Smartphone Honor 9, released in 2017, still remains a popular device due to its stylish design and high-quality screen. However, the standard interface EMUIthat is installed by default may seem too strict or monotonous to many users. One of the most common problems faced by owners of this device is the inability to quickly change the appearance of app shortcuts without installing additional software.
The standard shell from Huawei and Honor has its limitations: you cannot simply click on an icon and select a picture from the gallery, as is implemented in some other custom firmware. The system is strictly tied to the selected design theme. However, there are several proven ways to get around these limitations and personalize your desktop to your taste, using both built-in functions and third-party solutions.
In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available customization methods. You will learn how to use the built-in theme function, which launchers best fit this model, and how to use special helper applications to replace graphics. It is important to understand that each method has its pros and cons that affect device performance and ease of use.
Using the built-in Themes application
The easiest and safest way to change the appearance of icons is to use the official tool from the manufacturer. All devices in the Honor line come pre-installed with the application Themes. It allows you to download ready-made design packages that change not only shortcuts, but also wallpaper, notification sounds and the style of system windows. To get started, you need to open this application through the menu or search.
Inside the store you will find thousands of design options. Some are free, others require payment or local currency. When choosing a theme, pay attention to the preview: usually the description indicates which elements it replaces. We are interested in those packages where the item Iconsappears in the list of changes. After downloading and applying the theme, the system will automatically restart the graphical shell.
It is worth noting that applying a global theme changes the appearance of all shortcuts at once. You won't be able to select one specific icon to replace, leaving the rest as standard. This is a limitation of the standard skin EMUI 5.1 or newer versions installed on Honor 9. If you need fine-tuning, this method may not be flexible enough.
⚠️ Warning: When downloading themes from third-party sources (not through the official application), there is a risk of installing malware or receiving an unstable interface. Use only trusted resources.
In addition, some themes may not display correctly on screen resolution 1080x1920if they were created for devices with different pixel densities. In this case, the icons may appear blurry or have incorrect proportions. Always check user reviews before downloading large design packages.
Before installing a new theme, take a screenshot of your current desktop. If you don't like the new graphics, you can quickly remember what the previous design looked like when looking for an alternative.
Installing third-party launchers
If the built-in capabilities do not suit you, the best solution would be to install an alternative shell - launcher. This application completely replaces the standard desktop, providing advanced customization options. For Honor 9 popular solutions such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher.
After installing the launcher from the store Google Play the system will prompt you to select a default application for the main screen. Select a new launcher and confirm the action. Now you have full control over the desktop grid, animations and, most importantly, the appearance of each individual icon. The process of changing graphics becomes intuitive.
To change the icon of a specific application in most advanced launchers, you need to long press the shortcut. In the menu that appears, select “Edit” or the pencil icon. Next, a gallery will open where you can select any image from the phone’s memory or use the built-in icon library. This allows you to create a unique style by combining different sets of graphics.
- 🎨 Nova Launcher —considered the standard of customization, allowing you to change the size, shape, and even click animation for each shortcut separately.
- 🚀 Microsoft Launcher —offers excellent integration with the Windows ecosystem and has a built-in icon store with the ability to download custom sets.
- 🧩 Smart Launcher 6 —automatically sorts applications by category and offers a smart icon selection system if the application does not have its own unique icon.
Using a third-party launcher may slightly increase RAM consumption. On Honor 9 with its 4 or 6 GB of RAM this is usually not critical, but background processes are still worth monitoring. Make sure that in the power saving settings the new launcher is allowed to run in the background, otherwise the system may unload it, resetting the desktop settings.
Using applications to change icons
There is a category of applications that do not replace the entire desktop, but act as a “layer” between the system and shortcuts. They create new shortcuts on the desktop that lead to the apps you need, but have the appearance you specify. A striking example of such a tool is the application X Icon Changer or its analogues.
The principle of operation of such utilities is extremely simple. You launch the application, select from the list the installed app whose icon you want to change. Then upload a new image from the gallery or select a ready-made template from the application library. After confirmation, a new shortcut with the selected picture appears on the desktop.
It is important to understand the technical feature of this method: it does not create a replacement for the old icon, but a new one shortcut (shortcut). The old icon remains in the application menu. You will have to manually remove the old shortcut from your desktop to avoid duplicates. This may be inconvenient if you are used to a strict order.
The order of actions in X Icon Changer:1. Open the application.
2. Click “Select an app.”
3. Select a app from the list.
4. Click “Select an icon.”
5. Upload a photo or select a template.
6. Click “Create.”
Some users are faced with the fact that after rebooting the phone, icons created in this way may disappear or be reset to standard ones. This depends on the aggressiveness of the memory management system in EMUI. To avoid this, it is recommended to fix the application for changing icons in memory by adding it to the list of protected processes.
