You can change app icons on Android using a launcher app or your phone's built-in settings

Android lets you swap out the default icons that come with your apps. The method depends on your phone's manufacturer and Android version. Most phones use a launcher — the app that manages your home screen — and changing icons happens there. Some phones like Samsung and Google Pixel also have icon-changing options built directly into settings. You do not need to root your phone or install anything risky.

The easiest route for most people is using a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which give you full control over how every icon looks. If you want to avoid adding another app, check whether your phone's built-in launcher has the feature first — it often does, buried in a menu you have not seen yet.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Android phones let you change app icons through the launcher settings or by long-pressing an app and selecting edit or customize.
  • Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher and Microsoft Launcher offer the most icon options and work on any Android phone.
  • Icon packs from the Google Play Store provide themed sets of icons that work with most launchers.
  • Changing an icon does not affect how the app works — it only changes what you see on your home screen.

Changing icons through your phone's built-in launcher

Samsung phones have icon-changing built into One UI. Long-press the app you want to change, tap the three dots or "App info" button, then look for "Change icon" or "Customize icon." If you see it, tap it and choose from the available icons for that app. Not every app offers multiple icons, so you may only see one or two choices.

Google Pixel phones running Android 13 or later have a similar feature. Long-press the app, tap "Edit" at the top, then tap the icon itself. A menu will show you alternative icons if the app provides them. This only works if the app developer included multiple icon options when they built the app.

On other Android phones, check your launcher's settings. Swipe to an empty area of your home screen and hold it, then look for "Settings" or a gear icon. Some launchers let you long-press an app directly and tap "Edit icon" from there. If your phone's launcher does not have this feature, you will need to use a third-party launcher instead.

Using a third-party launcher to change any app icon

Nova Launcher and Microsoft Launcher both let you change any app icon to anything you want. read one from the Google Play Store, open it, and set it as your default launcher. Your phone will ask you to confirm — tap "Set as default" or "Use this app."

Once the launcher is active, long-press any app on your home screen and tap "Edit" or the pencil icon. Tap the app icon itself, and you will see a menu with options: use an icon from an icon pack you have installed, pick an image from your phone's gallery, or choose from the launcher's built-in icons. Select what you want and tap confirm.

Icon packs are theme sets you read from the Play Store — they contain hundreds of matching icons designed to work together. Search "icon pack" in the Play Store and install one you like. Once installed, it will show up as an option when you edit an app icon. Popular packs include Linebit, Oxy, and Whicons, though new ones appear constantly.

Switching back to your phone's original launcher

If you install a third-party launcher and later want to go back, go to Settings, then Apps or process Manager. Find your phone's original launcher — it is usually called "Pixel Launcher" on Google phones, "One UI Home" on Samsung, or something similar for your manufacturer. Tap it, then tap "Set as default" or "Default apps."

Your home screen will revert to how it looked before, and any icon changes you made will disappear. The third-party launcher will still be installed on your phone, but it will not be active. You can uninstall it if you want, or leave it in case you want to switch back later.

Creating a custom icon from a photo or image

Most third-party launchers let you use any image as an app icon. Long-press the app, tap "Edit," then tap the icon. Look for an option that says "Gallery," "Image," or "Pick from photos." Select a photo or image file from your phone, and the launcher will crop it to fit the icon shape.

You can use photos of people, screenshots, or any image file stored on your phone. Keep in mind that small details will be hard to see at icon size, so straightforward images with bold colors work better than complex ones. If you want to create custom icons from scratch, you can use a photo editor like Snapseed or Photoshop Express to make an image, save it to your phone, and then use it as an icon.

Icon packs and where to find them

Icon packs are collections of themed icons designed to replace your app icons all at once. They live in the Google Play Store and cost anywhere from free to a few dollars. Free packs are common and often just as good as paid ones. Search "icon pack" and sort by rating to find popular ones.

Once you install an icon pack, it does not automatically change your icons. You still have to go through each app and select the icon from that pack. Some launchers have a feature to explore an entire icon pack at once, but most require you to pick icons individually. This takes longer but gives you full control over which apps get which icons.

Troubleshooting when icon changes do not work

If you long-press an app and do not see an edit or customize option, your launcher does not support icon changing. Install a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher instead.

If you set a third-party launcher as default but your home screen still looks the same, restart your phone. Sometimes the change does not take effect until you reboot. If it still does not work, go to Settings, Apps, and make sure the third-party launcher is set as the default launcher under "Default apps."

If an icon pack you installed does not show up when you try to edit an app icon, the pack may not be compatible with your launcher. Try a different icon pack, or switch to a launcher that the pack supports. Most popular packs work with Nova Launcher, so that is a safe choice if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing an app icon break the app or make it stop working?

No. Changing an icon only changes what you see on your home screen. The app itself runs exactly the same way. You can change the icon back anytime by editing it again.

Can I use any image as an app icon?

Yes, if you use a third-party launcher. Most launchers let you pick any image from your phone's gallery. Keep images straightforward with bold colors, since icons are small and details will be hard to see.

Do I have to use a third-party launcher to change icons?

Not always. Samsung and Google Pixel phones have built-in icon-changing features. Other manufacturers may too — check your launcher settings first. If your phone does not have it, a third-party launcher is the easiest way.

What happens to my custom icons if I switch launchers?

They disappear. Each launcher stores its own icon settings. If you switch back to your original launcher, your icons revert to default. If you switch to a different third-party launcher, you will have to set up your icons again in that one.

Are icon packs safe to read?

Icon packs from the Google Play Store are safe. They are just image files — they cannot access your data or harm your phone. Stick to packs with good ratings and reviews from a large number of users.