How to change app icons on Android

App icons are the calling card of your mobile phone.They're the first thing you see when you unlock your screen and what you use to find each app at a glance. That's why it's normal to want to change the app icons on Android: their appearance, their colors, their size... or even mimic the style of another brand.

Android offers many customization optionsBut the topic of icons is a bit tricky: not all phones allow you to change them in the same way; some depend on the manufacturer's customization layer, others need a launcher, and if you're a developer, you can even redesign your own app's icon from Android Studio with adaptive icons.

Methods to change app icons on Android

When we talk about changing the icons in Android We must clearly distinguish three approaches:

• Use the options provided by the system itself or the manufacturer's layer.
• Use an official Themes app.
• Switch to a third-party launcher that supports icon packs.

Each method has its advantages, limitations, and subtle nuances that are worth knowing before you start tinkering.

Not all mobile phones display the same customization menuEven between models from the same manufacturer, the functionality can vary depending on the Android version or the skin update. However, the general steps are quite similar, and with a little patience, you can customize your home screen exactly how you want it.

Change icons using the manufacturer's themes

The simplest and cleanest way to modify icons is through the theme system integrated into the manufacturer's layerMany brands that customize Android include their own. Themes app or a section in the settings where backgrounds, fonts, colors and, of course, icon packs are grouped.

What these theme systems do is Apply a system-level icon packNot only on the home screen, but you'll also see the new icons in the app drawer, settings screen, and, in many cases, in the recent apps view. It's the most visually consistent option because the entire environment adopts the same style.

Among the most well-known themes with a store of themes and icons are One UI (Samsung), MIUI (Xiaomi), EMUI (Huawei and Honor) or others such as ColorOS, OxygenOS o Realme UI. On phones with "pure" or almost pure Android, such as Google Pixel or some Motorola phones, there is usually not such a complete Themes app and the options are reduced to changing accent color, icon shape or little else.

General steps to change icons from System Themes (They may vary, but serve as a guide):

1. Open the Themes app from your mobile phone or go into Settings and look for a section called "Themes", "Display" or similar.
2. Locate the Icons section, which may be within Themes, Personalization, Background and Icons, etc.
3. Explore the available packagesCheck if they are paid or free, and review the previews.
4. Download or buy the pack you like best and click on Apply or the equivalent option.
5. If the theme allows it, select only the icons, without changing background, fonts or other elements.

Change icons on specific layers (Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO and others)

Each manufacturer has set up its own theme system with slight differencesSo it's worth seeing how it works on some of the most common mobile phones. While we can't review every menu on the market individually, we can identify the most frequently occurring behaviors.

• On Samsung with One UI, icon customization is done through Galaxy Themes.The quickest way is to press and hold an empty space on your home screen, tap "Themes," and when Galaxy Themes opens, go to the icon category. There you can see specific packs, download them, and apply them to give your entire interface that style.
• On Xiaomi with MIUI, the Themes app is the nerve center of customization.From there you can change backgrounds, notification bar, lock screen, and, of course, icons. One of its advantages is that in many themes you can choose what you want to apply: the entire theme or only certain elements like the icons.
• Brands like OPPO, Realme, and OnePlus also tend to include their own theme store.On many of these phones, pressing and holding on an empty space on the home screen brings up a menu with options such as Wallpaper, Icons or More settings, from where you can change the size, shape and even color of the icon and the associated font.

If your phone doesn't show a Themes app or a clear icons section anywhere,It's likely you're using a fairly stock Android or a custom skin that doesn't offer this feature natively. In that case, you'll have no choice but to use a launcher or, if you're a developer, change your app's icon directly within the project.

Customize icons from system settings

Aside from theme parks, Some mobile phones allow you to edit icons directly from the home screenwithout using any additional apps. It's usually a quick way to adjust size, shape, and aesthetic details without too much hassle.

