How to change application icons on Android Honor: from standard themes to ADB commands

Standard application icons on smartphones Honor over time become boring - especially if you have been using the device for several years. Fortunately, the manufacturer provides several built-in ways to change them, and alternative methods are available for advanced users. In this article we will look at changing icons: from simple themes in all current methods icon changes: from simple themes to MagicOS to manual editing through third-party launchers. ADB and third party launchers.

It is important to understand that modification capabilities depend on the version firmware and device model. For example, on new Honor Magic 5 Pro i Honor 90 s MagicOS 8.0 the algorithm may differ from older smartphones on EMUI 10. We will take these nuances into account and provide universal solutions.

If you have never changed icons before, start with the first two sections - they describe official methods without risk to the system. For experienced users, at the end of the article there is a section with ADB commands and modification of system files (requires caution!).

1. Using built-in themes in MagicOS/EMUI

The safest and easiest way is to use one of the pre-installed themes. Honor offers both free and paid options with unique icons. To find them:

1. Open Settings → Appearance → Themes.
2. Scroll down to the section "Icons" —themes that change only icons without affecting wallpaper or fonts are collected here.
3. Click on the theme you like and select "Apply".

Please note: some themes may require payment (from 190 to 490 rubles in the official store Huawei Themes). Free options are rarely updated, so their design may seem outdated.

⚠️ Attention: After changing the theme, the icons may be reset to standard if you update the firmware or reset the settings. We recommend saving the theme you like in "My themes" (the "Heart" button in the upper right corner).

If there are few built-in options, you can download additional themes from the store Huawei Themes:

• 🔍 Use the search by key words: "minimalism icons", "neon icons", "dark icons".
• 🎨 Check the theme rating and reviews - some users complain about “broken” icons for individual applications.
• 🔄 After applying the theme, restart your smartphone if the icons are not displayed correctly.

2. Third-party launchers: Nova, Apex, Hyperion

If the built-in themes are not enough, install an alternative launcher. This is a app that completely replaces the standard interface Honor, including icons, animations and gestures. Popular options:

Launcher	Icon support	Features	Cost
Nova Launcher	Icon packs (.apk), manual replacement	Flexible customization of gestures, folders, animations	Free (Prime - 349₽)
Apex Launcher	Icon packs only	Lightweight, optimized for weak devices	Free (Pro — 299₽)
Hyperion Launcher	Built-in sets + packages	Minimalistic design, dark theme support	Free

To change icons via Nova Launcher:

1. Install the launcher from Google Play and select it as the main one in the settings (Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher).
2. Download an icon pack (for example, "Whicons" or "CandyCons") from Play Market.
3. Press your finger on an empty space on the screen → "Nova Settings" → "Appearance" → "Icon Style".
4. Select the downloaded package in section "Icon Pack".

If the icon you need is not in the package, you can replace it manually:

• 🖼️ Hold your finger on the application icon → "Change" → "Icon".
• 📁 Select an image from the gallery (recommended size: 192×192 px, format PNG with a transparent background).
• 🔄 To reset to the standard icon, click "Default".

⚠️ Attention: On some models Honor (for example, Honor 8X or Honor 10 Lite) launchers may be unstable due to manufacturer restrictions. Before purchase Nova Prime check out the free version.

Make a backup copy of the current desktop (screenshots)

Check the compatibility of the launcher with the Android version

Download 2-3 icon packs for the test

Disable battery optimization for the launcher (in the application settings)-->

3. Manually changing icons through "Shortcuts" (without root)

If you need to change icons for only a few applications without installing the launcher, use the function "Shortcuts" in MagicOS:

1. Press your finger on an empty space on the desktop → "Widgets".
2. Scroll down and select "Shortcuts" (or "Shortcuts" on English firmware).
3. Drag the shortcut of the desired application to the desktop.
4. Press your finger on the created shortcut → "Change icon" → select an image from gallery.

Disadvantages of this method:

• ❌ The original icon in the application menu will remain unchanged.
• ❌ When updating the application, the shortcut may be reset.
• ❌ Not all system applications (for example, "Settings" or "Phone") support this function.

For system applications you will have to use a workaround:

How to change the "Settings" icon without root

1. Install the application "Activity Launcher" from the Play Market.

2. Find the system application in it com.android.settings and create a shortcut for the main one. activity.

3. Replace the shortcut icon through the standard menu (press → "Change icon").

4. Installing icon packs via ADB (for experienced)

If you are ready to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can replace icons of system applications without rights root. This method is suitable for Honor on MagicOS 7.0+ and requires a computer with installed drivers. Huawei/Honor.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Enable USB debugging on the smartphone:

   Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times)
   Settings → System → For developers → USB debugging

2. Connect your phone to the PC and confirm permission for debugging.
3. Download the icon pack in format .zip (for example, from the website XDA Developers) and unzip it to a folder on your PC.
4. Open the command line in the folder with ADB and run:

   adb shell
   pm list packages | grep 'application_name'

   (for example, grep 'com.huawei.android.launcher' for the standard launcher).

