In the digital age, customization has become a fundamental aspect of user experience. Many of us are fond of the Home screen of their smartphone and the icons of the most used applications, but it can happen that a specific icon does not reflect our tastes or our personal brand. Instagram, being one of the most popular social platforms, is a common example: the default icon, although iconic, may not please everyone.
For assiduous users, both for work and for leisure, the idea of hiding the Instagram icon in a remote folder or in a secondary screen is not a feasible solution, as it would result in a loss of valuable time at every start of the app. Fortunately, there are effective methods to change the appearance of the Instagram icon on the Home screen of your device, either Android or iOS, without resorting to complex procedures such as the rooting or jailbreak.
In this in-depth guide, we will explore the different options available to give a touch of originality to the icon of your Instagram app. Not only that, we will also provide you with clear instructions on how to change your personal or corporate logo directly on your Instagram profile, a crucial step to keep your online identity updated and improve recognizability.
Customize Instagram icon on Android
If you use an Android smartphone or tablet, you have different solutions to change the Instagram icon. These methods are simple to implement and only take a few minutes of your time.
Method 1: Use a Third Party App for Custom Links
One of the most direct ways to change the Instagram icon on Android is to use a third-party application designed to create custom links on the Home screen. It is important to note that these apps only act on the link in the Home screen; the original Instagram icon inside the drawer (the app drawer) will remain unchanged. In addition, some of these applications could add a small digital brand to the new connection, to distinguish it from the original, a feature that some users might find less aesthetic, but that generally does not compromise the experience of use.
On the Play Store and alternative stores, applications that offer this feature abound. An effective and free example is Icon Changer Free. This app, compatible with most launchers, allows you to change the appearance of icons on the Home screen in a few steps.
Steps to use Icon Changer Free:
- Installation: Open the Google Play Store or your reference store, search “Icon Changer Free” and install the application. The icon of the app is easily recognizable, often depicting two robots connected by circular arrows.
- Start and Selection: Once installed, open the app. Tap the robot icon on the home screen, then select the tab Application, usually on the top left. Browse the list of installed applications and tap the Instagram icon.
- Choice of Icon: On the next screen, tap the voice Change in the box dedicated to the icon. A pop-up menu will open with different options:
- Default Icons: To choose between existing icons on the device.
- Gallery: To select an image from your personal gallery (for example, a logo downloaded or created).
- Icon Packs: To access set of default icons, installed or downloadable from the store.
- Customization and Design: After selecting the desired icon, you can further customize it using the entries Decorated and Filter to change its shape and colors. The box Title allows you to assign a new name to the link that will be created, offering an additional degree of customization.
- Connection creation: If the result meets you, press the button OK (usually high) and then Add to place the new custom link on the Home screen.
- Management of the Original Icon: The new icon will appear in the first available slot. You can drag it and reposition it to your liking. If the original Instagram icon is still on the Home screen, you can remove it by holding it and selecting the option Remove. Caution: do not select “Delete/Uninstall”, otherwise you will remove the application from the device, making the connection useless.
Method 2: Use a Custom Launcher and Icon Packages
If you want a broader control over the customization of icons, not only for Instagram but for all applications of your Android device, the ideal solution is the adoption of a custom launcher combined with a package of icons. The launchers are applications that replace the default user interface of your smartphone, offering advanced customization options.
There are many free and paid icon packages available on the Play Store and alternative stores. To use them, simply download them and make sure you have a compatible launcher. An excellent choice, versatile and well supported, is Microsoft Launcher, also available for free.
Steps to configure a launcher and an icon package:
- Launcher installation: Download and install Microsoft Launcher (or another launcher to your choice) as you would with any other app from the Play Store.
- Setting as Launcher Predefinite:
- Access the menu Settings of your Android device.
- Search for voice App or Applications and select it.
- Within this section, it identifies Default apps and therefore Launcher.
- From the proposed list, choose Microsoft Launcher and confirm the change.
- Icon Pack Application:
- Once you set the new launcher, hold your finger on an empty area of the Home screen to access the Launcher Settings.
- Browse the list of options until you find Schermata home, then select Appearance of the icon.
- Finally, touch Package icons and choose the package you like from the list. This will change the Instagram icon and all other apps supported by the package.
