How to Get Dark Mode App Icons for Every App on iPhone

Quick answer: iOS can only show a proper dark icon when the app's developer ships one, so many apps stay bright. To get dark icons for every app, put your apps in a WidgetLoft (formerly FolderMini) widget: popular apps come with ready-made dark icons, Apple's apps use Apple's real dark icons, and other apps get a dark icon made right on your iPhone as you add them.

You switched on dark icons, and the Home Screen looks great, until that one white banking app or bright shopping icon glows in the corner. Here is why it happens and how to fix it.

Why some app icons stay light in dark mode

A dark app icon is not something iOS paints on its own. The developer designs a dark variant and ships it inside the app. Apple's apps have one, and many big apps do too, but plenty of apps never got that update. Their icon keeps its white or bright background, no matter which appearance you pick.

You can't change that icon itself. What you can do is launch those apps from a widget whose tiles show a dark version instead. WidgetLoft turns a group of apps into a Home Screen widget, and a tap on a tile opens the app directly, with no Shortcuts in between.

Step-by-step: dark icons for every app

1. Create a group. Install WidgetLoft from the App Store (it is free to try) and create a group in the Groups tab.
2. Add your apps. Search the App Store inside the app, or use Share → WidgetLoft on any App Store page. New in 2.1.0: apps the catalog doesn't cover get a dark icon made on your phone from their own icon, as you add them. Nothing is uploaded.
3. Place the widget. Long-press the Home Screen, tap +, search for WidgetLoft and add the widget for your group.
4. Choose the icon appearance. Go to Settings → Widget → Dark Icon Appearance. For the regular widget pick Automatic (follows your device), Light or Dark.
5. Fine-tune any tile. Want your own look? In the Library, tap a tile, then Change Icon, and set a separate photo for Light and for Dark.

Stock iOS dark icons vs WidgetLoft widget dark icons

| Stock iOS dark icons | WidgetLoft widget dark icons | | --- | --- | | Only as dark as the developer made them | Ready-made dark icons for popular apps | | Apple's apps use Apple's dark icons | Apple's apps use Apple's real dark icons too | | Apps without a dark variant stay bright | Other apps get a dark icon made on your iPhone as you add them | | The icon is whatever the app ships | A separate Light and Dark photo on any tile | | Follows the system appearance | Automatic, Light or Dark, chosen in Settings → Widget |

The result is a Home Screen where every tile matches, including the apps that never shipped a dark icon. If you already use WidgetLoft, a one-time screen lists the apps that just got their dark icon. Looking for more layout inspiration? See our iOS 27 Home Screen ideas.

What stays the same

Dark icons are made to look clean, so a few things are left alone:

• Icons that are already dark, or too complex to recolor cleanly, stay as they are.
• Websites keep their site icon.
• The Liquid Glass widget can't follow the system automatically, so pick Light or Dark for it in Dark Icon Appearance.

Common questions

Why do some app icons stay white in iPhone dark mode? Dark icons look right only when the developer ships a dark version, and many apps don't. A WidgetLoft widget fills that gap with ready-made, Apple and on-device dark icons.

Does WidgetLoft upload my app icons to make dark versions? No. For apps the catalog doesn't cover, the dark icon is made right on your phone from the app's own icon. Nothing is uploaded.

Why doesn't my Liquid Glass widget switch to dark icons automatically? The Liquid Glass widget can't follow the system appearance on its own. Open Settings → Widget → Dark Icon Appearance and pick Light or Dark for it.

Ready for a fully dark Home Screen? Download WidgetLoft on the App Store and give every app a dark icon.