How to Change App Icons: iPhone, Android, Windows Guide (2025)

Anyone who’s spent more than five minutes staring at their home screen knows the urge to make it feel personal, whether you’re tired of the same round icons on your iPhone or just want your Windows desktop to stop looking like a corporate handout. This guide walks you through the methods for each major platform and tackles the legal gray areas that many how-tos skip, so you’ll know exactly how to make your screen yours without running into trademark trouble.

iOS customization launch year: 2020 ·
Android icon packs available on Google Play: 10,000+ ·
Windows native icon change limitation: shortcuts only

How do I change an icon on my iPhone?

Apple didn’t let you swap app icons until iOS 14 landed in 2020. Even now, the only built-in method involves the Shortcuts app — a workaround, not a native icon editor.

Using the Shortcuts app

1. Open Shortcuts, tap the + to create a new shortcut.
2. Choose Add Action, search for “Open App”, and select the app you want.
3. Tap the menu icon (three dots), select Add to Home Screen.
4. Tap the icon preview, choose Choose Photo or Choose File, pick your custom image, name the shortcut, and tap Add.

The catch: each custom icon is a new home screen shortcut, not a replacement of the original. The original app icon stays put. And because this is a shortcut wrapper, badge notifications (like unread counts) won’t show up on the custom icon.

Using third-party apps

Apps like “Icon Themer” or “Color Widgets” can streamline the process by generating shortcuts in bulk. But they still rely on the same Shortcuts engine — no deeper access. Apple restricts direct icon modification without jailbreaking.

Reverting to default icons

To go back, delete the custom shortcut from the Home Screen. The original app remains unaffected. No harm done.

How do I change app icons on Android?

Android has always been the wild west of customization. Unlike iOS, you can directly replace icons using third-party launchers — no shortcuts, no workarounds.

Using a custom launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher)

1. Install Nova Launcher (or another launcher) from Google Play.
2. Set it as your default home app when prompted.
3. Long-press an app icon on the home screen, select Edit, then tap the icon. Choose from icon packs or pick a custom image.

Launchers overlay a new interface on top of the stock launcher. They change how icons appear on the home screen and in the app drawer, but the original app icon in the system settings remains untouched — until you apply an icon pack that the launcher supports.

Using icon packs

Google Play hosts over 10,000 icon packs — from flat minimal designs to neon gradients. Most packs work with popular launchers like Nova, Lawnchair, or Action Launcher. Once installed, apply the pack through the launcher’s settings (Microsoft Learn (official developer documentation)).

Using Samsung Good Lock

Samsung Galaxy owners have an extra tool: Good Lock (from Galaxy Store) includes “Theme Park” and “Wonderland” modules that let you create custom icon sets without a third-party launcher. These changes apply system-wide, including the notification shade and recent apps — something third-party launchers can’t do on stock Android.

The implication: Android’s flexibility means you can change almost any icon, but you’re trusting a launcher with your home screen experience. If you delete the launcher, your icons revert to stock.

How do I change app icons on Windows 11?

Windows 11 is more restrictive than Android but less locked-down than iOS. You can change desktop shortcut icons easily, but system icons (like the Start button or File Explorer) require registry edits or third-party tools.

Using File Explorer to change desktop shortcuts

1. Right-click the shortcut on your desktop (or in a folder) and select Properties.
2. Go to the Shortcut tab, click Change Icon.
3. Browse to an .ico file (256×256 max) and click Apply (YouTube tutorial (community guide)).

You can also press Alt+Enter to open Properties for any selected shortcut. Need an ICO file? Convert a PNG using any free online converter — drag-and-drop works fine.

Using third-party software (e.g., IconPackager)

Tools like IconPackager can change system icons across the OS — including folders, drives, and some Start menu tiles. However, they require administrative privileges and may not survive a major Windows update.

Changing system icons (Recycle Bin, This PC)

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Themes.
2. Click Desktop icon settings.
3. Select an icon (e.g., Recycle Bin) and click Change Icon.

The pattern: Windows lets you personalize shortcuts and a handful of system icons, but it won’t let you touch app icons in the Start menu or taskbar without third-party intervention. That’s a deliberate security boundary — and a good one.

How do I change app icons using Shortcuts?

The Shortcuts method is the backbone of iOS customization. Here’s the detailed workflow that works on both iPhone and iPad.

Creating a new shortcut

1. Launch the Shortcuts app and tap the + button.
2. Tap Add Action, search for “Open App”, select the target app.
3. Tap the blue info button (or the “…” menu) to rename the shortcut and give it a custom icon.

Choosing an icon and name

• Tap the current icon (a gray placeholder) and select either Take Photo, Choose Photo, or Choose File.
• Crop or adjust the image as needed — it will be scaled to a rounded square.
• Name the shortcut whatever you want (that name appears below the icon on your home screen).

Adding to home screen

• Tap the share button (the box with an up arrow) at the top right.
• Scroll down and choose Add to Home Screen.
• Confirm the name and icon, then tap Add.

Why this matters: the Shortcuts approach works on iPad too, but it’s still a shortcut wrapper. The original app remains elsewhere on your device.

Is changing icons legal?

This is the question most guides dodge. The short answer for personal use: yes, it’s generally legal. But there are nuances around trademark and copyright that you should know before building a business around icon packs.

Trademark implications

Apple, Google, Microsoft, and individual app developers hold trademarks on their app icons. If you repackage those icons in a commercial pack (for sale on a theme store), you risk trademark infringement. That’s why most icon packs on Google Play feature original designs, not replicas of official logos.

Fair use and personal customization

Changing an icon on your own device — whether by renaming a shortcut or applying a launcher — does not violate any license agreement. Apple’s EULA doesn’t forbid custom shortcuts, and Android’s open model explicitly allows it. Windows 11’s TOS similarly permits desktop customization.

Commercial use risks

If you create and sell icon packs that include trademarked logos (like the Nike swoosh or the Twitter bird), you’re on thin ice. Even if the pack is free, distributing copyrighted material without permission is infringement. Stick to original designs or use icons under a Creative Commons license.

“Changing app icons on iPhone, Android, and Windows 11 using built-in methods or free converters is fully legal and does not violate EULA.”

— Laptop Mag (tech publication)

“No platform (iPhone, Android, Windows 11) allows direct modification of installed app’s executable icon without developer tools or rooting/jailbreaking.”

— Microsoft Learn (official developer documentation)

Three platforms, three different levels of freedom — here’s how they line up for the most common user needs.

What we know — and what’s still fuzzy

Customizing app icons is one of the easiest ways to make a device feel yours — and across iPhone, Android, and Windows 11, the methods are straightforward once you know the limits. For an iPhone user, the trade-off is losing badge notifications in exchange for a prettier home screen. For an Android owner, the risk is trusting a third-party launcher. For a Windows user, the limitation is that only shortcuts change, not system icons. For anyone thinking of selling icon packs, the clear warning is: avoid trademarked logos, or face legal consequences. The decision for you comes down to which trade-off you’re willing to live with.

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