What you can actually change on iPhone app icons
iPhone does not let you change the color of built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, or Settings directly through the phone's settings. Apple locks those icons to their original appearance. What you can do instead is create custom shortcuts that point to those apps and display with any icon and color you choose, or use the Home Screen customization features in iOS 16 and later to explore color filters across your entire screen.
For third-party apps from the App Store, you have more control. Some apps let you change their appearance through their own settings menu — Spotify, for example, lets you pick accent colors. But most apps do not offer this feature at all. The workaround that works for almost any app is the same: create a shortcut with a custom icon.
Key Takeaways
- Built-in Apple apps cannot have their icon colors changed directly, but you can create custom shortcuts that open them with any color icon you want.
- The Shortcuts app (built into iOS) is the tool you use to create these custom icons — no third-party app needed.
- Some third-party apps include color or theme options in their own settings, so check the app's preferences before building a shortcut.
- Home Screen color filters in iOS 16 and later can tint all your icons at once, though this affects the entire screen appearance.
Creating a custom icon with the Shortcuts app
Open the Shortcuts app (it comes pre-installed on all iPhones). Tap the plus icon in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Tap "Add Action" and search for "Open App". Select the app you want to customize — for example, Mail.
Now tap the three dots at the top right of that action card. Select "Add icon" and choose "Choose Photo" or "Choose Color". If you pick a color, you can select any shade from the color wheel. If you pick a photo, you can use an emoji, a photo from your library, or a solid color. Once you have chosen, give the shortcut a name (like "Mail") and tap "Done".
The shortcut now appears on your Home Screen with your custom icon. Tapping it opens the app exactly as if you had tapped the original icon. You can delete the original Mail icon from your Home Screen if you want, leaving only your custom version.
Using built-in color filters for your whole screen
If you want all your app icons to have a tinted appearance without creating individual shortcuts, iOS 16 and later includes a Home Screen color filter. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size. Scroll down and tap "Color Filters". Toggle it on and choose a filter type — Grayscale, Red/Green, Blue/Yellow, or Monochrome.
This approach tints everything on your Home Screen, not just icons. Your wallpaper, widgets, and app names will all shift to match the filter. It is useful if you want a cohesive look, but it affects the entire visual appearance of your phone, not just the app colors themselves.
Apps with built-in color or theme settings
Before you build a shortcut, check whether the app itself offers color customization. Open the app and look for Settings, Preferences, or Appearance in its menu. Spotify lets you choose accent colors. Discord lets you pick between Light and Dark mode and adjust the accent color. Telegram includes a theme selector with multiple color schemes.
These built-in options are simpler than creating shortcuts because they persist across all instances of the app — if you switch between your Home Screen and App Library, the color stays the same. The downside is that not many apps include this feature, and you are limited to whatever colors the app developer chose to offer.
Why you cannot change colors on Apple's built-in apps directly
Apple designs its built-in apps with specific colors as part of their brand identity and system consistency. Mail is blue, Calendar is red, Reminders is red, Notes is yellow. These colors are hardcoded into the app and cannot be overridden through Settings or any standard iPhone feature.
This is different from Android phones, where you can often change app icon colors through the launcher or system settings. Apple prioritizes a consistent visual experience across the system, which means less customization at the cost of a unified look. The shortcut workaround exists because shortcuts are technically separate from the apps themselves — they are automation tools that happen to open apps, so they can have their own icons.
Organizing custom icons in folders and the App Library
Once you have created custom shortcuts, you can organize them like any other Home Screen icon. Drag them into folders, arrange them by color, or group them by function. You can also hide the original app icons by moving them to the App Library (swipe right past your last Home Screen) so only your custom versions appear on your main screens.
If you create shortcuts for multiple apps, consider naming them consistently — for example, "Mail", "Calendar", "Notes" — so they are straightforward to find if you search for them. The Shortcuts app itself keeps a record of all your shortcuts, so you can edit or delete them later if your preferences change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the color of the Mail app icon without using shortcuts?
No. Apple's built-in apps have fixed icon colors that cannot be changed through Settings or any standard feature. Creating a shortcut is the only way to display a different icon color while still opening the real Mail app.
Will a custom shortcut icon work the same as the real app?
Yes. A shortcut that opens an app behaves identically to tapping the app itself. It sends notifications the same way, syncs data the same way, and has access to the same features. The only difference is the icon appearance.
Do I need to read a separate app to create custom icons?
No. The Shortcuts app comes built into every iPhone. You do not need to read anything from the App Store to create custom icons.
Can I change icon colors on iPad the same way?
Yes. iPad has the Shortcuts app and the same customization features. The process is identical — create a shortcut, add a custom icon, and place it on your Home Screen.
What happens if I delete the original app after creating a shortcut for it?
The shortcut will no longer work. It needs the original app installed to function. If you want to keep using the custom icon, you must keep the original app on your phone.