How to Customize Your iPhone’s App Icons with the Shortcuts App

Customizing your iPhone’s app icons allows you to give your homescreen a personal touch, whether you're tired of the stock icons or just want to express your creativity. With Apple’s Shortcuts app, you can change how your apps appear, even using your own photos or artistic designs.

Whether you want to replace a stock icon like Instagram’s “X” with something more appealing or simply organize your homescreen with a personalized aesthetic, this guide will walk you through the process of creating unique icons. Let’s dive into the details!

Step 1: Find or Create Your Icon

Before you begin, you’ll need an image to use as the new icon. You can:

• Download ready-made icons from sites like Flaticon or Icons8.

• Use a photo from your gallery.

• Get creative and design your own!

Once you have your image, save it to your Photos app for easy access later.

Step 2: Open the Shortcuts App

The Shortcuts app is preinstalled on your iPhone. If you don’t see it on your homescreen, swipe left to open the App Library and search for "Shortcuts" in the search bar.

Step 3: Create a New Shortcut

1. In the Shortcuts app, tap the plus (+) sign in the upper-right corner to create a new shortcut.

2. Name your shortcut. By default, it’ll be named something like “New Shortcut 1,” but you can tap the arrow next to the name to rename it something that suits the app you're customizing.

Step 4: Set Up the Shortcut to Open the App

1. Below the name, you’ll see a prompt to “Add Action.” Tap on this and type “Open App” in the search bar.

2. Select “Open App” from the list of actions.

3. You’ll now see the word App in light blue next to Open. Tap on it.

4. A list of all the apps on your iPhone will appear. Choose the app you want to create the custom icon for.

Step 5: Add the Shortcut to Your Home Screen

1. Once you’ve selected the app, tap on the information (i) icon at the bottom of the screen.

2. Select Add to Home Screen.

3. You’ll now see a preview of the icon. This will likely be a plain, generic icon provided by the Shortcuts app. Let’s change that.

Step 6: Customize the Icon

1. Under the preview, tap the icon placeholder (a default, blank square).

2. You’ll be prompted to choose between:

   • Take Photo (to use a picture you’re about to take),

   • Choose Photo (to use a saved image from your Photos library),

   • Choose File (to upload an icon from your files).

3. If you’ve already saved the icon or photo, select Choose Photo and pick the one you want to use.

4. Adjust the image within the frame by moving or resizing it, and tap Choose in the bottom-right corner.

Step 7: Name Your Icon

After setting the image, give the shortcut a name. This name will appear under the icon on your homescreen, so make sure it’s something you recognize.

Step 8: Add Your Custom Icon to Your Homescreen

When everything is set, tap Add in the top-right corner of the screen. Voila! You should now see your customized app icon on your homescreen.

Step 9: Hide the Original App Icon (Optional)

Since this is a shortcut and not the actual app, the original icon will still be visible on your homescreen. Here’s how you can hide it:

1. Long-press anywhere on your homescreen until all your app icons start wiggling.

2. Tap the minus (-) sign on the original app icon.

3. Select Remove from Home Screen. This won’t delete the app—it’ll simply hide it. You can always find the app in your App Library.

Wrap-Up: Enjoy Your Customized Homescreen!

Congratulations! You’ve now customized your iPhone’s homescreen with personalized app icons. By repeating the steps above, you can change as many icons as you like to create a fully personalized interface that reflects your unique style.

The Shortcuts app may not replace the app icons directly, but it’s an incredibly powerful tool that lets you have fun and design a homescreen that’s truly your own. Whether you're opting for a minimalist theme, using favorite photos, or building something creative, customizing your iPhone has never been easier.

Now that you've mastered customizing app icons, the possibilities are endless! Want to tint your app icons in iOS 18? You can explore more ways to personalize your iPhone even further.