With the advent of Android, the possibility also arose for users to customize system interfaceIn this way, we take control of the environment's appearance, with the opportunity to add our own images to both the lock screen and the background. In this sense, today we want to talk about how to change app icons on AndroidYou've probably been curious about doing this but haven't found the right option or haven't fully understood all the available methods.
Therefore, we are going to show you in detail the mechanisms we have available to change icons on Android and customize the system according to our tastes: from the options included by some manufacturers, to third-party launchers and the most interesting icon packs, plus tips, possible problems and how to revert changes whenever you want.
The two ways to change app icons on Android
Modifying the appearance of the environment in Android is one of its excellent customization features. It's a primary factor in modern systems, which seeks to generate the greatest possible comfort in all aspects of the experience it offers. Although changing app icons is part of all this, it should be noted that the system does not offer a completely native and universal way to achieve this., as it does with changing the wallpaper.
We actually have Two great options for changing app iconsHowever, one of them is not available for all mobile phones:
- Use the theme system or the Themes app in the customization layer (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.).
- Install a third-party launcher that supports icon packs and allow you to apply custom icons.
As we mentioned before, There is no identical native form on all Android devices.However, some custom Android skins offer a very useful alternative with their own theme stores. For all other devices, launchers remain the most flexible option.
Furthermore, it is important to be clear that when change icons from system themes They are usually modified throughout the entire environment (settings, recent items, notifications, etc.), whereas with the The launcher changes primarily affect the home screen and app drawer..
From the Themes menu of the customization layer
As we mentioned before, Not all Android installations have the option to change app icons from Themes.For example, the pure or stock version of the operating system (as in many Pixel phones) does not usually include a full theme store. However, the customization layers of some brands like Xiaomi, Samsung or Huawei, include a menu that is generally identified as Themes or something similar..
Through the Themes menu we have two excellent options:
- Change the entire appearance of the system applying a complete theme.
- Change only the icons, if icon packs are available in the manufacturer's store.
This means that, depending on your device's brand, the Themes menu will allow you to make general changes (backgrounds, colors, typography) and also Get icon packs to modify existing ones without installing additional applications.
Nevertheless, we must point out that Themes apps that incorporate customization layers do not always have as many icon options as there are on Google PlayWhile they usually include both free and paid alternatives, the diversity is more limited compared to the official Android store.
Even so, it is a comfortable, safe and well integrated mechanismIdeal if you want the new icons to also be applied to system menus, notification bar, or recent apps screen.
General steps to change icons from Themes
The names of the options vary depending on the manufacturer, but the procedure usually follows a similar structure:
- Open the Themes app from your mobile phone or go to Settings and look for the Themes or Personalization section.
- locate the section Icons or something equivalent within the app.
- Explore the available icon packs (free and paid) and choose the one you like best.
- Download the package and click on the option to apply icons or apply theme, choosing only icons if the system allows it.
A key advantage is that The icon will change everywhere that app is displayed. with the manufacturer's theme style, so the visual experience is more consistent and not limited to the launcher.
Change app icons on Samsung with Galaxy Themes
If your phone is a Samsung with One UI, the process is usually very straightforward:
- Hold down the starting screen until the customization menu appears.
- Touch on the option «Topics».
- The app will open Galaxy Themeswhere you can search for the icon pack that suits you best.
- Download the pack, go to the icons section and click on Apply.
In many cases you can apply only the icons without changing backgrounds or other theme elements, perfect if you only want to modify the shape or style of the applications.
Changing icons in Xiaomi (MIUI) and other similar interfaces
In interfaces like MIUI (Xiaomi) or EMUI (Huawei/Honor), the app is also used Themes to manage device customization:
- Open the app Themes from the desktop or from Settings.
- Explore the featured topics or go directly to the section. Icons.
- Download the pack that interests you and select if you want Apply icons only, just the wallpaper or the full theme.
In these layers, many users take advantage of the option to combine elements from different themesFor example, keep the existing background and only change the style of the icons or the notification bar.
From third party launchers
Third-party launchers are the second major alternative we have available to change app icons on Android. This option allows us to bypass the limitation of those devices that do not have the Themes menu. or that have very basic customization options.
To achieve this, we only need to Install a third-party launcher that supports icon packsFrom there, we can apply different styles to the icons, adjust their size, shape, labels, and even animations in some cases.
Icon packs are simply apps that we can get from the Google Play Store These icons are recognized by compatible launchers. These launchers capture the icon images and display them within the available options for customizing the desktop's appearance.
The vast majority of modern launchers support icon packs. The steps are usually:
- Search in Google Play "Icon pack" or "icon pack" and download the one we like best.
- Open the launcher and enter your icon customization section.
- Select the downloaded pack and apply it to the entire desktop.
Additionally, many launchers allow change the icon of a single app keeping the rest with the default style, or even editing custom icons from within the app itself.
Advantages and disadvantages of using launchers
Before looking at some of the most interesting pitchers, it's worth reviewing their strengths and limitations:
- Advantages: huge variety of icons and themes, advanced size, grid and animation settings, ability to change icons individually, and easy to revert changes.
