How to install iOS 14 Custom App Icons: Without delay

This tutorial will focus on how to install custom iOS 14 App Icons. With the new iOS 14 update that Apple rolled out on September 2020, users are now technically allowed to have their own custom app icons and widgets on their homescreens.

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The only problem with the regular method that people use is that it results in a huge delay when opening third party and stock apps. When clicking a custom icon, you are redirected to the Shortcuts app and then to your desired app. BUT, with our method, you don’t. This method is more complicated though.

Easy Method: But with delay

You can make the process of installing icons a lot easier but beware of the delay when launching icons.

• Step 1: Open the Shortcuts app (available for free on Apple Store if you don’t already have it). Tap the ‘+‘ icon in the top right corner, then tap ‘Add Action‘. Tap on ‘Scripting‘ and then tap on ‘Open App‘  and then click on ‘Choose’ highlighted in blue.

• Step 2: Now choose the app you’re creating a custom icon for–  After picking the app, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner-  Tap Shortcut Name at the top and enter one –  Now tap ‘Add to Home Screen’– Tap New Shortcut again and enter what you would like (you could give the same as the original app or pick your own custom name)- Now tap the icon to the left of the name you just entered –  Now tap Choose Photo (or Choose File if you downloaded an icon to your iPhone)– Now find and tap the icon or photo you’d like to use– Tap Add in the top right corner — now tap Done- Now head to your home screen or last app page to see the new app shortcut with your custom icon. Press and hold the app to enter jiggle mode to move it wherever you’d like.

• Step 4: Repeat the process for all the apps you would like — you can also easily change the icon or name on apps you have already done by taping the three-dot icon.

Long Method but with zero delay when launching apps

First Step of installing your custom iOS Icons

First of all, you are going to need all of your custom icons saved in photos. After downloading the .zip file that contains our icons, go to the Files app > Find the Downloads folder and click the .zip file. It will decompress right away, showing a simple folder that has all of the icons.

To select and save all the photos from this new folder, click the 3 dots on the upper right of the Files app → Select → Select All → Click the share icon (box with an arrow pointing upwards) → Save X items.

Second Step: Use our custom Shortcut to prevent delays when launching apps

After finishing the previous step, download our custom Shortcut. Click get shortcut and in the Shortcuts App scroll down and click Add Untrusted Shortcut.

If you get an error message that says “Icon Themer can’t be opened, this shortcut cannot be opened because your Shortcuts security settings don’t allows untrusted shortcut” go to Settings > Shortcuts > Allow Untrusted Shortcuts. You will be required to run any other shortcut a couple of times so just make a really simple one and you should be good to go.

Third Step: Add your Icons using our custom shortcut

Now all you have to do is to create the custom icons using the shortcut you just downloaded. The shortcut itself is quite intuitive, you are going to select the app one by one and the icon for each app. You can also modify the name of the app if you wish.

After having all of the icons in your photos, go to the shortcuts app and click on the shortcut “Icon Themer”, this allows you to make a lot of icons really fast. I would advice that you make in batches of 20 icons. This is to ensure that you don’t lose your progress if your iPhone glitches.

You are going to be taken to the Settings app to add the profile containing the custom Icons. Type in your password and install the profile. Now all your icons should be visible in your homescreen. Keep in mind that Apple’s own apps are still going to have a delay due to restrictions from Apple.

If you didn’t understand the previous steps, watch the following video:

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