Transform Your Device: How to Change App Icons with Shortcuts on iOS 15

Are you tired of the same old app icons cluttering your iPhone home screen? Do you dream of a more personalized and visually appealing experience? Well, with iOS 15, you can finally achieve this! Using Shortcuts, you can now easily customize your app icons and give your phone a unique look. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, so you can transform your home screen into a masterpiece.

Why Change App Icons?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s explore the “why” behind changing app icons. While it might seem like a purely aesthetic endeavor, there are several compelling reasons to consider:

• Personalization: It’s your phone, so make it your own! Changing app icons allows you to express your personality and style.
• Organization: Grouping similar apps with themed icons can make your home screen more organized and intuitive.
• Visual Appeal: A visually appealing home screen can be a joy to look at and use.
• Accessibility: For individuals with visual impairments, customized icons can be more easily recognizable and accessible.

The Power of Shortcuts

The key to changing app icons lies within the powerful Shortcuts app. Shortcuts is a built-in iOS app that allows you to automate tasks and create custom workflows. For our icon-changing purposes, we’ll leverage its ability to create custom “actions” that link to specific apps.

Step-by-Step Guide: Changing App Icons with Shortcuts

Here’s a detailed walkthrough of how to change app icons using Shortcuts:

1. Choose Your Icon: Start by finding the image you want to use as your new icon. This can be a photo from your library, a downloaded image, or even an emoji. For best results, choose an image with a square aspect ratio.

2. Create a Shortcut: Open the Shortcuts app and tap the “+” button to create a new shortcut.

3. Add the “Open App” Action: Search for and add the “Open App” action. Tap on the “App” field and select the app you want to customize.

4. Add the “Get Content of URL” Action: This action will be used to fetch the image you’ve chosen as your new icon.

5. Enter the Image URL: If you’re using an image from your library, you’ll need to create a temporary web server to host the image. There are various online resources that can help you with this. If you’re using a downloaded image, you’ll need to upload it to a free image hosting platform like Imgur. Paste the URL of your image into the “URL” field.

6. Add the “Set Variable” Action: This action will store the image you’ve fetched from the URL. Name the variable something descriptive like “AppIcon.”

7. Add the “Get Variable” Action: This action retrieves the stored image from the “AppIcon” variable.

8. Add the “Add to Home Screen” Action: This action is where the magic happens! It allows you to create a custom icon for your shortcut.

9. Customize Your Icon: Tap on the “Icon” field and select “Choose Photo.” You can now choose the image you’ve fetched from the URL and use it as your custom icon.

10. Name Your Shortcut: Give your shortcut a descriptive name, such as “Instagram (Custom Icon).”

11. Add to Home Screen: Tap the “Add to Home Screen” button.

12. Rename and Customize: You can now rename the shortcut and further customize its appearance.

13. Enjoy Your New Icon: Your custom icon will now appear on your home screen! Tap on it to launch the original app using your shortcut.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Image Size: Ensure your chosen image is a square and has a suitable resolution.
• URL Access: Verify that the image URL is valid and accessible.
• Shortcut Permissions: Make sure you’ve granted the Shortcuts app the necessary permissions to access your photos and create shortcuts.

Beyond Basic Icon Changes: Advanced Techniques

While the basic method described above allows you to change app icons, there are more advanced techniques you can explore:

• Themed Icons: Create a consistent theme for your home screen by using icons with similar styles or colors.
• Dynamic Icons: Use Shortcuts to create dynamic icons that change based on certain conditions. For example, you could create an icon that changes color based on the weather.
• Icon Packs: There are numerous free and paid icon packs available online. You can download these packs and use them in your Shortcuts to create unique icons.

Beyond the Home Screen: Using Shortcuts for More

Shortcuts are incredibly versatile and can be used for much more than just changing app icons. Here are a few examples:

• Automate Tasks: Create shortcuts to automate repetitive tasks such as sending emails, creating reminders, or adjusting device settings.
• Create Custom Workflows: Chain together multiple actions to create custom workflows that streamline your daily tasks.
• Enhance Productivity: Use Shortcuts to quickly access frequently used apps or documents.
• Personalize Your iPhone: Go beyond app icons and explore other ways to customize your iPhone using Shortcuts.

The Final Touch: Adding a Personal Flair

Now that you’ve learned how to change app icons with Shortcuts, it’s time to unleash your creativity! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different icons, themes, and designs. The possibilities are endless!

Answers to Your Most Common Questions

Q: Can I use any image as an app icon?

A: While you can technically use any image, it’s best to choose images with a square aspect ratio and suitable resolution for optimal display.

Q: What happens if I delete the shortcut?

A: Deleting the shortcut will also remove the custom icon from your home screen. The original app icon will then reappear.

Q: Is there a limit to how many custom icons I can create?

A: There’s no limit to the number of custom icons you can create. However, you might want to consider organizing them into folders for better management.

Q: Can I use custom icons on other iOS devices?

A: Custom icons are specific to the device on which they are created. You’ll need to create them again on other iOS devices.

Q: Are there any risks associated with using Shortcuts to change app icons?

A: Using Shortcuts to change app icons is generally safe. However, it’s always a good practice to download and use Shortcuts from trusted sources. Be cautious of shortcuts that request excessive permissions or seem suspicious.