How To Get Colored Apps On iPhone | Change Icon Colors

For years, iPhone users had to rely on complicated workarounds to change the look of their home screen. Whether you want a dark, moody aesthetic or a bright, pastel theme, Apple now offers two distinct ways to achieve this. You can either use the system-wide tinting tool introduced in iOS 18 for a uniform look or use the Shortcuts app to replace individual icons with custom images.

This guide walks you through every step to transform your home screen from standard grid to a personalized design.

The Fast Method: Using iOS 18 Tinted Icons

If you have updated your device to iOS 18 or later, Apple finally added a native “Dark Mode” and “Tinted” option for app icons. This is the fastest way to get colored apps on iPhone without downloading separate images for every single app.

This method applies a color filter to all your apps at once. It removes the original brand colors and replaces them with a gradient or solid color of your choice.

Steps To Enable Tinted Icons

• Long press the background — Tap and hold any empty space on your Home Screen until the apps start jiggling.
• Tap Edit — Look for the “Edit” button in the top-left corner of the screen.
• Select Customize — A menu will slide up from the bottom; tap “Customize” to reveal the layout options.
• Choose Tinted — Select the “Tinted” option from the row of buttons (Automatic, Dark, Light, Tinted).
• Adjust the sliders — Use the color slider to pick your hue and the intensity slider to change how saturated the color looks.

Once you set a tint, it applies to widgets as well. This creates a cohesive, monochrome look instantly. If you want to switch back, you simply return to this menu and tap “Automatic.”

How To Get Colored Apps On iPhone Using Shortcuts

If you are on an older version of iOS, or if you want each app to have a different specific picture (like a photo of a cat for Instagram and a neon sign for TikTok), you must use the Shortcuts app. This method does not actually change the app; it creates a new “bookmark” that looks like the app and links to it.

This process takes longer but offers unlimited creative freedom.

Setting Up A Custom Shortcut

You need the built-in Shortcuts app for this. If you deleted it, download it again from the App Store.

• Open Shortcuts — Launch the app and tap the “+” icon in the top right corner to start a new shortcut.
• Tap Add Action — Select the button labeled “Add Action” in the center of the screen.
• Search for Open App — Type “Open App” in the search bar and tap the action labeled “Open App” when it appears under the Scripting header.
• Select your app — Tap the faint blue word “App” next to the word “Open.” A list of your installed apps will pop up. Choose the one you want to customize (e.g., Spotify).
• Rename the shortcut — Tap the small arrow next to the name at the top of the screen, select “Rename,” and type the name of the app.

Adding The Icon To Your Home Screen

Now that the functionality is set, you need to apply the custom colored image.

• Tap the Share icon — Look for the “i” info button or the share arrow at the bottom (depending on your iOS version), or tap the arrow next to the shortcut name again.
• Select Add to Home Screen — This opens a preview window showing how the icon will look.
• Tap the icon image — Tap the small icon on the left side of the text field. A menu will appear.
• Choose Photo — Select “Choose Photo” to access your camera roll. Pick the custom colored icon you downloaded or created earlier.
• Tap Add — Press “Add” in the top right corner. The custom icon will now appear on your Home Screen.

You must repeat this process for every single app you want to customize. It is tedious, but the result is a completely unique interface that no one else has.

Where To Find Aesthetic Icon Packs

To use the Shortcuts method, you need source images. You cannot just “pick a color” inside Shortcuts; you need a PNG or JPEG file to serve as the icon.

Free Resources For Icons

You do not always need to pay for design assets. Several platforms offer free icons if you are willing to search.

• Pinterest: Search for “Neon App Icons,” “Pastel App Icons,” or “Minimalist Icon Pack.” You can save these images directly to your Photos app.
• Canva: You can create your own. Open a canvas (1024 x 1024 pixels), choose a background color, and add an “Element” logo for the app.
• Flaticon: A massive database of vector icons. You can search for “Facebook” or “Camera” and download icons in various colors.

Premium Icon Sets

If you want a high-quality, consistent look, designers sell full packs. Sites like Gumroad or Etsy are popular for this. Buying a pack ensures that all your icons share the exact same shade and design language, saving you from color-matching headaches later.

