This article shows you how to change the app icons displayed on your iPhone. To do this, you need to download a special program from the Apple App Store. Alternatively, you can also jailbreak the iPhone, but in this case you will void the warranty of the device.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using the Iconical App
Step 1. Launch the Iconical app
It is characterized by a gray icon with blue crossed lines visible inside. If you haven't installed it on your device yet, you'll need to download it from the App Store first. It costs € 3.50.
Step 2. Tap the Select Application link
It is located at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Select the app whose icon you want to change
A new screen will appear where you will have several options:
- Camera icon - allows you to take a photograph of the subject you want to use as an icon or to use one of the images in the iPhone multimedia gallery;
- Pencil icon - you will have the possibility to create a custom icon for the app in question;
- Resize icon - is located in the lower right part of the pane where the current app icon is visible. Using this option you will have the possibility to crop or enlarge a portion or detail of the current icon.
- If you wish, you can also use the URL of an image on the web by entering it in the text field at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Select the tool that best suits your needs
If you have chosen to use the URL of an image taken from the web, paste it into the text field located below the "Select application" link at the top of the screen.
Some of the options listed require you to perform additional steps. For example, if you have chosen to use an image stored in the iPhone, you will have to select it from the media gallery of the device and press the button Save located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Tap the "Enter a Name" field
It is placed under the icon of the app you have chosen to use.
Step 6. Type the name you want to assign to the new icon using the text field indicated
To avoid confusion, consider keeping the icon's current name.
Step 7. Press the Create Home Screen Icon button
It is located at the bottom of the "Enter a Name" text field.
Step 8. Tap the "Share" button
It has an arrow pointing up and is located at the bottom of the screen.
Step 9. Select the new icon
It will appear in a pop-up window at the bottom of the screen.
Step 10. Press the Save button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The new app icon will be stored on one of the device's Home pages. When you select the new app icon, the Safari window will appear briefly before the program interface appears.
The procedure described does not change the original app icon, but creates a new one using the image chosen as the icon. If you wish, you can create a folder in which to hide the original app icon
Method 2 of 3: Using the App Icon Free Application
Step 1. Launch the App Icon Free application
It features a yellow smiley icon. If you haven't installed it on your device yet, you'll need to download it from the App Store first.
The App Icon Free application can handle far fewer apps than the Iconical program
Step 2. Press the Later button when needed
You will be asked if you want to buy the full version of the application which costs 5 €. Push the button Later to close the page that appeared and be able to use the app.
Step 3. Tap Create Icon
It is located in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 4. Press the App Icon button
It is located at the top of the pop-up that appeared at the bottom of the screen. The list of apps to which you can change the icon will be displayed.
Step 5. Select one of the apps whose icon you want to change
Remember: the application you choose must necessarily be installed on the device.
Step 6. Customize the app icon of your choice
You can use the tools listed at the bottom of the screen to change different aspects of the icon:
- Skin - allows you to apply a color to the background of the icon;
- Frame - create a colored border around the icon;
- Decor - allows you to place one of the program's predefined icons in the center of the area reserved for the new icon you are creating;
- Photo - allows you to upload an existing photo (select the item Library) or take a new one (tap the option Room);
- By choosing to take a new photo or to select one of the images on the iPhone you will have to authorize the App Icon Free application to have access to the camera and gallery of the device, then press the button Allow when required.
Step 7. Press the Create Icon button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The newly created icon will be saved and will be visible on the main screen of the App Icon Free program.
Step 8. Tap Install Icon
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 9. Press the Install button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 10. Press the Allow button when prompted
By doing this, you will authorize the App Icon program to change the configuration settings of the iPhone's Settings app.
Step 11. Complete the installation of the new app icon
You will need to press the button Install three more times before the icon installation process is complete (it will appear twice in the upper right corner of the screen and once in the lower part). At the end of this step, the new icon of the selected app will be created within one of the iPhone Home page. When you select the new app icon, the Safari window will appear briefly before the program interface appears.
The procedure described does not change the original app icon but creates a new one. If you wish, you can hide the original app icon inside a folder
Method 3 of 3: Using a Modified iPhone
Attention:
the procedure described in this section is to use a jailbroken iPhone, which voids the warranty of the device. It should be noted that jailbreak is a procedure that cannot be performed on all available versions of the iOS operating system.
Step 1. Make sure you have a modified iPhone
If you have jailbroken your iOS device you will be able to use the tools made available through Cydia to change the icon of any app on the device, including the system ones.
Step 2. Download the necessary tools using the Cydia app
The latter application is only available on devices that have been modified via jailbreak, so if you don't want to perform this invasive procedure you can refer to one of the other methods in the article. Download the following programs from Cydia (they should all be available in the main Cydia repository):
- iFile;
- IconMaker;
- Terminal.
Step 3. Transfer the image you want to turn into an icon to the iPhone
You can use the iFile program or send it by email. Alternatively, you can take a photo using the iPhone's camera.
- You can download ready-made icons from many websites, for example DeviantArt, or you can create your own from scratch.
- You have the option to use any type of image you. The IconMaker program will convert it to an icon of the correct size.
Step 4. Launch the IconMaker app and upload the image file to use
This program aims to convert an image into the correct format and with the right size to be used as an icon. Tap the camera button if you want to use one of the photos already on the iPhone. If, on the other hand, you want to use an image stored in any folder on your device, you will need to use the iFile app to locate it, select it and choose the "IconMaker" option after opening it.
Step 5. Activate the "Open in iFile" and "Save to-p.webp" />
" These two configuration settings are required for the new icon files to be generated correctly.
Step 6. Tap Generate Icon to create the new icon files
A total of five files will be generated.
Step 7. Press the Edit button, select the five files, then choose the "Clipboard" option
The selected files will be copied to the system clipboard.
Step 8. Navigate to the app folder whose icon you want to change using the iFile program
The path varies according to the type of application: whether it is an app downloaded from the App Store or a system app or downloaded from Cydia. Based on the nature of the application, choose one of the following paths:
- System App or downloaded from Cydia - /var/stash/Applications. Gioca XXXXXX];
- Downloaded from the App Store - / var / mobile / Applications.
Step 9. Delete the existing files related to the current icon
There may be several files, choose whether to rename or permanently delete them. In some cases, the files will be marked with the app name instead of the word "icon":
- icon.png;
- [email protected];
- icon ~ ipad.png;
- icon@2x~ipad.png;
- iconClassic.png.
Step 10. Press the Edit button, select the "Clipboard" option and press the Paste button
The files you copied in the previous steps will be pasted inside the folder. The IconMaker program has already named them correctly.
Step 11. Launch the Terminal app
This program allows you to apply the new settings, updating the iPhone user interface, without the need to restart the device.
Step 12. Type the UICache command within the Terminal program and press the Enter key on the device's virtual keyboard
After a few moments, the iPhone Home will be updated and the new icons will be displayed correctly.
