Change app icons on iPhone it is possible since Apple released iOS 14. Well, rather, it introduced a function within the Shortcuts application that allows us to create a shortcut to applications using the image we want.
As expected, it was a matter of time before applications that took advantage of this function would arrive in the App Store to automate the process, a process that is long and laborious if we want to do it with a large number of applications.
If you have tired of always seeing the same icon in the Twitter application, a WhatsApp application, in Gmail, YouTube or any other application, follow the steps that I show you in this article You will learn how to change the app icons on your iPhone.
As I explained in the introduction, Apple does not allow us to replace the application icon as if we can do in android using themes.
It only allows us create a shortcut through the Shortcuts app and use any images we have stored in the Photos app in the Files app.
When creating the shortcut, on the home screen we will join the application with its corresponding icon and the shortcut that we have created with the icon that we have used. To avoid this problem, it is advisable move the original application to a directory.
If we delete the app, the shortcut we have created will stop working, since the application it refers to is not installed on the device.
Using the Shortcuts app is ideal for changing the icon of one, two or maybe three applications, not to change the icon of all applications, unless we have a lot of free time.
If you would like to completely change the aesthetics of your iPhone, the best thing you can do is use one of the different applications available in the App Store and which we also talk about in this article.
Change app icons on iPhone with Shortcuts app
Thanks to the application Shortcuts, which we have previously discussed in Applelizados, we can automate a series of processes on both the iPhone and HomeKit.
But, in addition, it also allows us create shortcuts to applications that we have installed on our device using the image that we want.
This application not installed natively on devices managed by iOS 14 onwards, but we can download it completely free of charge through the following link.
[appbox app store 1462947752]
For change app icons on iPhone using Shortcuts app, we must perform the following steps:
- We open the application and click on the + sign located at the top right of the application to create a new workflow.
- The first thing to do is write shortcut name what we are going to create In this case, it is WhatsApp.
- Next, click on Add action and type in the search box open app. Click on the first and only result that exactly matches the search terms.
- Next, we click on the word App located to the right of Open to select the application that we want to open with this shortcut. In this case, it is WhatsApp.
- Once we have selected the application that we want to open, click on the 4 horizontal bars located at the top right of the app (to the left of the x).
- Among the different options that are displayed, click on Add to home screen.
- In the next step, we click on the default shortcut image and select where the image we want to use is located.
- Once the selected image is shown as the keyboard shortcut icon to open the application, click on Add.
Change App Icons on iPhone with Photo Widget App: Simple
Photo Widget: Simple is the best free app available on the App Store to change app icons on iPhone.
Although the application includes a purchase within it, it is only Remove ads from the app.
It does not give access to more functions. The functions that the free version offers us are the same that we can find in the paid version.
Most of the apps available in the App Store to change app icons on iPhone require a subscription.
Photo Widget: Simple does not include any type of subscription and, in addition, it is regularly updated by adding new themes.
[appbox app store 1530149106]
How Photo Widget Works: Simple
Once we open the application, they will be shown all themes available in the app, themes made up of a series of icons that go hand in hand with a wallpaper and a series of widgets with the same design.
First, we must select on topic that we want to install and click on Save after an ad.
Then the app will allow us to customize:
- Wallpaper. By clicking on Save, the wallpaper that is displayed in the theme that we have selected will be stored in the Photos application. Once we have installed the set of icons, we must configure it as wallpaper.
- widget. Clicking on Save will save the displayed widget. In the Items section, we can create all the types of widgets we want to later add them to the theme that we are going to use.
- Icons. Here is the original icons displayed along with the icon that will be displayed once the theme is installed.
Once we have configured the theme to our liking, click on Install XX Icons (XX is the number of icons that will be installed on our device to replace the current ones).
In the next window, the application invites us to download a profile. This application, like all those that allow us to change the app icons on the iPhone, works through profiles.
When we create an icon set, the application create a profile that we must install on the device. If we delete that profile, all the shortcuts created with the app will be removed from the device.
To install the profile downloaded by the Photo Widget application: Simple we access Settings > Profile downloaded > Install > Install.
With the profile already installed, we can return to the home screen to see how the new icons look. If we like the result, we should use the image associated with the theme that we have stored in the Photos application as wallpaper.
In addition, we must move all application icons to a folder to avoid having two applications with the same name, but different icon.
How to delete a profile on iOS
If you don't like the result of the installed theme, we can remove it quickly by deleting the profile that we have installed by performing the following steps:
- We access Settings - General.
- Next, click on VPN and device management - upside down (name of the profile that the Photo Widget app creates: Simple).
- Finally, we click on Delete profile.