How to put a photo as an icon on the Android desktop: a complete guide

Do you want to personalize your smartphone, but standard application icons seem boring? Replacing them with photos from the gallery is one of the easiest ways to make the interface unique. However, not everyone knows that Android allows you to do this without root access or complex manipulations. Depending on the OS version and shell (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS), the process may differ slightly, but the general principle remains the same: you create shortcut with a custom iconrather than replacing the original one.

Many users confuse this process with changing icon themes through launchers like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher. But our method does not require the installation of additional apps - standard Android tools are enough. The only limitation: this way you can replace the icon only for labels, and not for the applications themselves in the menu. But for most tasks this is enough: you can put a photo of friends on the icon Contact, a game logo on the shortcut Steam, or even a meme on the button Settings.

In this article we will analyze all the current methods - from built-in functions to third-party applications with advanced capabilities. And if you are afraid of breaking something, don’t worry: all methods are safe and reversible.

1. Method: through the standard shortcut menu (Android 10 and newer)

Starting with Android 10, Google has added the ability to create shortcuts with custom icons directly from the system menu. This method works on most smartphones without additional applications, but the interface may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer.

To put a photo on the desktop:

1. Press and hold with your finger empty space on the desktop.
2. Select from the menu that appears data-i="55">(or Widgets (or Shortcuts on some devices).
3. Scroll down the list and find the section Application shortcuts (may be called App Shortcuts on English firmware).
4. Select the application for which you want to create a shortcut (for example, Gallery or Camera).
5. Tap and hold the created shortcut, then drag it to the desktop.
6. Now click on the shortcut once - the editing menu will open. Here select Change icon.
7. In the list of options, tap Gallery and select the desired photo. Cut it along the outline of the icon.

Done! Now you will have a shortcut with your photo on your desktop. Please note: this method creates a DUPLICATE of the icon, but does not replace the original one in the application menu. If you delete the shortcut, the application will remain in the system.

2. Method: using the Shortcut Maker application

If your smartphone runs on an old version of Android (up to 10) or the manufacturer has removed the custom icons function (as on some devices Huawei), the application Shortcut Makerwill come to the rescue. It is free, without unnecessary hassle and does not require root access.

Installation instructions and settings:

• 📥 Download Shortcut Maker from Google Play.
• 🔍 Open the application and find in the list the one for which you want to change the icon (for example, Chrome or WhatsApp).
• 🖼️ Click on the application, then select Create shortcut.
• 🎨 In the section Icon tap Gallery and select foto. The application will automatically crop it to a square shape.
• 📱 Click Create —the shortcut will appear on the desktop.

The advantage of this method is that Shortcut Maker allows you to create shortcuts not only for applications, but and for specific actions inside them. For example, you can make an icon that immediately opens a dialogue with a specific contact in Telegram or launches a specific playlist in YouTube Music.

Install the application from the official store|

Check storage permissions|

Select a photo in advance and crop it into a square (optional)|

Make sure there is free space on your desktop-->

3. Method: using launchers that support custom icons

If you are ready to go beyond simply replacing one or two icons, consider installing an alternative launcher. apps like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Action Launcher allow you to change the icons of all applications, apply themes and even animate transitions.

Let's look at the process with an example Nova Launcher (the most popular option):

• 🛠️ Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
• 📱 Assign it as the default launcher (the system will prompt you to do this upon first launch).
• 🖼️ Press and hold the icon of the application you want to change.
• ⚙️ In the menu that appears, select Edit.
• 🎨 Tap on the icon, then select Gallery and upload your photo.
• 🔄 Crop the image according to the template and save the changes.

In Nova Launcher there is also a function Adaptive iconsthat automatically adjusts your photos to the shape of standard icons (circle, rounded square and etc.). This is useful if you want to maintain uniformity on your desktop.

⚠️ Attention: some launchers (for example, Microsoft Launcher) do not support replacing icons with custom images Before installing, check the description on Google. Play.

How to return the standard launcher?

To roll back to the native launcher, go to Settings → Applications → Default Launcher and select the system option (for example, Lawnchair to Pixel or One UI Home to Samsung).

4. Method: manual replacement through the file manager (for experienced ones)

This method is suitable for those who are not afraid to delve into system files. It allows you to replace the icon. data-i="137">, but requires caution and backup. We will consider a safe option without root access, which works for user applications (not system ones). directly in the application APK file, but requires caution and backup. We will look at a safe, non-root option that works for user applications (not system ones).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Download a file manager with access to the APK, for example ZArchiver or Mixplorer.
2. Find the APK file of the desired application in the folder /data/app/ (the folder name will contain the name of the package, for example com.whatsapp-1).
3. Copy the APK file to another folder (for example, Downloads) and rename it to app.zip.
4. Unzip the file. Inside, find the folder res, and in it - subfolders drawable-hdpi, drawable-xhdpi etc. Icons are stored here.
5. Replace icon file (usually called ic_launcher.png or similar) to your image of the same resolution.
6. Zip the folder back to ZIP, rename it to APK and install over the old application.