Customize Instagram icon on iPhone (iOS)
Also for iPhone users, you can change the Instagram icon on the Home screen, although the solutions are slightly different from those for Android. The most effective and integrated method uses native application Commands (sing) Shortcuts in English), available on all iOS devices.
Before proceeding, it is advisable to update the operating system at least iOS 14.3 or later. In previous versions, the opening of custom connections via Commands can be slower, since the Commands app starts before the target application. With iOS 14.3 and later, this transition has been greatly improved, making the experience more smooth.
Steps to use the Commands app:
- Starting the Command App: Find and open the app Commands on your Home screen (the icon is often composed of two overlapping colored robes). If you have uninstalled it previously, you can download it again from the App Store.
- Creating a New Command: Tap the button [+], usually at the top right, to create a new command.
- Adding the “Open App” Action: In the search bar, type “open the app”. Scroll the results list and tap the item Open the App. This action will be added to your new command.
- Instagram selection: Inside the action “Open the App”, you will see the wording Choose. Tap it and select Instagram from the list of available applications. At this point, the command is functionally complete.
- Add to Home and Choose Icon: Tap the three dot icon (…) next to the voice New command (or the provisional name assigned to him). In the menu Details which opens, select Add to Home. Here you can choose the image for your new icon:
- Tap the default icon next to the command name in the pane NOME SCHERMATA HOME E ICONA.
- Choose from Shooting photos, Choose photos (from gallery) or Choose files (for images saved in the File app, maybe downloaded from the internet).
- After selecting the image, tap Use (usually on the top right) to confirm.
- Name Assignment and Finalization: Enter the name you want to give to your link (for example, “Instagram” or a custom name) and tap the option Add, located at the top right.
- Management of the Original Icon: The new icon will appear on your Home screen. You can reposition it by holding it until it “danza” and dragging it to the desired position. To hide the original Instagram icon:
- With iOS 14 or later (with App Library): Press the original icon, select Remove app and then Remove from Home screen. The app will be installed and accessible via the App Library, but will no longer be visible on the Home screen.
- With previous versions of iOS: You can only move the original icon to a secondary folder to make it less visible.
Remember: Do not select “Delete App”, otherwise you would remove Instagram from your device, making the created link unusable.
Change the Profile Logo on Instagram
In addition to changing the aspect of the application icon on your device, you may want to update your personal or corporate logo directly on your Instagram profile. This is essential to keep your online image updated, to interact effectively with customers and to be immediately recognizable by potential new contacts.
If you still don't have a logo for your business or your personal profile, there are numerous resources and online guides that can help you create an eye-catching one. Once you have your ready logo, the process to set it as an Instagram profile image is simple and identical for Android and iOS users.
Steps to change the profile logo:
- Login to Instagram: Launch the Instagram application and access your account with your credentials.
- Reach your profile: From the Home section of the app, tap the image of your profile (or the omino-shaped icon) located in the lower right corner of the screen. This will take you to your profile page.
- Edit Image Profile: On your profile page, search and tap the button Edit profile (or similar, depending on the app version). On the next screen, select the item Change profile image.
- Upload the New Logo: From the pop-up menu, choose the option New profile image (on Android) or Choose from the library (on iOS). You will be required to browse through the archives of images on your device. Search the arrow below next to the voice Gallery or a similar option to access your photo library.
- Select and Fit: Locate the logo you want to use and tap it to select it. At this point, you can resize it and place it inside the profile image circle using your fingers, ensuring that the margins are correct and that the logo is well centered. You can also add filters, if you want, even if for a corporate logo it is often preferable to keep the original.
- Confirmation: After making the desired changes, tap the arrow icon (on Android, usually on top right) or voice End (on iOS) to confirm and save the new logo.
Your new logo will now be well visible as a profile picture for all those who interact with your Instagram account. This simple but effective operation allows you to strengthen your visual identity on the platform, making it more professional and appealing.
Conclusions
Customizing apps icons and profile logo on Instagram provides a simple but significant way to make your digital experience more yours. Whether you want to refresh the look of your Home screen with an icon that represents you more, or that you need to update your brand image to maintain a consistent and professional online presence, the solutions are at hand.
With native Android and iOS tools, or simple third-party apps, you can turn your device into a more faithful extension of your style or corporate identity. Use these possibilities to optimize your daily interaction with Instagram and to better present yourself in the vast world of social media.
