What changing an app icon means
Changing an app icon means replacing the picture or symbol that represents a program on your home screen, desktop, or app drawer. The icon is just the visual shortcut — the actual program underneath stays the same and works exactly as before. You are only changing what it looks like.
On phones, this is straightforward: most devices let you long-press an icon and pick a new image from your photos or a design app. On computers, the process depends on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux, and whether the program is installed normally or as a web shortcut.
People change app icons for several reasons: to organize by color or category, to use a custom design that matches their phone's theme, to replace a cluttered or outdated icon with something clearer, or straightforward because they prefer how it looks.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, use the Shortcuts app to create a custom icon that launches any program with a picture you choose.
- On Android phones, long-press the app icon, tap "Edit icon," and select a new image from your phone's photos or a design app.
- On Windows, right-click the program shortcut, select Properties, click "Change Icon," and browse to a new icon file.
- On Mac, select the app in Finder, press Command+I to open Get Info, and drag a new image into the icon box at the top left.
- Changing the icon does not change how the program works — it only changes what the shortcut looks like.
How to change an app icon on iPhone
iPhone does not have a built-in way to change app icons directly. Instead, you use the Shortcuts app (which comes pre-installed) to create a custom shortcut that launches the app with a picture you choose.
Open the Shortcuts app and tap the plus sign to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action," search for "Open App," and select the app you want to customize. Then tap the three dots at the top right, scroll down to "Home Screen Name and Icon," and tap "Choose Photo" or "Choose File" to pick an image. Name the shortcut and save it. The shortcut will appear on your home screen with your custom icon and will open the app when you tap it.
The downside is that each custom icon creates a separate shortcut rather than replacing the original app icon. Your home screen will show both the original app and the shortcut. You can delete the original app icon if you want to use only the shortcut, but the app itself remains installed and can still be found in the App Library.
How to change an app icon on Android
Android phones vary by manufacturer, but most recent devices let you edit app icons directly. Long-press the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Look for an option called "Edit icon," "Customize," or a pencil symbol. Tap it.
A dialog will open showing the current icon. Tap the icon image itself to open your photo library or a design app. Select a new image from your photos, or use an icon pack app (available free in the Google Play Store) to choose from thousands of pre-made designs. Once you select an image, it will replace the icon on your home screen when ready.
If your phone does not show an edit option when you long-press, check your launcher settings. Some Android phones use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which have their own icon customization menus. Open the launcher's settings and look for "Icon Pack" or "Customize Icons."
How to change an app icon on Windows
On Windows, you change the icon of a program shortcut, not the program itself. Right-click the shortcut (on your desktop or in the Start menu) and select "Properties." In the window that opens, click the "Shortcut" tab, then click the "Change Icon" button near the bottom.
A dialog will open showing available icons. Windows includes a set of built-in icons in system files. You can browse through them by clicking the "Browse" button to navigate to a folder with icon files. Icon files usually have the extension .ico or .exe. Once you select an icon, click "OK" twice to save the change.
If you want to use a custom image (like a photo or a design from the internet), you will need to convert it to an .ico file first. Free online converters can do this — search "convert image to ico" and upload your file. read the .ico file, then use the "Browse" button in the Change Icon dialog to select it.
How to change an app icon on Mac
On Mac, open Finder and locate the app you want to customize. Right-click it and select "Get Info" (or press Command+I). At the top left of the window, you will see the app's current icon.
Find an image you want to use as the new icon. It can be a photo on your computer, a downloaded icon file, or a screenshot. Drag that image directly onto the icon box at the top left of the Get Info window. The image will replace the app icon when ready. Close the Get Info window and the change is complete.
If you want to revert to the original icon, open Get Info again, click the icon box, and press Delete. The app will return to its default icon.
Icon file formats and where to find them
Different devices and programs use different icon formats. Windows typically uses .ico files. Mac can use .icns files, but also accepts .png, .jpg, and other image formats. Android uses .png files. iPhone shortcuts accept any image format your phone supports.
Free icon packs are available from several sources. Flaticon, Icons8, and The Noun Project offer thousands of designs you can read. Many are free for personal use. App-specific icon packs are also available — search your device's app store for "icon pack" or the name of the app you want to customize.
If you design your own icons, keep them straightforward and clear at small sizes. A 512×512 pixel image works well for most devices. Avoid very thin lines or tiny text, which will be hard to see on a home screen.
What happens to the original app when you change the icon
Changing an app icon does not affect the program itself in any way. The app still works exactly as before, updates normally, and stores all your data. You are only changing the visual shortcut that launches it.
On iPhone and Android, if you delete the custom icon shortcut or the custom icon itself, the original app remains on your device and works normally. On Windows and Mac, if you delete the shortcut, the program is still installed — you can create a new shortcut or find it in your applications folder.
If you ever want to undo the change, the process is straightforward: delete the custom icon and use the original, or follow the same steps to choose a different image.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing an app icon affect my data or settings?
No. The icon is only a visual shortcut. Your data, passwords, settings, and everything else inside the app remain unchanged. You can change the icon back and forth as many times as you want without losing anything.
Can I change the icon of an app that is not on my home screen?
On Android, you can change the icon of any app in your app drawer. On iPhone, you would need to create a shortcut for it first using the Shortcuts app. On Windows and Mac, you can change the icon of any shortcut you create, even if the app itself is buried in a folder.
What if I want to use a picture from the internet as an app icon?
Save the image to your phone or computer first. On iPhone and Android, you can then select it directly from your photos. On Windows, convert it to an .ico file using a free online converter. On Mac, you can drag the image directly onto the icon box without converting it.
Can I change the icon of a web-based app or browser bookmark?
On Android, yes — long-press the bookmark icon and edit it like any other app. On iPhone, you can create a shortcut in the Shortcuts app that opens a web link and assign it a custom icon. On Windows and Mac, right-click the bookmark shortcut and follow the same icon-change steps as for any other shortcut.
Why does my phone not show an edit option when I long-press an app?
Your device may use a different launcher or may not support icon editing. Try long-pressing for a full second, or check your launcher's settings menu for a "Customize Icons" or "Icon Pack" option. If your phone is older, you may need to use a third-party launcher app to customize icons.