The best way to edit app icons on iPhone, iPad & Mac (2026 Replace)

Need to revert to the unique icon designs of your favourite apps for a greater aesthetic? Or simply need to customise your desktop? Luckily, Apple platforms supply strategies to alter app icons.

This information explains how you can edit app icons on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. You will learn to create customized icons, convert photos to the best format, switch icons between gadgets, and handle your icons effectively — all utilizing up-to-date workflows for macOS Tahoe and iOS/iPadOS 26.

Greatest strategies to alter app icons on Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Enhancing app icons can enhance each your workflow and gadget aesthetics. Under, you may discover clear, actionable directions for every Apple platform. Decide the one which matches your gadget and talent stage, then soar to the total information for detailed steps.

The best way to edit app icons on Mac

macOS Tahoe permits customers to customise app icons instantly in Finder. Mainly, in the event you simply need a fast method to customise an app icon, you possibly can merely change it with any customized picture you want proper in Finder. Simply find the app you want, press Command + I (Get Information), and drag and drop your picture onto the present app icon on the prime of the window.

Nevertheless, if you need it to look extra skilled and create your personal icon, you’ll have to observe a couple of pointers. Most app icon customization issues come up when it’s important to choose the best icon format and measurement. Based on Apple’s Human Interface Pointers, Mac icons should be in .icns format and embrace a number of resolutions.

When changing an current picture or screenshot into an app icon, you may want to deal with format conversion from PNG or JPG to icon format, together with changes to measurement, decision, and different specs. This technical conversion course of presents the first problem in icon customization.

Under, I’ll present you each guide and computerized methods to edit Mac app icons.

The best way to create icon units for a number of gadgets

Asset Catalog Creator Professional solves this complexity by producing ready-to-use icon collections for all of your gadgets. This works nicely in the event you create your personal app with out skilled design assets. It additionally helps customers who need a constant app look with out spending days customizing icons.

To generate icons with Asset Catalog Creator Professional:

1. Open Asset Catalog Creator Professional.
2. Drag your picture (PNG, JPG, or PDF) onto the principle display.
3. Make sure the “app icon” choice is chosen.
4. Choose the gadget you want an icon for.
5. Click on Create Asset Catalog.

The method is full. All generated icons shall be saved in a single icon pack in your chosen output listing. 

✕ Take away app banner

The best way to create a customized icon for Mac manually

To create your personal icons, you can too use Apple’s built-in instruments. It’s a bit extra difficult, however these step-by-step directions will allow you to.

Right here’s how you can create a customized icon utilizing Mac built-in instruments:

1. Open the built-in Preview app for primary enhancing and export. For extra inventive management, use Apple’s Icon Composer (developer instrument) or a devoted design app.
2. Create a brand new doc or import your picture and resize to 2048 × 2048 pixels (or at the very least 1024 × 1024) with a clear background.
3. Edit your design utilizing Markup instruments, then go to File > Export.
4. Save as PNG.
5. To make a full .icns file (advisable for finest outcomes):
   • Create a brand new folder named “Icon.iconset”.
   • Place resized copies of your PNG inside (named icon_16x16.png, icon_32x32.png, as much as icon_1024x1024.png).
   • Open Terminal, navigate to the folder containing “Icon.iconset”, and kind: iconutil -c Icon.iconset
   • Your completed .icns file seems in the identical folder.

Design suggestions for creating customized app icons

Creating high-quality customized icons manually can be attainable. Observe these pointers and your icons will really feel native {and professional} each time.

• Design at 1024 × 1024 pixels minimal (2048 × 2048 advisable scaling). For excellent integration with Liquid Glass in macOS Tahoe and iOS 26, design with the system’s variants in thoughts. Builders can use Apple’s Icon Composer instrument to create layered icons with computerized darkish/clear/tinted variants. For private customization of current apps, use commonplace PNG or .icns recordsdata — the system mechanically applies the exact squircle masks and chosen model.
• Export as PNG with a totally clear background — no white packing containers or coloured borders.
• Design your content material inside a full sq. canvas (no pre-rounded corners or borders). The system mechanically applies the exact squircle masks for a local look in each look mode.
• Maintain designs daring and easy with excessive distinction. Tiny particulars disappear when the icon shrinks on the Residence Display screen or Dock.
• Create each Gentle and Darkish variations of each icon in order that they adapt mechanically to your gadget’s look settings.
• At all times check your icon at small sizes (60 px and 120 px) to ensure it stays clear and readable.

