iOS 18: Create Dark Mode Icons for Apps That Won't Go Dark

[MacRumors]

Have you tried making your iPhone's Home Screen app icons dark using the new customization options in iOS 18? If so, you may have run up against the issue that, despite all efforts, some app icons simply refuse to turn dark. Well, we may have a solution for you.

It's been over two months since Apple released iOS 18, but not all app developers have updated their apps to include equivalent dark mode icons (we're looking at you, Amazon). And while iOS 18 tries to automatically generate dark icons when developers haven't provided them, it doesn't always work.

If that leaves one or two light icons spoiling your otherwise carefully crafted dark-themed Home Screen, don't despair. The following steps describe a relatively simple method you can use that will give most stubborn app icons a passable dark appearance. Big thanks to Redditor Straight_Random_2211 for sharing their custom dark icon assets and process, which we've distilled below:

1. On your iPhone, download the "Get App Icon" shortcut: [Shortcut Link].
2. Run the shortcut and type in the name of the app whose icon you want to make dark, then select it from the search results. The icon will be saved in your photo library.
   
   
   
   Next, save the following dark-background image to your photo library (long press ➝ Save to Photos): [Image Link]
3. Visit Remove.bg's "change background" web tool, then tap the blue Upload Image button and choose the app icon that's saved in your photos.
4. Under "Background Image," tap Select File, then choose the dark background image that's also saved in your photos.
5. Press and hold the resulting image on the remove.bg webpage, then tap Save to Photos in the contextual menu.
   
   
   
   Now, open Shortcuts and tap the + button at the top to create a new Shortcut, then select the Open App action.
6. Tap the blue "App" text in the "Open App" action, then choose the app whose icon you want to make dark.
7. Tap the chevron at the top of the screen, select Add to Home Screen from the dropdown menu.
   Label the shortcut as the app's name and choose your custom dark icon for the photo, then tap Add to finish.
   
   

With a bit of luck, your custom dark mode icon will look the part on your personalized Home Screen. Note: If you have several app icons that you want to create dark mode equivalents for, make sure to create a new "Open App" shortcut for each one as you go. If you don't, you may end up accidentally creating several icon shortcuts that refer back to the same app.

Article Link: iOS 18: Create Dark Mode Icons for Apps That Won't Go Dark

 

[ThailandToo]

That seems like a lot of work for an app icon. I use all my icons from the finder menu that aren’t on my Home Screen anyways. So doesn’t bother me.

 

[contacos]

So many steps! I just removed the ones from my Home Screen that did not adopt dark mode yet

 

[Vistaus]

I just wish that the automatic icon function would work well. On 18.0, 18.0.1 and even the 18.1 RC it just doesn't work. I enable it, all the icons turn dark and during the day they stay dark. If I wanted dark icons during the day, I would just tap Dark instead of Automatic.

iPhone 15, just a few months old if that makes any difference.

 

[makrumor]

I'm not sure what happened with v18 version and how it handle icons, but for example iPad's 13 Pro Netflix icon is kinda broken for me (vertical white line on right side, like icon isn't aligned properly). UPS app icon on mobile has similar issue but white line is seen all around the icon.
I was wondering if anyone had similar issues with these or any other apps?

 

[scorpio vega]

wasn’t iOS 18 officially released last month? It’s barely been a month so definitely not two.

 

[Newbee2025]

You know what they say, “once you go dark mode you don’t come back”.

 

[abowlby]

Very cool and helpful article.

 

[contacos]

wasn’t iOS 18 officially released last month? It’s barely been a month so definitely not two.

I was going to say time flies but yes it's hardly been a month actually

 

[HouseLannister]

I just find the dark mode icons too neon and bright. Ideally I would want to use the tint setting for a monochromatic B/W look, but I still want the notification badges to be red so they don’t get lost. Just can’t find an option that fits my aesthetics and don’t want to put in all the work for hacky shortcuts, so I left it on light icons. Here’s hoping we get an Android-esque icon picker in iOS 19.

 

[jonnysods]

I wish you could remove the words at the bottom without increasing the size of the icons too.

 

[sjebleu]

Funny enough, this was one of the many reasons that made me move away from Android to iOS back in 2016.

One time I was a passenger, and the driver asked me to text someone with his phone.
He had some kind of launcher applied and with perhaps the world most hideous icon designs. I was so frustrated with the stupid designs and layout that I almost threw it out the car windows.
People who have customized their phone to hell and back and asking for for help: F-U.

Anyway, this is probably just a me-issue.

 

[Kendo]

If I use light mode, the icons and wallpaper are light.

If I use dark mode, the icons and wallpaper are dark.

If I choose automatic and it is at night time, the icons are dark but the wallpaper remains light. Why is this?

 

[Digital Dude]

I don’t get why Apple is obsessed with dark mode icons, but I really wish more attention was given to fixing bugs. 🙄

 

[GaryMumford]

For people with Way too much time on their hands

 

[contacos]

If I use light mode, the icons and wallpaper are light.

If I use dark mode, the icons and wallpaper are dark.

If I choose automatic and it is at night time, the icons are dark but the wallpaper remains light. Why is this?

Don’t get that either! Makes no sense

 

[mcilwraith]

simple method?? your almost remaking your own icons!! why haven't the billion dollar companies done it??

 

[DMG35]

Once you do it the first time its incredibly easy to change the rest of your icons. Thanks for the tip MR!!

 

[C3PO]

Great Tip! I themed my 1Password icon.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Who really has this much time for an app icon?

Asking for a friend.

 

[mccdyl001]

I don’t get why Apple is obsessed with dark mode icons, but I really wish more attention was given to fixing bugs. 🙄

With OLED screens, dark actually saves battery (each pixel is its own light emitting source).

Switching to a pure dark mode might save quite a few percent of your daily battery usage.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Customizable icons...welcome to 2017 Apple!

 

[bigjnyc]

Too much work to change something that I look at for a fraction of a second lol... It's not like I sit there staring at my homescreen.

 

[coffeemilktea]

At this point, it's probably easier to just use custom icons entirely via Shortcuts.

 

[Ctrlos]

Welcome iOS users to the pointless world of Android customisation where if one thing is off or out of place the entire illusion is destroyed. Not every Android app supports Google Pixel theming. Not every handset supports system-level icon changes. Decorating a homescreen is like sprucing up the hallway: sure it looks nice but its not anywhere you want to actually spend any time.

Adding the missing App icons to the homescreen is fine but these are not reflected elsewhere leading to a jumbled, messy look to things.