You can customize how app icons look on an iPhone in two different ways. Current iOS versions provide built-in Home Screen appearance controls for supported icon styles, while the Shortcuts app can create a Home Screen shortcut with almost any image you choose.
Use the Built-In Home Screen Icon Styles
- Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen until editing controls appear.
- Open the Home Screen customization controls.
- Choose an available icon appearance, such as light, dark, tinted, or another style offered by your iOS version.
- Adjust the available appearance options and exit customization when finished.
These controls change the appearance of supported app icons without replacing the apps themselves.
Use a Custom Image as an App Icon with Shortcuts
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- Create a new shortcut.
- Add the Open App action.
- Select the app you want the shortcut to open.
- Open the shortcut’s sharing or details controls and choose Add to Home Screen.
- Select the Home Screen icon and choose the photo or image you want to use.
- Enter the label you want and add the shortcut to the Home Screen.
This method creates a shortcut that launches the app; it does not replace the app’s original icon everywhere in iOS. The original app can remain in the App Library or elsewhere on the Home Screen.
Which Method Should You Use?
Use Apple’s Home Screen customization when you want a consistent built-in appearance. Use Shortcuts when you want an arbitrary image for a particular Home Screen launcher. Because Shortcuts creates a separate launcher, behavior can differ slightly from tapping the original app icon.
Summary
For supported built-in styles, customize the Home Screen appearance directly. For a completely custom picture, create an Open App shortcut and add it to the Home Screen with your chosen image.