What changing app icons means on iOS 18
Changing app icons on iOS 18 means replacing the standard app picture that appears on your home screen with a different image you choose. Apple lets you do this through the Shortcuts app, which comes built into every iPhone. The actual app still works the same way — you are only changing what it looks like on your screen.
iOS 18 made this process slightly different from earlier versions because Apple reorganized where these settings live. Instead of using the old "Add to Home Screen" method, you now create what Apple calls a custom app icon shortcut. This shortcut points to the real app but displays your chosen image instead of the official one.
The change takes about five minutes per app once you understand the steps. You will need an image file (a photo, a downloaded icon, or something you create), the Shortcuts app, and access to your home screen.
Key Takeaways
- You change app icons through the Shortcuts app, not through Settings, because iOS 18 routes custom icons through shortcuts rather than direct home screen editing.
- You need an image file first — either a photo from your camera roll, a downloaded icon pack, or an image you create in a design app.
- The process involves creating a shortcut that opens the real app but displays your custom image on the home screen.
- Custom icons appear only on your home screen; the app itself, notifications, and the app switcher still show the original icon.
- You can change icons back to the original at any time by deleting the shortcut and using the real app again.
Finding or creating an image to use as your new icon
Before you open Shortcuts, you need an image. The image should be square (same width and height) and at least 180 pixels by 180 pixels, though larger is better. iOS 18 will resize it to fit, but starting with a bigger image keeps it sharp.
You have three main sources. First, you can use a photo from your camera roll — take a screenshot of something, crop it square, and use that. Second, you can read icon packs from websites like Flaticon or Noun Project, which offer free square icons in many styles. Third, you can create your own in a straightforward design app like Canva (free version works fine) or even Apple's own Photos app by cropping and editing.
Once you have an image, save it to your iPhone. If you downloaded it, it probably went to Files or Photos automatically. If you created it, make sure you save it somewhere you can find it again — your Photos app is the easiest place.
Creating a shortcut that opens the app with your custom icon
Open the Shortcuts app (it has a purple icon with a white lightning bolt). Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to start a new shortcut. You will see a blank canvas with "Add Action" at the bottom.
Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Tap the result that says "Open App" (not "Open URLs" or anything else). A menu will appear asking which app you want to open. Scroll down and find the app you want to change — for example, Messages, Instagram, or Safari. Tap it. The shortcut now says "Open [App Name]".
Next, you need to attach your custom image. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the shortcut editor. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen". A new screen appears asking for a name and an icon. In the "Icon" field, tap the colored circle. A menu appears with options including "Choose Photo". Tap that, then find and select the image you prepared earlier. The circle now shows your custom image.
Change the name if you want — this is what appears below the icon on your home screen. Then tap "Add" in the top right. iOS will ask where to place it on your home screen. Choose a spot and tap "Add" again. Your new icon now appears on your home screen.
Why the icon appears only on your home screen
When you use a custom icon shortcut, the image only shows where you placed it on your home screen. Everywhere else — notifications, the app switcher (the screen you see when you swipe up or use the app switcher gesture), the Settings app, and search results — still shows the original app icon.
This happens because you created a shortcut that opens the app, not a replacement for the app itself. The real app is still running underneath. iOS keeps the original icon in those other places to avoid confusion.
If this bothers you, the only way around it is to use a third-party launcher app from the App Store, but those have their own limitations and are not made by Apple. Most people find the home screen change alone is enough.
Changing icons for multiple apps at once
If you want to change icons for five or ten apps, you will repeat the process for each one. There is no way to batch-change multiple icons at once in iOS 18. However, the process gets faster after the first app because you know the steps.
A useful shortcut: if you are using a matching set of icons (like a cohesive color scheme or design style), read the whole pack at once and save all the images to a folder in your Photos app. Then as you create each shortcut, you can quickly navigate to that folder instead of hunting for individual images.
Some people create a dedicated home screen page just for custom icons, keeping their original apps on another page. This keeps your phone organized and makes it straightforward to switch back if you change your mind about the look.
Removing custom icons and going back to the original
To remove a custom icon and return to the original, straightforward delete the shortcut from your home screen. Press and hold the custom icon, tap "Remove", then tap "Remove from Home Screen". The shortcut disappears, and you can use the real app as normal from your app library or by searching.
If you want to keep the shortcut but change the image, open Shortcuts, find the shortcut you created, tap the three dots next to it, tap "Edit", then tap the three dots in the top right again and go to "Add to Home Screen". You can change the icon image there without recreating the whole shortcut.
Deleting the shortcut does not delete the app itself or any of your data in that app. The app stays on your phone exactly as it was.
Troubleshooting common problems
If your custom icon does not appear on your home screen after you add it, check that you actually tapped "Add" at the end. Sometimes the screen closes without saving. Go back to Shortcuts, find the shortcut, and try "Add to Home Screen" again.
If the image looks blurry or pixelated, your original image was too small. Delete the shortcut, find a larger version of the image (at least 300 by 300 pixels), and create the shortcut again with the bigger file.
If tapping the custom icon does not open the app, the shortcut may not have saved correctly. Delete it and recreate it, making sure you selected the correct app in the "Open App" step.
If you cannot find the Shortcuts app, it may be in a folder or on a different home screen page. Search for "Shortcuts" from your home screen by swiping down and typing. If it does not appear at all, go to the App Store, search for Shortcuts, and tap "Get" to reinstall it (it is free).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any image as a custom icon?
Yes, any image on your phone works — photos, screenshots, downloaded icons, or images you create. Square images look best, and larger images (300 by 300 pixels or bigger) stay sharp. Transparent PNG files work too if you want a more polished look.
Will custom icons work on my lock screen or in notifications?
No. Custom icons only appear on your home screen where you placed the shortcut. Your lock screen, notifications, the app switcher, and search results all still show the original app icon. This is a home screen change only.
What happens if I update iOS after changing icons?
Your custom icons stay in place. iOS updates do not remove shortcuts or change how they work. However, if Apple makes major changes to how Shortcuts works in a future iOS version, the method might change — but that has not happened in recent updates.
Can I share my custom icons with someone else?
You can share the image file, but the other person has to create their own shortcut and add it to their home screen. There is no way to send someone a finished custom icon shortcut that they can just drop onto their phone. They will need to follow the same steps you did.
Do custom icons slow down my phone?
No. A shortcut that opens an app uses almost no extra resources. Your phone runs exactly the same speed whether you use the original icon or a custom one.