How to Change App Icon Colors in iOS 18: A Step-by-Step Guide

With the launch of iOS 18, Apple introduces exciting new features, most notably Apple Intelligence. Alongside this, the update brings additional customization options, including the long-anticipated ability to modify the appearance of app icons on the home screen.

Home screen customization has been part of the iPhone experience for a while, but iOS 18 enhances it with innovative features, like changing app icon colors. This offers a new level of personalization that was previously unavailable, making the process enjoyable. Here’s how to utilize these new features.

Adjusting App Icon Colors in iOS 18

In iOS 18, you have two main options for changing the look of your icons. You can set the icons to adjust automatically depending on the time of day, or you can manually apply colorful tints to complement your personal aesthetic.

Step 1: To enable Edit mode, press and hold on a blank area of your iPhone’s home screen until the icons start wiggling.

Step 2: Next, select the Edit icon located in the top-left corner.

Step 3: Choose Customize from the Edit menu.

Step 4: To modify the icon colors based on the time of day, tap Automatic.

Step 5: You can choose Dark for icons to remain consistently dark, or Light for them to stay light-colored at all times.

Step 6: Find the Tinted option next to Automatic, Dark, and Light. Tap to choose a tint color for your app icons using a slider to select the shade and adjust its intensity.

Step 7: You can further customize your icon colors using the eyedropper icon to match a color from your current background.

Step 8: Another customization option lets you change the size of the icons. You can achieve this by re-entering Edit mode and toggling the Large setting. This enlarges the icons and removes the text below them. To revert to their standard size, simply select Small.

That’s all there is to it! While iOS 18’s app icon customization tools may not be as extensive as those on Android devices, they still enhance your home screen experience. Now you know how to make your iPhone uniquely yours.