In OPPO, Realme or OnePlus, the trick is in Press and hold the home screen in an empty spaceA small panel will appear at the bottom with options: home screen settings, icons, and other customization parameters. Within "Icons" or "More settings," you can find a submenu such as "Change icons" or "Customize icons."

In this type of menu there is usually a advanced customization section This is where you can modify the icon size, shape (circle, square, teardrop, etc.), background color, and font size of the app name. You're not changing the icon pack itself, but rather its overall appearance, which can significantly improve the visual feel.

The typical flow of this direct adjustment is usually this:

1. Press and hold on the desktop.
2. Tap "Icons" or "More settings".
3. Activate the custom icons option and play with the size, borders, corners, color, and typography controls until it fits what you're looking for.

The main advantage of this method is that It requires no additional downloads or touching the entire layer.The downside is that you're somewhat more limited than with a theme or a complete icon pack, and the result can vary quite a bit between manufacturers.

Use the Themes app to change icons

When you have a Themes app pre-installed, it's practically your “official” icon storeFrom there, all the graphic content validated by the manufacturer is concentrated, usually with a certain quality control and security that you don't have if you go to third-party websites.

On most mobile phones, You can open Themes from the app icon or from the settingsSometimes you can also access it by pressing and holding on the desktop and tapping on Themes. Once inside, you'll see a homepage with featured themes, categories, recommendations, and a search bar.

The key is in Look within Themes for the specific section "Icons"There you can filter by style: minimalist, retro, colorful, Pixel style, iOS style, dark, etc. Many packs are downloaded separately from the full theme, and some manufacturers allow you to mix icons from one pack with the background of another.

In general, The procedure can be summarized in a few steps.:

1. Locate the Themes app.
2. Enter the icons category.
3. Download a pack, apply it.
4. Confirm the changes.

From then on, the new icons will be seen throughout virtually the entire system.

An added advantage of the official store is that it usually has periodic updates With new packs and fixes for missing icons or icons that didn't fit well with certain apps. If you see that some icons still have the original appearance, it may simply be that the pack doesn't include custom versions for all your installed apps.

Launchers to change icons on any Android device

If your phone doesn't have theme options or they fall short, the most powerful alternative is third-party launchers.A launcher is simply an app that replaces the home screen and app drawer, allowing you to redesign the experience to your liking.

Launchers like Action Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or POCO Launcher These are some of the most popular. They install just like any other app from Google Play; no root or unusual modifications are needed, and you can switch back to the original launcher whenever you want.

The beauty of these pitchers is that They support standalone icon packs.Instead of relying on the manufacturer's theme store, you can go to Google Play, search for "icon pack," download the style you like, and apply it from the launcher settings.

El typical process To use a launcher with icon packs, use this:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. You set it as your default home screen.
3. You go into its appearance settings and select the icon pack you want.

It is important to keep in mind a major limitation of launchersCustom icons will only be visible within that launcher. In other system settings (recent apps, phone settings, notifications, etc.) you will continue to see the original icons that Android has registered.

Advantages and disadvantages of using a launcher

Using a launcher has One very positive point: almost total freedomYou can change icons, desktop grid, text size, animations, navigation gestures, app drawer, and much more. It's the most flexible option if you want to get the most out of Android's customization.

Another advantage is that Changing icon styles becomes a matter of seconds.Simply install one or more different packages and switch between them in the launcher settings. If you get tired of a package or it doesn't look right, just choose another one and you're done, without having to touch the entire system.

Among the drawbacks is the fact that The launcher significantly alters the mobile experience.The application drawer may look different, the way desktops are organized changes, and some features specific to the manufacturer's layer may disappear or be integrated in a different way.

We also need to be vigilant performance and resource consumptionOn powerful phones it's usually not very noticeable, but on entry-level or older models, a very cluttered launcher with many heavy icon packs can slow down the system a bit or drain the battery a little more.

Security when downloading icons and launchers

Although an icon pack may seem like an innocent thing, It's still just an Android app.And as such, it can contain malicious code if downloaded from untrusted sites. Therefore, it's wise to be cautious and not download just anything you see on the internet.

