is not just about aesthetics it is a way of transforming your phone into your interests, hobbies, and personality. One can replace default apps easily and even add a color tint. It helps make the home screen more organized and stylish. Changing apps can be a creative way to elevate your device’s appearance and make it uniquely yours. Customizing can help add your own style and make apps easier to recognize. This article will discuss more about how to change app icons and its tutorial. So, keep reading.  

How To Change iPhone App Icons?

Steps To Change iPhone App Icons

Changing iPhone app icons is now easy. You can also find or make a new image for your new app icon. You can download free icons with a simple search online. Once your icon image is it, it is time to customize your app icons too. Here is the step-by-step guide on how to customize iPhone app icons:

  • Go to the Home Screen.
  • Touch and hold the Home Screen background until the icons jiggle. 
  • After tapping the Edit button on top of the screen, choose Customize. 
  • Then, you can do the following;
  1.  You can make the icons bigger (Tap Large- in large size, the names of the apps will disappear.)
  2. You can adjust the light by choosing a dark or light appearance for icons and widgets (Tap Dark or Light). You can also tap Automatic to show the icons and widgets with a dark appearance at night and a light appearance during the day. 
  3. You can also add color tint to icons and widgets. To do that, tap Tinted. Then, use the sliders to adjust and choose the color and saturation. You can use the eyedropper to select a color in your wallpaper for icons. 

Also Read: How To Pair Apple Watch To New Phone?

How to change an app’s icon with shortcuts?  

You can also change iPhone app icons using the Shortcuts app. It will be preinstalled on your phones. However, using the Shortcuts app can be a bit complex, as it allows users to create multi-step processes to run on the device. Even though the app may seem complicated, changing app icons is a simple procedure. Here is the step-by-step guide on how to change the app icon with Shortcuts:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on the iPhone and tap the + icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
  2. The next step is to tap Add Action and use the text field to search for Open App.
  3. Select Open App and tap App.
  4. Select the app you want to change the icon of using the search field. 
  5. Tap the down-facing chevron at the top, near the “Open App”.
  6. Tap Add Home Screen and then tap the placeholder picture icon on the left.
  7. Select Take Photo, Choose Photo, or Choose File from the drop-down menu that appears. You can select depending on where your replacement app icon image is located. 
  8. Select the replacement image and in the text field, rename the app according to how you want it to appear on the home screen.
  9. As for the last step, tap Add. 

This way, the Shortcut is created. Once you return to the home screen, you will able to see the shortcut in the next available space. If you already have had on the home screen, you will end up having two different icons for it. You can simply remove the icon to App Library to keep only the newly-created icon. To remove it, long press on the icon and tap Remove App. Then, choose Remove From Home Screen, but ensure you don’t delete the original app. 

Other customizations for iPhone

Other iPhone customizations include:

  • Personalize your lock screen.
  • Set your favorite controls- iPhone features are just a swipe away in the Control Center.
  • You can add widgets to your home screen, like the current weather or upcoming calendar events. 
  • Customize your phone calls.
  • You can now adjust your privacy settings- you can deny requests from apps to track your activity. 
  • iPhone provides various in-built accessibility features. 
  • Choose sounds, vibrations, and other notifications. 

Read More: How To Factory Reset An iPhone?

Conclusion

Even though changing iPhone app icons are not mandatory, they can be a game changer. Customizing the app icons can elevate the overall appearance and improve the app’s visibility, visual consistency, and brand engagement. It can make a lasting first impression and help convey the purpose of the app. iOS 18 now allows you to personalize and customize home screen and app icons. Customization is not just about aesthetics, it also helps transform your phone to your personality and interest. Now, it is more easy to make the home screen more organized and stylish.

To change the app icons, you simply have to go to the Home Screen, tap the Edit button, and choose to customize. You can make the icons larger, adjust the lighting of the icons and widgets, and add a color tint to the icons and widgets. You can also use the Shortcuts app to change the iPhone app icons. Shortcuts are pre-installed in our phone and at first, it may seem quite difficult to use it. However, it is easy to change app icons in the Shortcuts app. First, open the Shortcuts app, select the shortcut you want to modify, tap the icon next to the shortcut name, and change it. There are various other customizations too.

Mark McDonnell

Mark McDonnell is a seasoned technology writer with over 10 years of experience covering a wide range of tech topics, including tech trends, network security, cloud computing, CRM systems, and more. With a strong background in IT and a passion for staying ahead of industry developments, Mark delivers in-depth, well-researched articles that provide valuable insights for businesses and tech enthusiasts alike. His work has been featured in leading tech publications, and he continuously works to stay at the forefront of innovation, ensuring readers receive the most accurate and actionable information. Mark holds a degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications in cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure, and he is committed to producing content that reflects the highest standards of expertise and trustworthiness.

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