The best way to change an app icon on Mac

Upon getting your most well-liked icon for a Mac app, observe these steps:

1. Open Finder and navigate to Purposes.
2. Find your app, right-click it, and choose Get Information (or press Command + I).
3. Copy your new icon (.icns file or picture).
4. Within the Information panel, click on the small icon on the prime left.
5. Press Command + V to stick the brand new icon.
6. Enter your Mac password (or Contact ID) if required. 

   

This completes the method. After reopening the app, the icon shall be up to date all through the system, together with in your Dock.

The best way to use customized app icons on iPhone and iPad

In contrast to macOS, iOS and iPadOS don’t supply a local characteristic for direct app icon substitute. Nevertheless, you possibly can accomplish this utilizing Shortcuts, a local iOS app for visible scripting. This technique works on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 or newer (and is absolutely suitable with the present iOS 26/iPadOS 26).

Step 1. Create your iOS icon recordsdata

First, put together substitute icons. You may create icons in your Mac and switch them, or design them instantly in your iOS gadget. For finest outcomes, use a sq. picture at 1024 × 1024 pixels (or at the very least 512 × 512), PNG most well-liked.

Tip: To batch-resize photos on Mac, use PhotoBulk. Drag and drop your photos, set the specified dimensions, and export.

Step 2. Switch icons from Mac to your iPhone or iPad

Use AirDrop, e-mail, or an app like AnyTrans for iOS.

Step 3. Use Shortcuts to use new icons on iOS

Together with your customized icons ready, you possibly can start the substitute course of:

1. Open the Shortcuts app in your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to the My Shortcuts tab. 

   

3. Faucet the + button so as to add a brand new shortcut.
4. Faucet Add Motion.
5. Choose Scripting, then Open App.
6. Faucet Select and choose the app you need to customise. 

   

7. Faucet the three dots (…) within the higher proper to open Particulars.
8. Title your shortcut for simple identification.
9. Faucet Add to Residence Display screen.
10. Below Residence Display screen Title and Icon, faucet the icon and choose Select Picture. 

    

11. Choose your customized icon picture.
12. Enter the app title as you need it to seem.
13. Faucet Add to position the shortcut (with new icon) in your Residence Display screen.

Word: You’ll now see two icons for a similar app — the unique and your customized shortcut. Transfer the unique to the App Library or a folder, however don’t delete it.

The Shortcuts technique has limitations. This method opens your app via the Shortcuts app, which provides a further step to your workflow. Sadly, that is presently the one technique out there for changing icons on iPhone and iPad.

Learn additionally:

The best way to customise app icons on iPhone and iPad natively

As an alternative of changing app icons with Shortcuts, you possibly can attempt Apple’s built-in Residence Display screen instruments first. These native choices (launched in iOS 18/iPadOS 18 and enhanced with Liquid Glass in iOS 26/iPadOS 26) provide you with a quick aesthetic refresh with none further apps or steps.

To customise your Residence Display screen look:

1. Contact and maintain an empty space in your Residence Display screen till the icons start to jiggle.
2. Faucet Edit within the top-left nook, then faucet Customise on the backside.
3. Select from the out there types:
   • Tint: Apply a single colour overlay to all icons and widgets.
   • Darkish: Swap each icon to a darkish look.
   • Clear: Make icons translucent so your wallpaper exhibits via (Liquid Glass look in iOS 26+).
   • Giant: Enhance icon measurement and conceal app labels for a cleaner look.

You may as well combine these with Gentle or Automated modes. These modifications occur immediately, work completely with notifications and badges, and are absolutely reversible. For many individuals, this built-in customization is strictly the recent look they have been after.

The best way to set up app icons on iPhone and iPad

Earlier than continuing with icon modifications, think about whether or not organizing current icons would possibly meet your wants. Different administration approaches may be equally efficient.

To arrange your app icons:

• Create folders: Drag one app onto one other, then add extra apps to the folder.
• Take away apps from Residence Display screen: Faucet and maintain any app, then faucet Take away App.
• Delete folders: Drag all apps out of a folder; the folder will disappear.
• Use App Library (iOS 14+): Transfer apps to the App Library by holding the app and deciding on Take away App > Transfer to App Library.
• Set new apps to seem in App Library solely: Go to Settings > Residence Display screen > App Library Solely. 

  

Enhance your workflows on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

Altering app icons on iPhone and iPad is a bit cumbersome, however I completely encourage you to try this on a Mac. First, your Mac has an amazing native characteristic for icon substitute. Second, you in all probability spend extra time working in your pc, so there’s a higher likelihood that unhealthy icons are going to harass you. 

Final however not least, there’s Setapp — a productiveness suite with all of the apps you could personalize your Mac expertise. Apps like Asset Catalog Creator Professional and 260+ extra can be found for 7 days free, then $9.99 + tax monthly.