Ideally, you should stick to Google Play or your manufacturer's official store.where at least there are basic security filters and systems like Play Protect that scan apps for known malware. Even so, It's always good to learn how to detect if your Android phone is infected. and read reviews about the developer.

If you pull external APK files (forums, websites, obscure links)The risk increases. Some bundles can sneak in intrusive ads, request unnecessary permissions, or include code that steals data. Before installing anything on your own, make sure Play Protect is enabled, and if you're concerned about security, use a good antivirus program along with it.

In the case of launchers, it is advisable review the permits they request very carefullyA launcher needs access to certain functions to replace the home screen, but it doesn't have to ask for excessive permissions like access to SMS or calls if they don't provide any value.

If in developer or security settings your mobile phone has a option of "package verification" or similarEnabling it helps the system block potentially dangerous installations. And if you see suspicious behavior (draining battery, full-screen ads, etc.), uninstall the pack or launcher without hesitation.

How developers change their app icons (adaptive icons)

From a developer's point of view, an Android app icon is defined as a "picker icon".Because it's the one the launcher displays when you press the home button and see the list of applications. This icon appears on the home screen, the all apps screen, and in the settings menu.

Android introduced the concept of "adaptive icons" starting with API level 26 (Android 8.0)This is precisely so that the icons can adapt to different shapes depending on the manufacturer (circles, rounded squares, pills, etc.) without losing visual consistency. The system applies a common mask to the icons so that they all appear the same shape on a device.

An adaptive icon consists of two layers: a background layer and a foreground layer.Each layer is usually defined as a vector resource (XML) at 108 x 108 dp, and the system takes care of combining both by applying the mask decided by the customization layer.

In the Android project, vector versions of these layers are usually saved in res/drawable (ic_launcher_background.xml and ic_launcher_foreground.xml, for example), while the adaptive icon definitions are stored in res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher.xml and ic_launcher_round.xml, which indicate which drawable to use as background and foreground.

In addition to adaptive icons, the developer must generate legacy versions of the icon. in bitmap format (PNG or WEBP) for each screen density: mdpi, hdpi, xhdpi, xxhdpi, and xxxhdpi. These are stored in separate mipmap folders and are used on devices with Android versions prior to 8.0.

Create and modify icons from Android Studio with Image Asset Studio

Android Studio includes a tool called Image Asset Studio that greatly simplifies icon creation., both adaptive and legacy. Instead of manually preparing all the sizes, this utility automatically generates the necessary variants.

To use it, in an open project simply go to New > Image Asset within the res directoryThere you can choose the icon type (Launcher Icons – Adaptive and Legacy), the name (by default ic_launcher) and, in the Foreground Layer and Background Layer tabs, select the vector resources or images you want to use.

The main app symbol is usually placed in the foreground layer. (a logo, a letter, a pictogram), while the background uses a solid color, a gradient, or a simple pattern. The tool displays a preview with different masks (circle, rounded square, etc.) to see how it will look on different devices.

Image Asset Studio allows you to adjust the size of each layer with a "Resize" slider.It is recommended to leave the key content within the so-called "safe zone," a central circle of about 66 dp where the icon will not be cropped by the manufacturer's mask. The rest can be cropped if the shape requires it.

At the end of the wizard, Android Studio automatically generates the vector and bitmap resources. by placing them in the correct mipmap and drawable folders, so that the new icon is applied throughout the app, on both modern and old devices.

Once the icon has been changed, simply compile and run the app on an emulator or physical device.Check that the new design is displayed on the home screen and in the application list, and adjust details if necessary (colors, borders, size, etc.).

There is a wide range of options for changing icons on Android.From theme systems built into your phone's interface and launchers that let you install any icon pack from Google Play, to the more technical task of redesigning your own app's icon using adaptive icons in Android Studio. By understanding what each method offers, its limitations, and its risks, you can personalize your home screen without sacrificing stability, security, or performance.