5. Copy the new icons to system folder:

   adb push local_path/to/icon.png /data/local/tmp/
   adb shell
   su
   mount -o rw,remount /system
   cp /data/local/tmp/icon.png /system/app/Application/res/drawable/
   chmod 644 /system/app/Application/res/drawable/icon.png
   reboot

Critical nuances:

• 🔧 Folder names (drawable, mipmap) may differ depending on the Android version.
• 🔄 After replacing the icons, the launcher cache will be reset automatically upon reboot.
• 🛡️ Backup a copy of the original icons is required! Save them in a separate folder on your PC.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect commands ADB may cause the launcher to crash. If after rebooting the icons are not displayed, reset the cache in Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume Up when turning on).

5. Applications for changing icons (without launcher)

If ADB seems complicated, try specialized applications. They create shortcuts with custom icons on top of the standard ones, without affecting system files. The best options:

• 🎨 Icon Changer — simple interface, support for icon packs and manual uploading of images.
• 🖌️ Awesome Icons — more than 5,000 free icons, the ability to edit through the built-in graphic editor.
• 🔄 Shortcut Maker — allows you to change icons even for system applications (requires permission "Overlay").

Example of working with Icon Changer:

1. Install the application and provide access to the storage.
2. Select the application from the list or find it through the search.
3. Click "Change icon" and select the source:
   • 📂 From the gallery (any image).
   • 🎨 From the built-in library.
   • 📦 From the installed package icons.

Save the changes - a new shortcut will appear on the desktop.

Limitations of this method:

• Shortcuts take up space on the desktop (the original icons remain in the menu).
• Some applications (for example, "Google Play") can block changing icons.
• After updating the application, the shortcut may be reset.

6. standard

If after experiments you want to return the original icons, use one of the methods:

Method	Actions	Applies to
Reset theme	Settings → Appearance → Themes → Standard	All icons changed through themes
Deleting a launcher	Remove a third-party launcher and return the standard one to Settings → Applications → Default	Icons changed through Nova/Apex
Clearing launcher cache	Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear cache	Shortcuts created through Icon Changer
ADB (for system icons)	Restore the original files from a backup with the command adb push	Icons replaced manually

If the icons are partially reset (for example, only for some applications), try:

• 🔄 Restart your smartphone.
• 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Memory → Clear cache).
• 📦 Reinstall the icon pack (if you used a launcher).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware Honor (for example, MagicOS 7.1 on Honor 50) resetting themes can lead to a temporary lag in the interface. Wait for the process to complete (up to 2 minutes).

7. Common problems and their solutions

When changing icons, users encounter common errors: Here's how to fix them:

• 🚫 Icons do not change after application. themes:
  • Check whether the theme supports your model Honor (some themes are optimized only for Huawei P-series).
  • Clear the launcher cache in the application settings.
• 🔳 The launcher crashes after changing icons:
  • Delete launcher data (Settings → Applications → Nova Launcher → Memory → Erase data).
  • Reinstall the icon pack.
• 🔒 You cannot change the system application icon:
  • Use ADB or create a shortcut via Shortcut Maker.
  • On some firmware, system icons are locked - unlocking the bootloader is required (not recommended for beginners).

If after all the manipulations the icons are displayed in low resolution:

• 📏 Make sure that the original image has a size of at least 192×192 px.
• 🎨 Use format PNG with a transparent background.
• 🔍 Check the screen density settings in Settings → System → For developers → Minimum width (recommended value: 400dp).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Is it possible to change icons without installing additional applications?

Yes, but the possibilities are limited:

• Apply one of the built-in themes in Settings → Appearance → Themes.
• Create a shortcut with a custom icon via "Widgets → Shortcuts" (see section 3).

For complete freedom you will need a launcher or ADB.

Why did the icons reset after updating the firmware?

Update MagicOS/EMUI resets:

• All applied themes (they are tied to the firmware version).
• Launcher cache, which can lead to manual changes being reset.

We recommend:

• Save your favorite themes to "My themes".
• Create backup copies of icon packs on your PC.

How to return standard icons for individual applications?

Methods:

• For themes: apply the standard theme and select "Apply only to icons" (if available).
• For launchers: hold the icon → "Change" → "Icon by default".
• For shortcuts: remove the shortcut and use the original icon from the application menu.

Is it possible to change the icons on the lock screen?

No, the icons on the lock screen (Lockscreen) can only be changed through system themes. Alternative methods (for example, ADB) do not affect this interface element due to security restrictions Honor.

Which launchers work best on Honor?

According to the results of testing on Honor 70/80/90 i Magic 4/5 Pro:

• Nova Launcher —the most stable, but can slow down on weak models (for example, Honor 8A).
• Hyperion Launcher - optimal for MagicOS 7.0+, minimalistic design.
• Lawnchair - lightweight, but does not support all gestures Honor.

Avoid Microsoft Launcher i Action Launcher —they conflict with proprietary functions Honor (for example, with the gesture "Smart Assistant Button").