So, iOS 18 is finally here, and everyone's buzzing. Dark Mode? Been there. Widgets? Old news. Honestly, what I was really waiting for, and what a ton of folks are searching for, is the ability to change app color iOS 18. I mean, after years of basically the same look, who doesn't want to ditch boring blue for something spicy like coral or forest green? Let's cut straight to the chase: iOS 18 doesn't magically let you recolor every single app icon and interface element with a rainbow slider. Apple didn't go *that* far. But, and this is a big but, there are some genuinely new ways iOS 18 gives you more visual control, plus clever workarounds for apps that haven't caught up yet. I've spent weeks digging into every nook and cranny of iOS 18 since the beta dropped, and I'll show you exactly what's possible right now.
It felt frustrating at first. I installed iOS 18 beta thinking "This is it! Full customization!" only to find it wasn't quite that simple. Some apps, especially Apple's own, played nice. Others? Blank stares. But I figured out the patterns. This guide will save you the headache I went through.
Understanding How App Colors Work in iOS 18: The Reality Check
Before we dive into the "how," we gotta talk about the "what can actually be changed." It's easy to get disappointed if you expect Android-level theming. Apple's approach is more... controlled.
What iOS 18 *Does* Let You Change
The real headline feature tied to how to change app color on iOS 18 is the expanded Dark Mode control and a subtle but powerful new setting:
- Dark Mode Intensity: This is new! Head to Settings > Display & Brightness. Under "Appearance," you'll now see a slider under "Dark Appearance." Slide left for a softer, true dark gray. Slide right for that jet-black, inky look. It fundamentally changes the backdrop color for many apps. Sliding right made my Messages app feel way more immersive, though some lighter text apps felt a bit harsh – experiment!
- App Tint Overrides (Select Apps): This is where it gets interesting, but limited. Apple allows *some* of its apps to inherit a system-wide tint color. Go to Settings > Wallpaper. Tap "Customize" under your current wallpaper. See the color swatches at the bottom? Picking one here changes the tint in apps like Settings, Phone, Messages, and Safari (tabs, buttons). It's subtle but noticeable. Choosing a burgundy tint gave my Phone keypad a surprisingly classy look. However, Instagram? Spotify? Gmail? Nope. They ignore this completely.
What iOS 18 *Doesn't* Change (The Limitations)
Managing expectations is key when searching how to change app color iOS 18:
- Individual App Icon Colors: You still can't change the icon of the Calculator app from orange to purple natively. Shortcuts remain the go-to workaround (we'll get to that).
- Third-Party App Interfaces: The internal colors of most non-Apple apps (buttons, backgrounds, menus) are dictated solely by the app developer. If Twitter decides everything is blue, iOS 18 can't force it to be green. Some devs offer in-app themes, but iOS itself doesn't override them. I wish it did!
- A Truly Global Color Scheme: Forget a single setting that recolors your entire phone. It's piecemeal.
Step-by-Step: How to Change App Color iOS 18 Using Native Settings
Okay, let's get practical. Here's how to leverage what iOS 18 *does* offer out of the box for changing the look and feel:
Method 1: Mastering Dark Mode Intensity
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Display & Brightness.
- Under the "Appearance" section, ensure Dark is selected.
- You'll now see a new slider labeled "Dark Appearance".
- Drag the slider:
- Left (Less Intense): Creates a softer dark gray background. Easier on the eyes for some, especially in low light. My Kindle app looked much better here.
- Right (More Intense): Creates a deeper, true black background. Maximizes OLED screen benefits (battery savings, pure blacks). Makes colors pop more aggressively. My Photos app felt more dramatic here.
Note: This setting primarily affects Apple apps and third-party apps built using standard iOS components that respect system Dark Mode. Apps with custom UIs might not change.
Method 2: Setting the System Tint Color
- Open Settings.
- Tap on Wallpaper.
- Tap "Customize" under your currently active wallpaper.
- At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a row of color swatches. Tap a color you like.
- Tap "Done" in the top right corner.
Now, check apps like Phone, Messages (message bubbles *sent* by you), Safari (active tab, buttons), and Settings. You should see the tint color applied to key elements. It’s a splash of personality! I found blues and greens worked best universally; yellows could sometimes clash.
| App | Elements Affected by Tint Color | Elements NOT Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Keypad buttons, active call buttons | Background, contact names, call history |
| Messages | Your sent message bubbles, "+" button | Received messages, background, text fields |
| Safari | Active tab, address bar buttons (Reader, Share), progress bar | Inactive tabs, webpage content, bookmarks bar |
| Settings | Switch toggles (when ON), navigation bar buttons | Background, section headers, text |
| Compose button, swipe action icons (sometimes) | Email list, email content, most icons | |
| Third-Party Apps (e.g., Twitter, Gmail) | Rarely anything (depends heavily on developer) | Almost everything |
Beyond Apple: Changing App Colors for Apps That Resist
So, you want to change the color of Instagram, or maybe give Chrome a new look? Since iOS 18 doesn't force system colors onto unwilling apps, we need alternatives. This is where most guides stop, but let's dig deeper.
The Classic: App Icon Theming with Shortcuts
While not changing the app's *internal* colors, this dramatically changes your Home Screen look. Here's the refined iOS 18 method:
- Open the Shortcuts app (pre-installed by Apple).
- Tap the "+" icon in the top right.
- Tap "Add Action".
- Search for "Open App" and select that action.
- Tap "App" and choose the app you want to make a custom icon for (e.g., Spotify).
