How to change the Telegram icon on Android: 5 working methods

The icon Telegram on the Android desktop is the first thing that catches your eye when searching for a messenger. Are you already tired of the standard blue airplane on a white background? Do you want to make it unique to stand out among your friends or just to freshen up the interface? In this article, we will look at all the current methods of changing the icon - from simple (using launchers) to advanced (through modifying the APK file or root access).

It is important to understand that Telegram does not provide a built-in function to change the icon through the app settings. All the methods described below involve Android system mechanisms or third-party tools. Some of them may require additional permissions, while others may even require superuser rights (root). We will analyze in detail the pros and cons of each approach so that you can choose the best option without risk to your device.

If you are new to setting up Android, start with the first two methods - they do not require technical knowledge and are safe. Experienced users can go straight to the sections about editing APK or using ADB. Don't forget to backup your data before experiments!

1. Using alternative launchers

The easiest and safest way to change the icon Telegram is to install custom launcher. These apps replace the stock Android interface, allowing you to customize icons, themes, and even animations. Popular options: Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher and Action Launcher.

How does it work? Launchers offer:

• 🎨 Icon packs — ready-made sets of stylized icons (for example, Whicons or CandyCons).
• 🖼️ Manual replacement — downloading any image from the gallery.
• 🔄 Adaptive icons — automatic change of shape to suit the system style (circle, rounded square, etc.).

Example of settings in Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play and make it the main one (in the system settings, select "Home by default").
2. Tap and hold your finger on the icon Telegram, then select "Edit".
3. In the menu that opens, tap on the icon and select "Gallery" or "Icon Pack".
4. Upload your image (recommended size - 192×192 px) or select from the installed pack.

⚠️ Attention: Some launchers may conflict with proprietary shells of manufacturers (for example, MIUI or One UIIf lags occur after installation, try disabling animations in the settings). launcher or reset the cache.

2. Creating a duplicate application with a new icon

If launchers are not suitable for you, you can use applications for cloning apps, such as App Cloner or Parallel Space. They create a copy Telegram with the ability to change the icon, name and even the color of the interface. This method does not require root access and works on most devices.

Step-by-step guide for App Cloner:

1. Download App Cloner from Google Play (the free version has limitations on the number of clones).
2. Select Telegram in the list of applications and click "Clone".
3. In the clone settings, find the section "Icon" and upload your image (format PNG with transparency is supported).
4. Customize the name (for example, "Telegram Work") and save the changes.
5. The new icon will appear on the desktop. The original one will remain. untouched. Telegram will remain untouched.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 You can create several copies with different icons (for example, for personal and work chats).
• 🛡️ Safe - does not affect system files.
• 📱 Works on all versions of Android (including Android 14).

⚠️ Attention: Cloned applications may not receive push notifications in a timely manner. To fix this, in the clone settings, enable the "Notifications via FCM" option (if available).

3. Editing the Telegram APK file (without root access)

For advanced users who are ready to delve into technical details, there is a way to change the icon directly in APK file applications. This requires the use of a PC and specialized tools, but does not require root access on the phone. Important: this one. method will lead to signing the application with an unofficial certificate, which can cause problems with updates and security.

Required tools:

• 🖥️ APK Editor (for example, APKTool or JADX) for decompilation.
• 📁 Archiver (for example, 7-Zip) for working with files.
• 🎨 Image editor (for example, Photoshop or GIMP) to create an icon.

Instructions:

1. Download the original APK Telegram from the site telegram.org (not from Google Play!).
2. Open the file in APK Editor and find the folder res/drawable —the icons are stored there.
3. Replace the files ic_launcher.png and ic_launcher_round.png with yours (the size must match!).
4. Save the changes and sign the APK using jarsigner or Uber-APK-Signer.
5. Install the modified APK on your phone after first deleting the original Telegram.

Tool	Purpose	Difficulty
APKTool	Decompiling and editing APK	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Uber-APK-Signer	Signing a modified APK	⭐⭐
7-Zip	Extracting/replacing files in an APK	⭐

⚠️ Attention: Modified APK files may be blocked Google Play Protect as potentially dangerous. To avoid this, add the application to exceptions in the Android security settings.

What happens if you sign the APK incorrectly?