☑️ Checking the operation of the icon changer
Setting the grid and icon size
The visual perception of icons depends not only on their design, but also on the size, as well as the density of location on the screen. In the settings Honor 9 and third-party launchers, you can change the number of rows and columns. This affects how large the interface elements will be displayed.
In the standard shell, go to Settings → Home screen. Here you will find a slider or matrix selection, for example 4x6 or 5x6. Increasing the number of cells will make the icons smaller, allowing you to place more apps on one screen. Reducing the grid, on the contrary, will make the shortcuts larger and easier to click.
If you use a third-party launcher, the customization options expand. You can set the exact icon size as a percentage of the cell size, change the padding between elements, and even make the grid uneven. This is especially useful for creating a minimalistic design, where icons occupy the central part of the screen and widgets are located on the edges.
| Customization option | Standard launcher | Nova Launcher | Smart Launcher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change grid | Only presets | Any configuration | Automatic/Manual |
| Icon size | Fixed | Adjustable slider | Depends on the topic |
| Icon shape | On topic | Forced rounding | Adaptive |
| Caption (text) | Always visible | Can be hidden | Hidden in folders |
By experimenting with the grid, you can achieve an effect where icons look like part of a single composition, and not just scattered elements. For example, installing a large grid with minimal padding allows you to create a “tiled” effect, which was popular in the design of past years and is now returning in the form of widgets.
The optimal grid size for Honor 9 is 5x6, as this provides a balance between screen capacity and readability of captions at Full HD resolution.
Using icons in Adaptive format Icons
Starting with Android 8.0 Oreo, support for Adaptive Icons (adaptive icons) was introduced into the system. Although Honor 9 was originally released on an older version, many users have updated it to Android 8 or 9. Adaptive icons consist of two layers: background and foreground, which allows the system to dynamically change their shape depending on the selected theme.
If your device is running the latest version of the software, you can create your own adaptive icons. This will require graphic editors or specialized applications, such as Icon Pack Studio. In them you upload the application logo, select the mask shape (circle, square, rounded square) and background color.
The advantage of this approach is uniformity. Even if you take logos from different sources, using a single mask and background color scheme will make the entire desktop look harmonious. This is especially true if you like a strict style or, conversely, bright neon colors.
⚠️ Attention: Not all applications support the standard of adaptive icons. For older apps, the system will use a standard placeholder or original graphics without the ability to change the shape of the mask.
It may take time to create a quality set. You will have to process dozens of images to make them look organic. However, the result is worth it: you get a completely unique interface that no other user has.
Possible problems and their solutions
During the customization process, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. The most common problem is that after changing icons become black squares or are displayed with an error. This often happens when using replacement applications that have lost access to an image file after clearing the cache or moving the file to another folder.
Another common situation is interface lags after installing a heavy launcher. Honor 9 is a powerful phone, but the resources are not unlimited. If you notice stuttering when scrolling through desktops, try disabling unnecessary animations in the launcher settings or reducing the number of widgets on the screen.
It is also possible that after updating the system, all settings will be reset to factory settings. This is standard behavior for major firmware updates. To minimize risks, use launchers with the function of backing up settings to the cloud. This will allow you to restore the familiar appearance of your desktop in a couple of minutes.
What to do if icons do not change in folders?
In some versions of EMUI and third-party launchers, icons inside folders may ignore user settings and display the standard application logo. Try deleting the folder and creating it again, first changing the icons on the main screen, or use the “Apply to folder” function in the settings of a specific launcher, if available.
Do not forget to monitor the free space in the internal memory. Installing a large number of themes, icons and launchers can take up a significant amount of storage space. Regularly delete unused design packages so as not to slow down the file system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to change the icon of the "Phone" or "Contacts" system application?
Yes, this is possible, but with reservations. In the standard EMUI launcher, replacing system icons is often blocked. You will need to install a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), which allows you to edit shortcuts for any applications, including system ones. In some cases, you may need to provide special permissions via ADB.
Does changing icons affect the speed of the Honor 9 smartphone?
A static icon image itself does not affect performance. However, using heavy third-party launchers with many animations and widgets can increase the load on the processor and RAM, which will lead to faster battery drain and possible micro-lags.
Where to download safe icon sets for Android?
The most secure source is the official store Google Play. There are thousands of proven icon packs available. Downloading archives with icons from unverified forums or file hosting services carries the risk of infecting your device with viruses.
Why did my new icons disappear after a reboot?
Most likely, you used an application for creating shortcuts, which was unloaded from memory by the energy saving system. Go to Settings → Battery → Launch applications, find your application for icons and allow it to autostart and run in the background.
Is it possible to return all icons back to the factory appearance?
Yes. If you changed the theme through the Themes app, simply apply the Default theme. If you used a third-party launcher, uninstall it or reset the launcher to factory settings. If you used individual icons through utilities, you will have to manually delete the created shortcuts and return the original ones from the application menu.