This wikiHow teaches you how to change the app icons that appear on your iPhone. With iOS 14, you can now use the Shortcut app to change app icons. If you are using an older version of iOS, you will need to download a separate paid app. You can also use a jailbroken device to change icons. However, the jailbreak procedure on the device will void the applicable warranty.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Shortcuts (iOS 14)
Step 1. Open Shortcuts
The app is marked with a pink and blue square icon that is stacked on top of each other. Touch the icon to open it. Shortcuts is a free app that comes pre-installed on iPhone and iPad through the latest iOS 14 update.
If you've deleted Shortcuts, you can download them again from the App Store
Step 2. Touch +
It's a plus sign (“+”) icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. The “New Shortcuts” menu will open.
On the iPad, the “New Shortcuts” menu is already open in the right pane of the screen
Step 3. Touch Add Action
With this option, you can create new actions on iPhone.
On the iPad, this menu is already displayed in the right pane of the screen
Step 4. Touch Scripting
It's next to the "X" button, at the far right of the screen. With this option, you can choose actions that are pre-programmed by default for iPhone.
Step 5. Touch Open App
This option is the first option at the top of the “Scripting” menu. You can see it next to the nine colored square icon.
Step 6. Touch Choose next to "Open"
It's at the top of the menu, under the " Apps " section. A list of applications that you can choose from will be displayed.
Step 7. Select the app for which you want to assign a new icon
You can select an application in the list or use the search bar at the top of the screen to search for the desired application.
Step 8. Touch Next
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The “Details” menu will load afterwards.
On iPad, touch “ New Shortcuts ” at the top center of the screen.
Step 9. Enter the name of the shortcut and touch Done
You can name it after the application you want to open, or change the name to a different label. Touch Done ” in the upper-right corner of the screen when you're done typing your name.
Step 10. Touch … on the action name field
It's the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the column with the name or label assigned to the action. You can see it on the Shortcuts home screen. The “Scripting” page will be opened after that.
Step 11. Touch … next to the app name
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The “Details” page will load.
Step 12. Touch Add to Home Screen
This option is below the app name on the “Details” page.
Step 13. Touch the icon next to the app name
It's in the "Home Screen Name and Icon" section. A pop-up menu will load afterwards.
Step 14. Touch Choose Photo
The iPhone or iPad photo library opens.
Step 15. Select the photo you want to use as an icon and tap Choose
Touch a photo to select it, then select “ Choose ” in the lower right corner of the screen to use it.
On the iPad, select “ Use ” in the top right corner of the photo.
Step 16. Touch Add
It's in the top-right corner of the menu. Apps with new icons will be added to the device's home screen afterwards.
To remove the original app icon from the home screen, you can move it to a separate folder. Touch and drag an application icon to another application icon if you want to group it, or to another folder that is already available as an alternative
Method 2 of 3: Using Iconical
Step 1. Purchase the Iconical app from the App Store
If you're using an older model iPhone that can't be updated to the latest version of iOS 14, you can still change the app icon using an app called "Iconical". This application is available on the App Store at a price of 2.99 US dollars (about 45 thousand rupiah). Follow these steps to download Iconical from the App Store:
- Open the App Store.
- Touch " Search ”.
- Type "Iconical" into the search bar.
- Touch the price tag next to the app.
- Enter your Apple ID password, or scan Face ID or Touch ID to verify your purchase.
Step 2. Open Iconical
The icon is gray and looks like blue lines crossing each other. Touch the icon on the home screen to open the application.
Step 3. Select Select App
This option is displayed at the top of the screen. Iconical will scan all the apps installed on your iPhone and load a complete list of compatible apps. Wait for a few minutes until the scanning process is complete.
Step 4. Select the app for which you want to replace the icon
A menu with several application icon change options will be displayed after that.
Step 5. Select the icon creation option
There are four options that can be used to create a new icon. The icon creation options are:
- Camera icon – Take a photo of the object or upload an image from the device gallery.
- pencil icon – Add own image to app icon.
- Resize icon – This icon is in the lower-right side of the application icon area. You can use it to crop or enlarge the appearance of the icon.
