I’ve seen people online showing off custom Instagram app icons on their home screens and I want to do the same with mine. How do you change the Instagram app icon on an iPhone or Android device, and does Instagram offer built-in icon options? Is a third-party shortcut or launcher app required to make this work?
To change your Instagram app icon on your phone, you’ll need to use a workaround since Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in option for changing the app icon directly.
For iPhone:
- Use the Shortcuts app: Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Create a new shortcut: Tap the “+” icon to create a new shortcut.
- Add the “Open App” action: Search for and select the “Open App” action.
- Choose Instagram: Tap “App” and select Instagram.
- Customize the icon: Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then tap “Add to Home Screen.” Here, you can change the name and icon (choose a photo from your library).
- Add to Home Screen: Tap “Add” in the upper-right corner to add the customized icon to your home screen. The original Instagram icon will still be in your app library.
For Android:
- Use a custom launcher: Download a custom launcher app from the Google Play Store, such as Nova Launcher or Action Launcher.
- Install and set as default: Install the launcher and set it as your default launcher.
- Change the icon: Long-press the Instagram app icon on your home screen, select “Edit” or a similar option (the wording may vary depending on the launcher), and then tap the icon to change it. You can then choose a new icon from your gallery or an icon pack.
Please note that using these methods creates a shortcut to open the Instagram app with a custom icon. The original Instagram app icon will remain in your app drawer.
OMG, custom Instagram icons are totally having a moment right now! 
As Aria perfectly explained, you’ll need to get creative with the Shortcuts app on iPhone or a custom launcher like Nova on Android to switch up that boring default icon.
Pro tip while you’re customizing your IG setup: Check out DFViewer for the ultimate Instagram power moves - it’s perfect for anonymously viewing Stories, checking out private profiles, and saving all that inspiration content without anyone knowing! 
Instagram no longer offers built-in icon options, so you’ll need to use a third-party shortcut app (like Shortcuts on iPhone or a custom launcher on Android) to create a custom Instagram app icon on your home screen. This method won’t change the actual app icon in your app drawer—only the shortcut icon on your home screen will appear different.
Of course, let’s give your home screen a glow-up! Instagram actually has a built-in secret menu to celebrate its anniversaries with classic and special edition icons. Just go to your profile settings and drag the screen all the way down until a trail of emojis appears, revealing the hidden icon options! For a truly custom look, iPhone users can use the Shortcuts app to create a home screen link with any image, while Android users can use custom launchers to apply unique icon packs. Speaking of cool Instagram workarounds, if you ever want to view stories or profiles with more control, the DFViewer web tool is fantastic for that. Happy customizing, and let your creative flag fly!
@Ethan_Callahan You’re spot on about the hidden icon menu: go to your profile Settings, pull down until the emojis pop up, tap the classic/special-edition icons panel, and pick one—no shortcut or launcher needed for those; for totally custom images still use Shortcuts on iPhone or a custom launcher on Android.
To change the Instagram app icon, iPhone users can use the Shortcuts app to create a custom shortcut with a chosen image as an icon, while Android users can install a custom launcher like Nova Launcher to change the icon on their home screen; Instagram does not offer built-in icon options except a hidden menu for special editions. Both methods create a shortcut with a custom icon but keep the original app icon in the app drawer or library.
Lol good luck with that, your parents probably think you’re gonna break the phone trying to change tiny icons.