This method is only suitable for user applications (downloaded from Google Play). System applications cannot be replaced this way - you will need root access.

⚠️ Attention: incorrectly replacing files in the APK can lead to installation errors.

Method	Requires root	Works on all Android	Changes the original icon
Standard shortcuts	❌ No	✅ Yes (Android 10+)	❌ No (shortcut only)
Shortcut Maker	❌ No	✅ Yes (Android 5+)	❌ No (only shortcut)
Nova Launcher	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No (only in the launcher)
Manual replacement in APK	❌ No (for custom applications)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (only for reinstalled APK)

5. Method: widgets with photos instead of icons

If you don’t necessarily need to change the icon itself, but just need a picture on your desktop that will open the application, you can use widgets. For example, a widget Photo from Google or widgets from the application KWGT (for advanced users).

How it works using the example of a widget Photo:

• 🖼️ Press and hold an empty space on the desktop → Widgets.
• 🔍 Find the widget Photo (from Google) or Gallery (on some firmware).
• 📏 Select the widget size (for example, 1×1 to simulate an icon).
• 🎨 Select a photo from gallery.
• 🔗 Now you need to bind the action: click on the widget → Settings → Action when clicked and select the application.

The disadvantage of this method is that the widget takes up more space than the icon and does not always look organic. But it works on any versions of Android without additional applications.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with detailed instructions, users encounter difficulties. Let's look at the most common ones:

Problem 1: After creating a shortcut through Shortcut Maker the icon is reset to the standard one.

Solution: This happens due to memory optimization. Go to Settings → Applications → Shortcut Maker → Battery and disable optimization for this application.

Problem 2: In Nova Launcher no icon changes are saved after a reboot.

Solution: Update the launcher to the latest version or clear its cache in the application settings. Also check if the settings are reset due to the power saving mode.

Problem 3: When manually replacing the icon in the APK, the application is not installed.

Solution:

• Make sure that the new image has the same name and extensionsame as the original.
• Check that the image resolution is the same (for example, if the original was 192×192 px, the new photo should be the same size).
• Re-sign the APK using tools like APK Editor (requires basic knowledge).

Problem 4: On Huawei or Honor none of the methods work.

Solution: These devices often limit customization. Try:

• Install a launcher from a third-party developer (for example, Nova Launcher).
• Use widgets instead of icons.
• Update the firmware to the latest version (in new versions EMUI support for custom icons has appeared).

⚠️ Attention: on some devices Samsung s One UI shortcuts created through Shortcut Makermay not be displayed in folders. This is a shell limitation - place. such shortcuts directly to the desktop.

FAQ: answers to popular questions

Is it possible to replace the icon of a system application (for example, "Phone" or "Messages") without root?

No, replacing icons system applications requires root access. Without them, you can only create a shortcut with a custom icon on the desktop, but the original icon in the application menu will remain unchanged.

Why did my custom icons reset after updating Android?

This happens because the shortcuts and settings of the launchers are stored in its cache After a major update. The system cache may be reset. To avoid losing settings:

• Before updating, make a backup copy of the launcher settings (in Nova Launcher this is done in the menu Backup/restore).
• Use a cloud backup (for example, via Google Drive).

Is it possible to make an animated icon (GIF) on the desktop?

Yes, but with reservations:

• Through standard Android tools - no.
• Using the launcher Nova Launcher + plugin DynamicAppIcons you can, but the animation will only play when pressed.
• For full animation you need a widget (for example, KWGT with custom animations) or live wallpapers with support for interactive elements.

How to return the standard icon if I replaced it via APK?

If you replaced the icon in the APK file and installed it on top of the original application, you can return the standard icon in two ways:

1. Reinstall the application from Google Play (the data will be saved if you do not delete it completely).
2. Find the original APK (for example, on APKMirror) and install it manually.

Will a custom icon work after resetting the phone to factory settings?

No, all shortcuts and settings of the launcher will be deleted. However, if you used Nova Launcher or a similar launcher with a backup function, you can restore the icons after the reset:

1. Install the launcher again.
2. Restore the settings from the backup (the file usually has an extension .novabackup).
3. Recreate the shortcuts if they are not restored automatically.