How to change icons after root?

[whatllitbenext]

Gentle Community:

Went to change my icons with Tasker, which uses a widget to call a "load app" operation, but then after ~ 20 widgets, I had problems loading more. Checked the Tasker website and it appears I'm maxing out the memory.

So the question is:

Can I root my phone and then gain access to the icons and the names underneath and change things that way? It seems I'd use less memory because I wouldn't be creating a widget to load an app...

BTW -- if this has already been discussed here, I haven't found it after several searches. If the kind respondent would simply direct me to a link, I'd be very appreciative.

TIA.

 

[ArmyDude]

Gentle Community:

Went to change my icons with Tasker, which uses a widget to call a "load app" operation, but then after ~ 20 widgets, I had problems loading more. Checked the Tasker website and it appears I'm maxing out the memory.

So the question is:

Can I root my phone and then gain access to the icons and the names underneath and change things that way? It seems I'd use less memory because I wouldn't be creating a widget to load an app...

BTW -- if this has already been discussed here, I haven't found it after several searches. If the kind respondent would simply direct me to a link, I'd be very appreciative.

TIA.

Welcome!

I believe what you are attempting to accomplish is application dependent. "Theming" the individual application should give you the ability to change these specific items. The XML files have a lot of the naming conventions, and one of the image files for the app would be the icon. It's a long process to Theme an app. As far as another app out there that automates the icon changes..... I'm not sure. I've never tried.

 

[smalltowngirl13]

You can use FolderOrganizer to change the app icon if you are going to place them on your home screen or even desktop visualizer (will change icon & wording) but neither will change them in the app tray - these 2 apps are only for use on the homescreen....

 

[cjriddle22]

If you long press on a homescreen, then select shortcuts, then select applications, you can pick your app that you want a shortcut to. Then it asks you what you want to name it and you can also change the icon associated with this app. It is kind of a long way of making a shortcut to a homescreen, but I think it is accomplishing what you were asking for.

 

[whatllitbenext]

Thanks for your replies, everyone, but what I specifically want to avoid is using an app to change icons.

The idea is to get at them at the root level, so as to avoid having to use a program call. What's prompted me to want to do it this way is I was using Tasker widgets ('cause you can load your own task icons) but I started getting "problems loading" ~ 20 widgets.

Any idea where the icons are located in the system files?

At this point, I just want to change the icon; I'm fine with the keeping the text underneath.

Thanks.

 

[whatllitbenext]

cjriddle22:

If you long press on a homescreen, then select shortcuts, then select applications, you can pick your app that you want a shortcut to. Then it asks you what you want to name it and you can also change the icon associated with this app.

I tried your suggestion but was never offered the opportunity to change either icon or name.

Am I missing something?

chkmate & ArmyDude: thanks for your "welcome"s.

Cheers.

 

[ArmyDude]

I'm curious as well. I know that the icon files are within the APK files in /data/app. I'm not sure if the OS extracts those files and gets them out to display, or if it just has a way of pulling from the APK directly without extracting.

 

[cjriddle22]

cjriddle22:

If you long press on a homescreen, then select shortcuts, then select applications, you can pick your app that you want a shortcut to. Then it asks you what you want to name it and you can also change the icon associated with this app.

I tried your suggestion but was never offered the opportunity to change either icon or name.

Am I missing something?

chkmate & ArmyDude: thanks for your "welcome"s.

Cheers.

See the screenshots below. You were not offered anything like this?

Are you running 2.2?

 

[zodder]

I know you can make all those changes in LauncherPro and ADW

 

[ArmyDude]

+1 on ADW and LauncherPro. I don't believe the standard launcher has that capability directly.

 

[cjriddle22]

Yeah after reading through all the posts, maybe what I posted can only be accomplished through launcher pro? Sorry if I confused anyone, the first thing I did when I got my phone was install launcher pro, so I treat it as MY default home launcher.

 

[verum]

How to change app icons ROOT NEEDED

How to change app icons ROOT NEEDED
discovered and written by Verum of DroidForums

• open root explorer
• find apk of appyou want to modify
• if the app is installed, the APK should be located in /Data/app
• in root explorer long press the apps APK and select extract all
• go to where the apk was extracted sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
• open the Res file
• fine all the icon files in all of the "Drawable" folders
• use picsart to modify each icon without changing it's canvas size
• save the new image in same folder, with same name , and as same file type (pnj/jpg) as the original
• re-open root explorer
• find the folder where everything was extracted to sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
• Long press the folder and select Zip
• deleter the folder you zipped sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
• clong press the resulting zip and change its extension from .zip to .apk
• click the apk to install
• click ok to replace the non-modified version of the app
• enjoy the new icons and buttons you just created!!!!

 

[Yogranny86]

cant get it to work

Tried it five times step by step and no luck i am running 4.2.2 but dont think that should matter.

How to change app icons ROOT NEEDED
discovered and written by Verum of DroidForums

• open root explorer
• find apk of appyou want to modify
• if the app is installed, the APK should be located in /Data/app
• in root explorer long press the apps APK and select extract all
• go to where the apk was extracted sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
• open the Res file
• fine all the icon files in all of the "Drawable" folders
• use picsart to modify each icon without changing it's canvas size
• save the new image in same folder, with same name , and as same file type (pnj/jpg) as the original
• re-open root explorer
• find the folder where everything was extracted to sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
• Long press the folder and select Zip
• deleter the folder you zipped sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
• clong press the resulting zip and change its extension from .zip to .apk
• click the apk to install
• click ok to replace the non-modified version of the app
• enjoy the new icons and buttons you just created!!!!