When installing an incorrectly signed APK, Android will display the error “Application not installed” (code 24). This means that the certificate does not match the original one. This can only be corrected by re-signing with the correct key.

4. Changing the icon via ADB (without root access)

If you do not want to edit the APK, but are ready to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can change the icon directly on the device. This method works without root access, but requires connecting the phone to the PC and enabling developer mode.

What you will need:

• 🖥️ A computer with ADB drivers installed and Platform Tools.
• 📱 Phone with USB debugging enabled (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times).
• 🎨 Icon format PNG (size 192×192 px, transparency is optional).

Commands for replacing the icon:

adb shell pm path org.telegram.messenger
adb pull /data/app/~~xxxxxx/base.apk telegram.apk
Edit telegram.apk (as in method 3), then:
adb install -r -d telegram.apk

Method limitations:

• ⚠️ When updating Telegram through Google Play the icon will be reset.
• ⚠️ Does not work on some firmware with enhanced protection (for example, Samsung Knox).

Enable USB debugging in settings developer|

Install ADB drivers on your PC|

Download Platform Tools from the Google website|

Prepare an icon in PNG format 192×192 px|

Make a backup copy of your data Telegram-->

5. Replacing the icon using root access (for experienced ones)

If your device has root access, you can replace the icon directly in the system files. This is the most radical method, giving complete control, but also the most risky - a mistake can lead to a crash of the application or even. system.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support, for example Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the path /data/app/org.telegram.messenger-XX/base.apk (where XX are random characters).
3. Copy base.apk to your PC and edit it (as in method 3).
4. Get the modified file back, replacing the original. Set permissions 644 (rw-r--r--).
5. Clear the cache Telegram in the application settings and restart the device.

Advantages of the root method:

• 🔧 Full control over all icons (including notifications and widgets).
• 🔄 Changes will be saved after updates if configured correctly Magisk.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Samsung Knox or MIUI modification of system APKs may trigger the flag KNOX 0x1 or blocking Mi Account. This will deprive you of the guarantee and access to some functions (for example, Samsung Pay).

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make the choice easier, we will summarize all the methods in a table with their advantages and disadvantages:

Method	Difficulty	PC required	root access	Saves after update	Risks
Launcher	⭐	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes	Minimum (possible lags)
Clone application	⭐⭐	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes (for clone)	Problems with notifications
Editing APK	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	Blocking Google Play Protect
ADB	⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	Reset on update
Root access	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (if configured correctly)	Loss of warranty, risk of "bricking"

For most users, the optimal solution would be using a launcher or cloning an applicationThese methods do not require technical knowledge and are safe. experiments and want a unique icon on a permanent basis, consider editing the APK or the root method (but only if you understand the risks!).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to change the Telegram icon without third-party applications?

No, the standard one does not have such a function. All methods require the use of launchers, cloning or modification of application files. The exception is some branded shells (for example, Telegram there is no such function. All methods require the use of launchers, cloning or modification of application files. The exception is some proprietary shells (for example, ColorOS on Oppo), where you can change icons through themes, but this depends on the model. phone.

Why did the Telegram icon reset after updating?

When updating via Google Play the original APK file is replaced with a new one, so all changes (except those made through the launcher or cloning) will be lost. To avoid this, disable auto-update for Telegram in settings Play Market or use the root method with overwrite protection.

Is it possible to return the standard icon?

Yes, if you used the launcher, just reset the settings. icons in it. If you edited the APK or used ADB, reinstall from the official source. For the root method, you may need to restore the original one from a backup. Is it safe to use modified APKs? APKs, especially those downloaded from unverified sources, may contain malicious code. If you edit the file yourself (as described in method 3), the risk is minimal, but Telegram from an official source. For the root method, you may need to restore the original base.apk from backup.

Is it safe to use modified APKs?

Modified APKs, especially those downloaded from unverified sources, may contain malicious code. If you edit the file yourself (as described in method 3), the risk is minimal, but Google Play Protect may block the installation. To reduce the risks, always check the hashes of the files and use official tools like APKTool.

Why does replacing the icon through some phones not work? ADB?

Some manufacturers (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) block modification of system applications via ADB due to security policy. In such cases, only root access or the use of launchers will help.