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Image URL:
- If you have or know of an image from the internet that you want to use, copy and paste the URL of the image in the bar at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Choose the most suitable option for your desired icon
If you choose the pencil icon, use the drawing tools to create your own icon. If you touch the camera icon, you can select “ Take Photo ” and use the camera to take a photo, or “ Select from album ” to touch the image you want to use as an icon.
Step 7. Select Save
This option is displayed on the top right side of the screen. The image will be saved as an application icon.
Step 8. Type in the name of the icon
Enter a name in the column provided. It is recommended that you use the app's original name for the icon to avoid confusion.
Step 9. Select Create Home Screen Icon
This option is displayed under the "Enter Title" column.
Step 10. Touch "Share" button
This up-pointing arrow button appears at the bottom of the screen. The “Share” menu will load afterwards.
Step 11. Touch Add to Homes Screen
It's below the square icon with a plus sign (“+”) in the center.
Step 12. Type in the name of the app
You can use the same name as the app name, or change it to any other name you want. Type in a name that will appear on the home screen in the bar at the top of the screen.
Step 13. Select Add
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The application with its new icon will be added to the home screen.
Method 3 of 3: Using a Jailbroken iPhone
Step 1. Make sure you have a jailbroken device
If you're using a jailbroken device, you can take advantage of tools from Cydia to change app icons, system, and the like.
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Warning:
This method requires you to jailbreak the iPhone first, and the procedure will void the device's warranty. In addition, the jailbreak procedure is not always possible on all versions of iOS.
Step 2. Download the required tools from Cydia
You can only use Cydia on jailbroken devices. If the device you are currently using is not jailbroken, try one of the other methods in this article. Download the following tools from Cydia. You can find them all from the main repository:
- iFile
- IconMaker
- Terminal
Step 3. Copy the image you want to use as an icon to your iPhone
You can copy images to your device by sending them to your own email address or via iFile. You can also take photos with your device's camera.
- You can download replacement icons from various websites (eg DeviantArt), or create your own.
- You can choose any image you like. IconMaker will convert the selected image to the proper size.
Step 4. Open IconMaker
The app is marked by a blue icon with the Apple logo, a ruler, and a piece of paper. Touch the icon on the home screen to open IconMaker.
Step 5. Load the image file
The application will convert the selected file into the appropriate size and format. Tap the camera icon in the top right corner of the screen. After that, select the image you have in your device gallery or camera roll. If the image is stored in another directory on the device, use iFile to search for it and select "IconMaker" once the image is opened.
Step 6. Enable the "Open in iFile" and "Save to-p.webp" />
" Both of these settings are needed in order for you to create a working icon file. Touch the switch next to both options on the main page.
Step 7. Select Generate Icon to create an icon file
Five icon files will be created after that.
Step 8. Select Edit
It's in the upper-right corner of the app window.
Step 9. Select and copy the five icon files
Touch the radio button next to the five icon files. After that, select the clipboard icon in the lower right corner of the screen. The icon file you just created will be copied to your device's clipboard.
Step 10. Open the application folder for which you need to change the icon on iFile
The directory location may differ depending on whether the app was downloaded from the App Store, stock app, or an app from Cydia. Access one of the following directories via iFile and select the application for which you need to change the icon:
- Default apps/Cydia - /var/stash/Applications. XXXXXX
- Apps from the App Store - /var/mobile/Applications
Step 11. Delete the existing icon files
You may see some icon files in the directory. You can rename or delete all icon files permanently. However, sometimes icon files are named after the application name, rather than the " icon " label in the name:
- icon.png
- [email protected]
- icon~ipad.png
- icon@2x~ipad.png
- iconClassic.png
Step 12. Paste the icon files that you previously copied into the folder
Choose " Edit ” in the upper right corner of the screen. Touch the clipboard icon and select “ Paste " The new icon files that have been copied will be pasted into the folder. Plus, the files already have proper names thanks to IconMaker.
Step 13. Open Terminal
With Terminal, you can reset the user interface so you don't have to restart your phone to see the changes.
Step 14. Type UICache into Terminal and press Enter
A few moments later, the phone interface will reload and you can see the new icons.