- Drawbacks: custom icons They only apply within the launcher (the original icon may still be visible in recent apps or settings), and some launchers may consume more power. memory or battery if visual effects and elements are overused.
Nova Launcher
Nova Launcher is a true classic when it comes to launchers, with a very established track record. It's a lightweight launcher, perfect for low-resource devices.but who want to look good and easily access their apps.
Among its most interesting features are support for icon packs and an editor for them.This way you can further customize the icons you will change, modifying their size, The shape of the labels and text font that accompanies them.
In Nova's settings you'll find sections like "Appearance" and "Icon Style" where you can:
- Choose icons theme (the pack you downloaded from Google Play).
- Adjust the icon size to make them look bigger or more compact.
- Hide or show the applications name under the icons.
Apex Launcher
Another launcher that stands out both for its quality and for being very lightweight is Apex Launcher. Among its most outstanding features, we have the ability to create shortcuts with buttons or gestures to perform actions more easily.
It also has a very interesting option that allows you to hide apps to maintain your privacy, which is very useful if you share your mobile phone with other people.
As for changing app icons, Apex supports icon packs with the ability to customize them. and also to apply complete themes that modify the system's appearance within the launcher itself. From its settings you can select the icons themeAdjust the grid, size, and style of the dock to achieve a desktop completely to your liking.
ADW Launcher
ADW is one of the most complete launchers available on the Google Play Store. Its interface includes... striking effects and features, such as the desktop carousel, customizable transitions, and app organizers.
Allows you to create app categories and also supports theme and icon packsRegarding the latter, we should mention that it incorporates a icon editor This will allow you to customize both the launcher's native elements and those of the packages you download, adjusting their appearance very precisely.
In this way, we have a launcher capable of giving the system a very attractive appearance and that allows further customize the icons to our liking without relying solely on the original design of the packs.
Icon packs: how to choose and use them well
Once you have a compatible launcher, the next step is to choose the icon packs that you're going to use. On Google Play you can find thousands of options, with minimalist, colorful, dark, flat, bordered styles, inspired by other layers, etc.
To make the most of them, it's worth paying attention to several aspects:
- Compatibility with your launcherThe list of supported launchers (Nova, Apex, ADW, etc.) is usually found in the pack's information sheet.
- App coverageSome packs only change basic icons, while others include thousands of designs for almost any popular app.
- UpdatesThe best packs are frequently updated to add icons for new applications.
- Consistent visual styleChoosing an icon pack that matches your wallpaper and widgets helps make your screen look neat and professional.
If you're looking for ideas, you'll find very popular and highly rated collections in the store. Just do searches like "minimal icon pack", "dark icons", "pastel icons" or even themed icons for holidays or seasons of the year.
Common problems and how to solve them
Although changing icons is simple, it's not without its flaws. Especially on some devices with highly customized interfaces, errors can occur. Problems with duplicate icons, icons that disappear, or icons that look bad.
Some of the most common errors are:
- Blurry or pixelated iconsThis usually happens when the pack isn't properly adapted to the phone's screen resolution or pixel density. The solution is choose quality packs And if one doesn't look right, uninstall it and try a more up-to-date one.
- Duplicate icons or icons that don't updateThis may be due to conflicts between the custom skin theme and the third-party launcher. Restarting your phone, clearing the launcher cache, or reset the home screen He usually corrects it.
- Higher memory or battery consumptionSome resource-heavy packs or heavily loaded launchers can negatively impact performance. In this case, it is recommended to limit the number of installed icon packs and opt for simpler or minimalist designs.
In brands like Xiaomi, which have particularly complex layers, it is relatively common that when mixing Native themes with external launchers Inconsistencies may appear. If you notice persistent errors, it often helps to:
- Update it version of the customization layer to the most recent one.
- Restart the device to reset the processes.
- Temporarily return to original launcherApply the default theme and then reconfigure the third-party launcher.
It's also important to always download icon packs and launchers from trusted sourcesPreferably Google Play, checking ratings and reviews to avoid apps with malware or suspicious behavior.
How to reverse the changes
If you decide to revert, the process is simple and depends on how you applied the icons:
- If you used ThemesOpen the Themes app or the personalization section and select the default theme or apply a different one. Many manufacturers allow you to apply only icons; choose the option to reset or apply the standard theme.
- If you used a third-party launcherGo to Settings > Apps > Default Launcher (or similar) and select the original launcher, or uninstall the third-party launcher to revert to its native launcher. You can also open the launcher's options and restore its default settings or uninstall the icon pack.
- If the icons are corrupted or missingTry clearing the launcher cache, restarting your phone, or reinstalling the pack/launcher. As a precaution, apply a simple theme or pack first before installing multiple packs simultaneously.
After learning about these options and potential drawbacks, customizing your app icons on Android becomes a much safer and more controlled task, with the peace of mind of being able to undo any changes whenever you want without losing your apps or data.