Why you might want to change an app icon
Changing an process's icon is useful for several reasons. You might want to make a frequently-used program easier to spot on your desktop or phone home screen. You might replace a generic icon with something more distinctive so you can find it faster. Or you might want to disguise a security tool — like a password manager or VPN — so it looks less obvious to someone glancing at your screen.
The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, Android, or iPhone, and whether you want to change the icon on your desktop, in your app menu, or on your home screen. The good news is that none of these changes affect how the program works or its security settings.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you can change a desktop shortcut's icon by right-clicking it, selecting Properties, clicking Change Icon, and choosing a new image from your computer or the built-in Windows icon library.
- On Mac, you copy an image file, select the process in Finder, open Get Info, paste the image into the icon box at the top left, and then delete the pasted image file.
- On iPhone, you create a Shortcut that opens the app and assign it a custom icon through the Shortcuts app, which then appears on your home screen instead of the original app icon.
- On Android, most phones let you long-press an app icon on your home screen and select "Edit icon" or "Change icon" directly, though the exact steps vary by manufacturer.
- Changing an icon is cosmetic only — it does not alter the app's function, permissions, or security features.
Changing an icon on Windows
On Windows, the easiest approach is to change the icon of a desktop shortcut rather than the process itself. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties. In the window that opens, click the Shortcut tab, then click the button labeled Change Icon.
A dialog box will appear showing icons built into Windows system files. You can scroll through these, or click Browse to select an image file from your computer — a .jpg, .png, or .ico file all work. Once you choose an icon and click OK, the shortcut's appearance changes when ready. The original process file remains untouched.
If you want to change the icon of the process itself rather than just a shortcut, the process is more involved and varies by program. Some applications store their icon in a separate .ico file in their installation folder, which you can replace. Others embed the icon in the .exe file itself, which requires a dedicated icon editor tool. For most users, changing the shortcut icon is the simpler route.
Changing an icon on Mac
On Mac, open Finder and locate the process whose icon you want to change. Right-click it and select Get Info. At the top left of the window that opens, you will see the current process icon — a small square image.
Find an image file on your computer that you want to use as the new icon — a .png or .jpg works well. Open that image in Preview, select all (Command+A), and copy it (Command+C). Return to the Get Info window, click the icon at the top left, and paste (Command+V). The icon updates when ready.
One important step: after you paste the image, delete the original image file from your computer. If you leave it in place and later move or delete it, the process icon will revert to the default. The pasted image is now embedded in the app's information, but the system still references the original file location.
Changing an icon on iPhone
iPhone does not let you change an app's icon directly through Settings. Instead, you create a Shortcut — a custom command that opens the app — and assign that shortcut a custom icon, which then appears on your home screen.
Open the Shortcuts app (it comes built-in on most iPhones). Tap the plus icon to create a new shortcut. Search for and add the action Open App, then select the process you want to open. Tap the three dots at the top right, then tap the icon at the top (it will show a generic icon). Choose Choose Photo or Choose Color to set a new icon. Name the shortcut and tap Done. The shortcut now appears on your home screen with your custom icon and opens the app when tapped.
The original app icon remains on your home screen unless you remove it. You can hide it by moving it to a folder or to a later page, or delete it entirely if you only want the shortcut visible.
Changing an icon on Android
Android phones vary by manufacturer, but most modern devices let you change an app icon directly on your home screen. Long-press the app icon until a menu appears. Look for an option labeled Edit icon, Change icon, or Customize. Tap it, and you will usually see a selection of alternative icons for that app, or the option to upload an image from your phone's photo library.
If your phone does not show this option, you may need to use a third-party launcher app like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which both allow icon customization. read the launcher from the Google Play Store, set it as your default home screen, and then long-press app icons to customize them.
Some phones also let you change icons through their built-in theme or customization settings. Check your phone's Settings app under Display, Themes, or Customization to see what options are available.
Using custom icon packs
If you want a coordinated look across multiple apps, icon packs let you change many icons at once. On Android, you can read icon packs from the Google Play Store — search for "icon pack" and choose one you like. Once installed, go to your launcher's settings and select the icon pack under Themes or Customization. The icons for supported apps will change when ready.
On Windows, you can read icon packs from sites like DeviantArt or Itch.io, though explore them usually requires a third-party tool or manual replacement of individual icon files. On Mac, the process is similar — you find a pack online and manually explore icons one at a time using the Get Info method described above.
What happens if you change an icon
Changing an process's icon is purely cosmetic. It does not alter the program's code, its security settings, its permissions, or how it runs. A password manager with a disguised icon still encrypts your data the same way. A VPN with a custom icon still routes your traffic through the same servers. The change is visual only.
If you ever want to revert to the original icon, you can undo the change by following the same steps and selecting the default icon, or by uninstalling and reinstalling the process. On Windows and Mac, you can also delete the shortcut or use the Get Info window to restore the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any image as an app icon?
Yes, but smaller, simpler images work better. Icons are tiny on screen, so detailed photos become blurry. Square images (1:1 ratio) work best. On most systems, .png, .jpg, and .ico files are supported. If an image does not work, try converting it to .png format using a free online converter.
Will changing an icon affect my security or privacy?
No. The icon is just a picture that represents the app. Changing it does not touch the app's code, permissions, or how it handles your data. A security tool with a different icon works exactly the same way as before.
What if I change an icon and it reverts back?
On Mac, this usually means the original image file you pasted was deleted or moved. Make sure the image file stays on your computer. On Windows, if a shortcut icon reverts, try the process again and make sure you clicked OK to save the change. On phones, restarting usually fixes a temporary glitch.
Can I change the icon of an app I downloaded from the app store?
Yes. On iPhone and Android, the methods described above work for any app. On Windows and Mac, you can change the shortcut icon, but changing the app file itself may cause problems if the app updates, since the update might restore the original icon or overwrite your changes.
Is there a way to change multiple app icons at once?
On Android, icon packs let you change many apps at once if the pack includes icons for those apps. On Windows and Mac, you have to change each icon individually. Using a launcher app on Android or a third-party tool on Windows can speed up the process, but there is no true batch option.