Are you looking to change your Instagram app icon without having to use third-party apps?
You’re in luck because Instagram just released a new feature where you can change the app’s icon!
The feature is an Easter egg (hidden feature) as part of Instagram’s 10th birthday celebration on 6th October 2020.
It’s Instagram’s 10th birthday today!
Android and iOS users can change their Instagram app icon (from an Easter egg) among other features.
Android and iOS users can now change the Instagram app icon to a custom one in the app itself.
There are multiple colors you can choose from—purple, green, orange, and more.
Along with custom app icons, there’s the release of a private story map and IGTV shopping.
The custom app icon Easter egg was tweeted by Instagram as a clue using emojis.
Are you able to decipher the emoji chain from the tweet?
If you are not able to, don’t worry, because this article guides you on how to change your Instagram app icon (step-by-step).
???⚙️?⬇️⬇️⬇️??
Secret > Instagram > Settings > Pull down the screen thrice > Partying Face emoji > Gift (Icon changer).
In a nutshell, the emoji chain means Secret > Instagram > Settings > Pull down the screen thrice > Partying emoji > Gift (Icon changer).
Without further ado, here’s how you can change your Instagram app icon.
Table of Contents
- Update the Instagram app
- Open Instagram
- Go to your settings
- Pull down to refresh
- Choose your favorite icon
1. Update the Instagram app
Firstly, what you want to do is to update the Instagram app.
In order to change your Instagram icon, you need to update the app to the latest version (162.0).
Otherwise, you won’t be able to access the new feature to change your icon in the Instagram app.
The custom icons are part of Instagram’s 10th birthday update, so you’ll have to update the app in order to access them.
If you don’t update the Instagram app to the latest version, you will not be able to access the custom icons.
Here’s how you can update the Instagram app on an iPhone:
- Go to the App Store.
- Tap on the profile icon on the top-right hand corner of the screen.
- Scroll down and find Instagram.
- Tap on “Update” to update Instagram to the latest version.
Here’s how you can update the Instagram app on an Android device:
- Go to the Google Play Store.
- Tap on the options toolbar on the top-left hand corner of the screen.
- Tap on “My apps & games”.
- Find Instagram and tap on “Update” to update Instagram to the latest version.
Once you updated Instagram to the latest version, you will be able to change its icon in the app itself.
2. Open Instagram
Next, open the Instagram app on your device.
Make sure that the Instagram app is updated to the latest version from the previous step.
Otherwise, you won’t be able to access the icon changer later on.
In this guide, you won’t need to download a third-party app to change your Instagram app icon.
Instead, you can change the Instagram app icon in the app itself, which is less of a hassle.
In this guide, you won’t need to download a third-party app to change your Instagram app icon.
You can do so with iOS14, but there isn’t a need to if you updated Instagram on 6th October.
Instead, you can change the Instagram app icon in the app itself, which is less of a hassle.
3. Go to your settings
The next thing you want to do is to go to Instagram’s settings.
The settings page is where the icon changer Easter egg is located.
You can do so by going to your profile and tapping on the menu on the top-right hand corner of the screen.
After you tapped it, the menu will open.
Tap on “Settings” to access Instagram’s settings.
The settings page is where the Easter egg is located.
4. Pull down to refresh
Now that you’re in Instagram’s settings, you can now find and activate the Easter egg.
This is where the magic happens.
On the settings page, pull down the screen thrice using two thumbs.
Don’t release until the “animation” is completed.
On the settings page, pull down the screen like how you’d refresh your Instagram feed.
But instead of slightly pulling and releasing, you need to pull and drag the screen down until the “animation” is completed.
You need to use two thumbs for this as it’s a long “animation”.
Once you’ve dragged the screen down for a while, you’ll see a partying face emoji, and the settings page will transition into a custom icons page.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can do this:
- Go to your settings.
- Pull the screen down using your right thumb.
- Drag the screen down using your left thumb.
- Drag the screen down again using your right thumb.
- Once you dragged the screen down three times, you’ll see a partying face emoji, and the settings page will transition into a custom icons page.
You’ve found the custom icons Easter egg!
5. Choose your favorite icon
Once you’re on the custom icons page, you can change your Instagram icon.
Once you’re on the custom icons page, there are 13 icons you can choose from.
Select your favorite icon and tap on “OK” to change your Instagram icon.
There are 13 Instagram icons you can choose from.
Here is the full list of icons you can choose from in the page:
| Instagram Icon | Description |
| Current | 11 May 2016 |
| Classic 2 | 31 Aug 2011 |
| Classic | 27 Oct 2010 |
| Original | 6 Oct 2010 |
| Code name | 2010 (prelaunch) |
| Twilight | Purple |
| Sunrise | Orange |
| Aurora | Green |
| Pride | Rainbow |
| Gold | Gold |
| Dark | Black and white |
| Light | White and black |
| Very Dark | Black |
Simply select the icon that you want to change to by tapping on it.
Once you tapped on an icon, there will be a message that says, “You have changed the icon for “Instagram”.”
Tap on “OK” and your Instagram icon will be changed to the one you have selected.
FAQ
How do you change your Instagram icon?
- Update your Instagram app to version 162.0.
- Go to your Instagram profile, tap on the menu, then tap on “Settings”.
- Pull down the screen thrice using two thumbs to access the Easter egg.
- Select one out of the 13 icons to change your Instagram icon.
How do I get the old Instagram icon?
As of 6th October, you can get the old Instagram icon back from an Easter egg in your Instagram settings.
Here’s how you can get the old Instagram icon:
Update the Instagram app to version 162.0 > open Instagram > profile > menu > settings > pull down the screen thrice using two thumbs > select the second Instagram icon from the top of the list.
Why did my Instagram icon change?
As of 11 May 2016, the old Instagram icon has changed into a new one.
This is part of Instagram’s logo redesign where they hoped to flatten the icon, make it simpler, and brighter.
Conclusion
And there you have it! You’ve learned how to change your Instagram app icon in the Instagram app itself.
Do note that the ability to change your Instagram app icon is part of Instagram’s 10th birthday celebration update.
If you’re unable to access the app icon changer in your settings, the feature might have been removed.
After all, the feature is only available for a limited time.
If you update the Instagram app in its future releases, the feature might be removed.
So, if you want to keep the feature, try to refrain from updating the app until a major update is released.
Further Reading
> How to Change Your Explore Page on Instagram
> How to Clear Instagram Direct Message Notification But No Message
> Why Am I Getting no Likes From Hashtags on Instagram?
Author: Lim How Wei is the founder of Followchain. Feel free to follow him on Instagram.
