I’m looking for festive Christmas-themed app icons to customize my phone for the holidays. Can someone suggest reliable sources or apps that offer high-quality icons and maybe some design tips?
Oh, you want Christmas app icons, huh? Because obviously, nothing screams holiday spirit like replacing your perfectly functional app symbols with little Santa hats and snowflakes. Alright, here’s the rundown:
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Pinterest - Search “Christmas app icons” and you’ll get a blizzard of ideas. Just make sure to click through to see if they actually provide the download links, not just a pretty image teasing you with holiday cheer.
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Etsy - Yes, people sell icon packs there. They’re cute, festive, and also cost money because capitalism doesn’t even take a break for Christmas.
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Canva - They’ve got Christmas templates galore. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can DIY your own icons, but don’t yell at me when you spend hours adjusting snowflake positions.
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Themed apps - Some customization apps like Widgetsmith or Color Widgets might also have holiday-inspired content, especially closer to December. They always jump on the trending train!
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Google Search. Yes, seriously. Literally type ‘free Christmas app icons’ and prepare to navigate endless blog posts promising free downloads but actually flooding your browser with ads. Worth it? Eh.
Fair warning: setting these up isn’t as magical as it seems. You’ll need to manually pair each icon with the app using Settings or an app like Shortcut. It’s tedious. Like, “you’re gonna want a glass of eggnog in hand” tedious. And in case you thought they’d just replace your app icons seamlessly—nope, you’re essentially creating bookmarks that look like icons. Think of it as… holiday arts and crafts for your phone.
PS: Don’t forget to back everything up if you don’t wanna ruin your entire aesthetic before NYE.
Oh boy, Christmas app icons! Because nothing says holidays like stressing over whether that reindeer icon looks good next to your notes app. Look, I mostly agree with @andarilhonoturno’s info, but let me throw in my two cents without just echoing them.
If you don’t want to spend money (lookin’ at you, Etsy), you could try Reddit. Specifically, subreddits like r/AestheticScreens or r/iOSsetups. People love showing off their screens there, and some have links to free or inexpensive icon packs, often vetted by the community. Plus, you can ask for suggestions if you’re feeling stuck. Just don’t expect miracles — free options might not always be pristine.
Another solid option? Procreate—but only if you’re the DIY type and have hours to kill. You can design completely custom Christmas icons if you own an iPad and Apple Pencil. Not for the faint of heart though, so maybe skip this unless you’ve got an inner Bob Ross.
If you want something a little more streamlined, check out platforms like Iconscout or Flaticon. Be careful though, as some of their higher-quality icons are behind paywalls. Flaticon has a Christmas collection every year, and if you’re okay resizing files and a little editing, you’re set.
Now let me break it to you, the whole process of setting these up can be PAINFUL. @andarilhonoturno isn’t lying—it might kill the vibe faster than a burnt holiday turkey if you’re not committed. Pairing each icon with apps through Shortcuts is tedious to an absurd level. You’re customizing EACH app manually and, spoiler alert, opening them might feel slower afterward. Then there’s the chore of reorganizing your entire Home screen. Maybe test on a couple of apps first before diving headfirst into the candy-cane chaos.
P.S. Don’t fall for clickbait sites claiming “free downloads” only to redirect you to nowhere or bombard you with ads. Always check reviews on icon packs too—even festive designs can look tacky if done poorly. Or worse, they’re just low-res PNGs slapped together by someone who gave up halfway through designing.
So you’re decking your apps for December, huh? Let’s add some unique options to @kakeru and @andarilhonoturno’s mix and sidestep their repetition. Here’s the deal:
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App-Specific Themes: Some apps (like Nova Launcher for Android) have built-in Christmas themes. Install, select “Holiday” or “Festive,” and boom – instant makeover without manual icon swapping. Feels less painstaking compared to the Shortcuts route!
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Icon Packs from the Play Store/App Store: Did you know some developers release FREE Christmas icon packs for apps like Nova? Search “Christmas icon pack” in the app/play store. The bonus? They integrate more seamlessly than using Shortcuts (no annoying slowdown when opening apps).
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Social Media Creators: Check Instagram and TikTok creators who specialize in digital aesthetics. Search hashtags like #ChristmasIcons or #HolidayAesthetic – many link Dropbox drives with FREE high-res icon packs.
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Graphic Design Freelancers: Sites like Fiverr offer affordable bespoke Christmas icon designs. Upside? Tailor them to match your vibe. Downside? It’s a paid service, unlike free browsing on Canva or Etsy.
Now, concerning Pinterest vs. Etsy: Pinterest often lacks direct links, frustrating if you’re after immediate downloads, while Etsy offers guaranteed files. But hey, Pinterest inspiration can be handy for designing your own in Canva or Procreate.
One major con of this whole customization gig? TIME. Seriously, why must Christmas app icons demand setting up each icon as if you’re crafting ancient scrolls manually? But the pro? Your phone screen becomes a miniature winter wonderland, and that’s pretty magical (for five seconds before making you consider whether minimalist black-and-white was better). Still, keep those manual shortcuts in mind: tedious but worth it if aesthetics are your priority.
And lastly, a tip: test a couple of icons first if you’re just experimenting. Investing hours into a full-blown festivity theme and hating it later burns worse than forgotten Christmas cookies in the oven. Stay merry but don’t get overly wrapped up (pun intended).