How to Change Icon Packs on the Pixel and Pixel XL

If you don’t mind using a custom launcher, you can follow these steps to change to a different icon pack on the Pixel and the Pixel XL.

Google’s stock launchers have never been very customizable. We can change a few things here and there, but the settings for these launchers are generally pretty minimal. One of the big reasons why Android is so popular is because we get to customize our own device in a number of different ways.

The Pixel Launcher will likely get icon pack support in the future (as long as you have root access), but for now we have to resort to a custom launcher.

There are dozens of popular custom launchers out there that support icon packs. My favorite is Nova Launcher, and you’ll see me walk you through the process for how this is done on that launcher in the embedded video below. I have also picked out over a dozen of the most popular custom launchers and will talk about how to change to a new icon pack from that specific launcher with the Pixel and Pixel XL.

If your favorite launcher is not included in this list, or if the steps aren’t correct (as sometimes an update to the app can change things), then please let me know about it in the comments section below.

Nova Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch the Nova Settings application
3. Tap on the Look& Feel option
4. Tap on the Icon Theme option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

Action Launcher 3

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch the Action Launcher 3 settings
3. Tap on the Display’ option
4. Tap on the Icon Pack option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

ADW Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch ADW Config
3. Tap on the ADW Settings option
4. Tap on the Themes option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded
6. Tap on the Apply option at the top right

Apex Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch Apex Settings
3. Tap on the Theme Settings option
4. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded
5. Make sure Icon Pack is checked
6. Then tap on the Apply option at the bottom right

Atom Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Tap the Left Arrow at the top right
3. Tap on the Home with the Gear icon to launch the Settings
4. Tap on the Theme option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded
6. Tap on the Apply option on the right

Go Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Long-press on an empty spot of the Home Screen
3. Tap on the Go Settings option
4. Then tap on the Personalization option
5. Tap on the Icon option
6. Tap on the Icon option again(in the Icon Style section)
7. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

Inspire Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Long-press on an empty spot of the Home Screen
3. Tap on the settings option
4. Tap on the Themes option
5. Tap on the Icon Themes option
6. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

KitKat Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Long-press on an empty spot of the Home Screen
3. Tap on the Settings option
4. Then tap on the Icon Packs option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

Lucid Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Tap the 3-Dot Menu icon at the top right
3. Tap on the Launcher Settings option
4. Tap on the Icon Theme option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

Nine Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch the App Drawer
3. Tap on the Double Box icon at the bottom left
4. Tap on the Icon option at the very top
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

Solo Launcher

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch the Beautify Application
3. Tap on the Solo Family option
4. Tap on the Themes option
5. Tap on the Installed option
6. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

Smart Launcher 2

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Tap on the 6-Dot icon at the bottom left
3. Tap on the 3-Dot icon at the top right
4. Tap on the Theme option
5. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded
6. Make Sure the Icon Pack option is checked
7. Tap on the Set option to apply

Themer

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Long-press on an empty spot of the Home Screen
3. Tap on the Settings option
4. Tap on the Manage App Drawer option
5. Then tap on the Set Icon Pack option
6. Choose the Icon Pack you downloaded

To edit the Home Screen icons of Themer. . .

1. Tap and hold on an icon
2. Tap on the Edit option
3. Tap on the icon
4. Swipe over to the Icon Pack you downloaded
5. Choose an icon to use

Unicon

1. Download a compatible Icon Pack
2. Launch the Unicon application
3. Tap on the Icon Pack you downloaded
4. Tap on the Apply option
5. Tap the Restart Launcher & Apps option

So these are the most popular custom launchers that I am aware of. Again, if I missed out on any, or if any of these instructions no longer work, then please let me know. I can’t go through dozens of custom launchers all the time so it is hard to make sure these are constantly up to date. Sometimes the developer of an application can rework their UI and that will change how something like how to apply an Icon Pack.