Hiding The Original Apps

After creating shortcuts or tinted icons, your original apps still exist. If you use the Shortcuts method, you will have two “Instagrams” on your screen: the real one and your custom one.

Do not delete the original app. If you delete the app, the shortcut will break because it has nothing to open.

• Long press the original app — Hold down on the app you want to hide until the menu appears.
• Tap Remove App — Select the option written in red.
• Choose Remove from Home Screen — Do NOT tap “Delete App.” Selecting “Remove from Home Screen” sends it to the App Library.

The app remains installed and accessible via search or the App Library (the last page of your home screen), but it won’t clutter your aesthetic setup.

Matching Widgets To Your Colored Apps

A truly aesthetic iPhone setup involves more than just icons. You need widgets that match your new color scheme. The default Apple widgets might not fit your specific color palette.

Using Widgetsmith For Custom Colors

Widgetsmith is the standard third-party app for this task. It allows you to create calendars, clocks, and photo widgets with hex-code precision.

• Create a widget — Open Widgetsmith and select a size (Small, Medium, Large).
• Customize the theme — Tap “Theme” or “Background Color.” You can scroll through presets or choose “Customize Theme” to pick a specific color.
• Match the hex code — If you used a specific pastel pink for your icons, find the hex code (e.g., #FFD1DC) and enter it into Widgetsmith to ensure a perfect match.
• Save and Add — Save the widget. Go to your Home Screen, long press, tap the “+” button, finding Widgetsmith, and add your new creation.

For more details on customizing your layout, check the official Apple Support guide on Home Screen customization.

Using Focus Modes For Different Color Themes

You can take color customization further by setting up different “profiles” for different times of the day using Focus modes. This allows you to have a “Work” screen with blue apps and a “Relax” screen with green apps.

Step 1: Create Custom Pages
Arrange your blue icons on one page and your green icons on another page.

Step 2: Set Up Focus
Go to Settings > Focus. Create a new Focus (e.g., “Work”).

Step 3: Link the Page
Under the “Customize Screens” section, choose the specific Home Screen page that contains your blue work icons. When you turn on this Focus mode, only that specific colored page will appear.

This is excellent for separating mental spaces while keeping your device visually consistent.

Common Issues And Limitations

Changing how to get colored apps on iPhone comes with a few trade-offs. It is important to know these before you spend three hours redesigning your phone.

Notification Badges Disappear

Custom icons created via Shortcuts do not show red notification dots. If you have 5 unread messages on WhatsApp, the custom icon will look normal. You have to open the app or check the Notification Center to see your alerts. The new iOS 18 Tinted icons do retain notification badges, which is a major advantage of the new method.

The “Shortcut Banner” Lag

On older iOS versions, opening a custom icon would briefly launch the Shortcuts app before redirecting you. On modern iOS updates (iOS 16+), this is mostly fixed. You might see a small banner drop down from the top of the screen confirming the shortcut ran, but the transition is smooth.

Dynamic Island Interaction

If you have an iPhone 14 Pro or newer, launching a custom shortcut might trigger a small animation in the Dynamic Island. It is unobtrusive but is a visual reminder that you are using a workaround rather than the native app.

Accessibility Settings For Screen Tints

If your goal is not aesthetic but functional—perhaps the screen is too bright or you have light sensitivity—you can color the entire screen rather than just the icons.

• Go to Settings — Open Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
• Select Color Filters — Toggle “Color Filters” on.
• Choose Color Tint — Select the “Color Tint” option at the bottom.
• Adjust Intensity — This applies a translucent layer of color (like red or amber) over the entire screen.

This is particularly useful for using your phone at night to reduce blue light exposure beyond what Night Shift offers.

Summary Of Methods

Choosing the right method depends on your patience and your version of iOS.

Use iOS 18 Tinting if: You want a fast, dark-mode-friendly look that applies to everything instantly and keeps your notification badges intact.

Use Shortcuts if: You want totally custom artwork (like 8-bit icons, photos, or intricate designs) and don’t mind losing notification dots.

Both methods allow you to express your personality through your device. Start with the Tinted option if you are eligible; it is the modern way to handle aesthetics. If you crave that specific retro or neon look, the Shortcuts method remains the king of customization.