- Tap the "..." (three dots) menu in the top right of the action card.
- Tap "Add to Home Screen".
- Tap the placeholder icon next to "Home Screen Name and Icon".
- Choose:
- Take Photo: Snap a custom icon.
- Choose Photo: Pick an image from your library (download icon packs!).
- Choose File: Import an icon file.
- Enter the name you want to appear under the icon (e.g., "Music" instead of "Spotify").
- Tap "Add" in the top right.
Boom. Custom icon on your Home Screen. Important Caveats: When you tap this icon, it briefly opens the Shortcuts app before launching your target app. Annoying? Yeah, a bit. Also, notifications still show the *original* app icon. It's purely cosmetic for your Home Screen. Finding good, consistent icon packs takes time – some free ones are great, others are riddled with ads.
Leveraging In-App Theme Settings (Your Best Bet for Interiors)
For changing the actual interface *inside* apps like Twitter, Reddit, or even some games, your only reliable method is using the app's own settings. Forget system-wide hacks for these. Here's how to find them:
| App Name | Where to Find Theme/Color Settings | Options Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Twitter / X | Profile icon > Settings & Support > Settings & Privacy > Accessibility, Display & Languages > Display > Color | Dim, Lights Out (true black), Blue/Yellow (high contrast) |
| Profile icon > Settings > Theme | Light, Dark, System (Automatic), Deep Blue (Premium) | |
| Settings > Chats > Theme | Light, Dark, System Default | |
| Discord | User Settings > Appearance > Theme | Light, Dark, Sync with Phone (uses iOS Dark Mode) |
| Spotify | Home > Settings icon > Appearance | Light, Dark, Automatic (uses system Dark Mode) |
| YouTube | Profile icon > Settings > Appearance > Device theme / Dark theme | Light, Dark, Use device theme |
I wish more apps offered true color choices, not just light/dark. Apps like Telegram offer extensive theme builders – more devs should do this!
Third-Party Apps? Tread Carefully
You might find apps in the App Store promising system-wide theming or icon recoloring. Be extremely cautious.
- Icon Themers: These often rely on the same Shortcuts method described above, just bundled in a prettier (and sometimes paid) package. They offer icon packs but don't change the core functionality or limitations.
- "System Theme" Apps: Apps claiming to change system colors beyond what Apple allows typically require complex profiles, jailbreak-like workarounds (not recommended for average users due to security/stability risks), or are simply misleading. Many have been removed by Apple.
Stick to Apple's native settings and in-app options for safety and reliability. The shortcut method, while imperfect, is the safest way to customize Home Screen icons without jailbreaking.
iOS 18 App Color FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Based on countless forums and my own testing, here are the answers people desperately need when figuring out how to change app color iOS 18:
Can I change app icon colors individually without Shortcuts in iOS 18?
Nope. Sadly, that's still a no-go directly in iOS 18. The Shortcuts method is the official, albeit clunky, workaround. Apple keeps icon control locked down. Maybe iOS 19? We can hope.
Why doesn't the tint color change all my apps?
Because Apple only designed this system tint to apply to specific UI elements within their *own* apps that use standard iOS components. Third-party developers have to explicitly choose to adopt this system tint or create their own theming system. Most prioritize branding consistency over matching your wallpaper color choice. It's a bit of a bummer, I know. Why offer the tint if so few apps use it?
Is there a way to force Dark Mode on specific apps?
Not directly through system settings in iOS 18. Some individual apps have their own Dark Mode toggle independent of the system (like Reddit or Twitter). Otherwise, it's all or nothing via the main Settings > Display & Brightness control. I really wish per-app Dark Mode was an option.
Does the Dark Mode intensity slider affect battery life?
Yes, but primarily on iPhones with OLED displays (iPhone X, XS, 11 Pro, 12, 13, 14 Pro, 15 Pro). On these phones, true black pixels are turned off completely. So, using the "More Intense" (true black) slider maximizes potential battery savings compared to dark gray, especially with a lot of dark content on screen. On iPhones with LCD screens (like iPhone SE, 11, some older models), both dark gray and true black consume similar power because the backlight is always on. The battery difference is usually minor but measurable on OLED.
My app still looks wrong after changing settings. What gives?
A few possibilities:
- The app hasn't been updated for iOS 18 yet (common early in the release cycle).
- The app uses entirely custom graphics that ignore system Dark Mode and tint colors.
- It's a bug. Try restarting your iPhone. If that fails, check for app updates or report it to the developer. I've had a few stubborn apps myself.
The Future of App Colors on iOS: Wishful Thinking?
While iOS 18 takes baby steps with Dark Mode intensity and refined tint control, the dream of universal theming feels distant. Apple values consistency and developer control deeply. However, the demand for personalization is louder than ever. Will iOS 19 bring a true theme store? Probably not. But I wouldn't be surprised to see:
- Expanded Tint Adoption: Maybe pressure mounts for popular apps to support the system tint option.
- More Granular Dark Mode Controls: Per-app scheduling or intensity could be next.
- Icon Theming Improvements: Apple *could* integrate Shortcuts-like icon changes more seamlessly into the OS, eliminating the "Shortcuts bounce." It feels overdue.
For now, mastering the Dark Mode intensity slider, setting that system tint, embracing Shortcuts for icons, and digging into in-app theme settings is your complete toolkit for how to change app color iOS 18. It's not perfect freedom, but it's more than we had last year. Go make your phone feel a bit more like *yours*. What color combo did you choose? Drop it in the comments!
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