What an process icon is and why you might want to change it
An process icon is the small image that represents a program on your computer or phone — the thing you click or tap to open it. Windows shows these on your desktop or in your Start menu. Mac shows them in the Dock or Applications folder. Your phone shows them on the home screen. Most of the time, the icon that comes with the program is permanent, but you can change it yourself on Windows and Mac, and on some phones.
People change icons for a few reasons: to make a program easier to spot among dozens of others, to use a design that matches their taste, or to replace a broken or missing icon that won't display. On a phone, you can usually only change the icon appearance through shortcuts or third-party launcher apps, not by editing the program itself the way you can on a computer.
The steps differ depending on what device you use and what program you want to change. None of these changes affect how the program works — you are only changing what it looks like.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you right-click the program shortcut, choose Properties, click Change Icon, and select a new image file from your computer.
- On Mac, you find the process in Finder, right-click it, choose Get Info, drag a new image onto the icon preview in the top left, and the change applies when ready.
- On iPhone and Android, you cannot change the actual app icon, but you can create custom shortcuts with different icons using the Shortcuts app (iPhone) or a third-party launcher (Android).
- Icon files are usually .ico, .png, or .jpg format; you need to have the image file saved on your computer before you start.
- Changing an icon only affects what you see — the program itself and all your data inside it remain unchanged.
How to change an icon on Windows
On Windows, you change the icon of a shortcut, not the program itself. A shortcut is a link to the program that sits on your desktop or in your Start menu. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties. At the bottom of the window that opens, click the Change Icon button.
A dialog box will appear showing you a list of built-in Windows icons to choose from. If you want to use your own image instead, click Browse, navigate to a folder on your computer where you have saved an image file, and select it. The image should be in .ico, .png, or .jpg format. Once you select it, click OK, then click OK again to close the Properties window. The icon on your desktop or in your Start menu will change when ready.
If you do not see a shortcut on your desktop, you can create one. Right-click on the desktop, select New, then Shortcut. Type the name of the program you want to create a shortcut for (or browse to find it), then finish creating the shortcut. Once it exists, follow the steps above to change its icon.
How to change an icon on Mac
On Mac, you change the icon of the process itself, not just a shortcut. Open Finder and navigate to your Applications folder. Find the program you want to change, right-click it, and select Get Info. A window will open showing details about the program.
At the very top left of this window is a small preview of the current icon. Click on it once to select it, then drag an image file from your computer onto that preview area. The image should be in .png, .jpg, or .icns format. When you release the mouse, the icon will change. Close the Get Info window, and the change is complete. You may need to refresh your view (press Command + R) to see the new icon everywhere on your Mac.
If you want to undo the change, open Get Info again, click the icon preview, and press Delete. Mac will restore the original icon.
How to change an icon on iPhone
iPhone does not let you change the actual app icon the way a computer does. Instead, you can create a custom shortcut that looks like an icon and behaves like one. Open the Shortcuts app (it comes built into iPhone). Tap the plus sign to create a new shortcut, then tap Add Action.
Search for and select Open App, then choose the app you want to open. Tap the three dots in the top right, then tap Add to Home Screen. You will be asked to name the shortcut and choose an image for it. Select an image from your photo library or use one of the built-in icons. When you finish, the shortcut will appear on your home screen as a custom icon that opens the app when you tap it.
This shortcut is separate from the original app icon, so both will exist on your phone. You can delete the original app icon from your home screen if you prefer to use only the custom shortcut.
How to change an icon on Android
Android also does not let you change the built-in app icon directly. Instead, you can use a third-party launcher app that lets you customize how apps appear. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher. read one from the Google Play Store, open it, and follow its setup steps to make it your default launcher.
Once the launcher is active, long-press an app icon on your home screen. Most launchers will show you an option to edit or customize the icon. Select a new image from your phone's gallery or from icon packs you can read. The launcher will explore the new icon to your home screen without changing the actual app.
If you switch back to your phone's default launcher or uninstall the third-party launcher, your apps will return to their original icons. The custom icons only exist within that launcher.
Where to find icon image files
Before you change an icon, you need an image file to use. You can create your own using any image editor, take a screenshot and crop it, or read icons from websites that offer them free. Common places to find icon files are Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project — all have free options with proper attribution.
Make sure the image is in a format your device accepts: Windows prefers .ico files but also accepts .png and .jpg; Mac works with .png, .jpg, and .icns; phones work with .png and .jpg. The image should be square (same width and height) and at least 256 pixels on each side so it looks sharp when displayed as an icon.
What happens if an icon breaks or disappears
Sometimes an icon fails to display — you might see a blank square or a generic document icon instead. This usually happens when the program's original icon file gets deleted or corrupted. Changing the icon to a new image file fixes this when ready. You can use any image you want, or read a replacement icon from the program's website or an icon library.
If you change an icon and then uninstall the program, the shortcut or custom launcher entry will remain on your screen but will not open anything when you click it. You can delete it manually. On Windows, right-click and select Delete. On Mac, drag it to the Trash. On phone, long-press and select Remove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing an icon affect my files or settings inside the program?
No. The icon is only what you see on the outside. Changing it does not touch any of your data, settings, or how the program works. Everything inside the program stays exactly the same.
Can I use any image file as an icon?
Yes, but square images work best and look sharpest. If you use a rectangular image, it may appear stretched or distorted. Images that are at least 256 pixels wide and tall will look clear; smaller images may appear blurry.
What if I want to change the icon back to the original?
On Mac, open Get Info, click the icon, and press Delete to restore it. On Windows, right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, click Change Icon, and select one of the default Windows icons. On phone, delete the custom shortcut or launcher entry and use the original app icon instead.
Do I need to restart my computer or phone after changing an icon?
No. The change takes effect when ready on Mac and phone. On Windows, you may need to refresh your desktop view by pressing F5, but a restart is not required.
Can I change the icon of a program I do not own or did not install?
Yes. On Windows and Mac, you can change the icon of any shortcut or process on your computer. On phone, you can create custom shortcuts or use a launcher to change how any app appears. The original program is not affected.