How to edit your app icons!

Hey everyone! I know so many of you have been curious about how to get those amazing custom app icons on your iPhone, and I totally get it – a personalized phone just feels so much more *you*! I used to stare at my friends' aesthetically pleasing home screens and wonder how they did it, but it turns out it’s simpler than you think. I'm going to share my favorite method using the built-in Shortcuts app, which means no extra downloads for the core process! First off, why customize? For me, it’s all about making my phone reflect my style. Default icons are fine, but when you can match your app icons to your wallpaper or a specific aesthetic (like soft pastels, dark academia, or vibrant neons), it totally transforms your phone’s look. It feels like a fresh start every time I unlock it! Here’s how I do it step-by-step: Find Your Perfect Icon Image: This is the fun part! I usually browse Pinterest or even just Google for "aesthetic app icons" or "minimalist app icons." You can find tons of free images, or even create your own in a photo editing app. Save these images directly to your Photos app. Remember that "Save to Photos" option? That's where they go! Open the Shortcuts App: Your iPhone comes with this app pre-installed. Open it up and tap the '+' icon in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Add the "Open App" Action: In the new shortcut screen, tap "Add Action." Search for "Open App" and select it. Then, tap on the blue "App" placeholder and choose the app you want to customize (e.g., Instagram, Spotify, etc.). Add to Home Screen: This is crucial! Tap the share icon (the square with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom. Scroll down and select "Add to Home Screen." Customize Your New Icon: Now, you'll see a preview. Tap the small icon next to the "New Shortcut" text. A menu will pop up, giving you options like "Choose Photo," "Choose File," or "Take Photo." I always pick "Choose Photo" and select one of the amazing images I saved earlier from my Photos library. You can even zoom and reposition it to get it just right. Name Your Shortcut: Type in the name of the app (e.g., "Instagram") in the text field. This is what will appear under your new icon on the home screen. Then, tap "Add" in the top right corner. Voila! Your new custom icon will appear on your home screen. You can then move your original app icon into an App Library folder to keep your main screen clean and stylish. When you go into your Settings and then "Home Screen," you can even play around with how new app downloads appear, or how notification badges are handled, which can be super helpful for maintaining your aesthetic. One thing to note: when you tap your custom icon, it will briefly open the Shortcuts app before launching the actual app. It’s a tiny flicker, but totally worth it for the personalized look! I hope this helps you customize and edit your app icons to create the iPhone home screen of your dreams, making your phone truly unique to you!