Instagram Unveils 6 New Dramatic Home-Screen Icons to Redefine Its Look

Instagram just surprised millions of users with something fresh and fun. On October 22, 2025, the platform announced Instagram custom home screen icons that let people change how the app looks on their phones. Designed by talented illustrator Carlos Oliveras Colom, these six bold and colorful icons bring a whole new level of personalization to the app. However, there’s a twist that has people talking.

The Instagram new icons are only available to teen account users right now, which has sparked a lot of debate online. From neon designs to cosmic themes, these dramatic home screen icons represent Instagram’s bigger push to make the app feel more personal and fun for younger users.

If you’re curious about what these designs look like, how to use them, or why Instagram made this choice, keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

What Are Instagram’s 6 New Dramatic Home Screen Icons?

Instagram’s new home screen icons give users a chance to completely switch up the way their app appears. Each of the six designs has its own unique style and mood. Let’s break down each one.

The fire icon brings intense heat to your phone screen. It’s bold, energetic, and perfect for anyone who wants their app to stand out with bright orange and red flames. This design captures attention right away.

The floral icon takes a softer approach. With beautiful flower designs and nature-inspired colors, this aesthetic appeals to users who love a more delicate, artistic look. It’s gentle but still eye-catching.

The chrome icon has a sleek, metallic vibe. This shiny, reflective design looks modern and sophisticated. If you like that futuristic, techy appearance, the chrome style is perfect for you.

The cosmic icon brings space vibes to your home screen. Think stars, planets, and deep purples mixed with bright blues. This design is perfect for dreamers and anyone who loves outer space imagery.

The slime icon goes playful with bright green, gooey-looking textures. This design is fun, quirky, and definitely stands out. It’s perfect for users who want something unusual and eye-catching.

The sixth design includes additional aesthetic options that give teens even more choices to express themselves. Together, these six dramatic Instagram icons show that the platform is serious about letting younger users make the app truly their own.

Who Created These Custom App Icons?

The creative mind behind these Instagram icon designs is Carlos Oliveras Colom, known online as @doncarrrlos. He’s an illustrator who specializes in creating bold, colorful, and expressive artwork. Instagram partnered with him specifically to bring these custom app icons to life.

Colom shared his excitement about the project, saying he was honored to bring fun to the design. He mentioned that if he were a teen, he’d probably change the icon every single day based on his mood or the vibe he was setting. This shows that these Instagram new designs come from someone who really understands what younger users want and enjoy.

Instagram’s own in-house design team worked alongside Colom to perfect these aesthetics. Together, they wanted to push boundaries and create something that hadn’t been done before on the app. The collaboration resulted in icons that feel fresh, modern, and genuinely appealing to the teen demographic.

How to Access and Change Your Instagram Icon

Accessing the Instagram custom home screen icons is straightforward and takes just a few taps. If you have a teen account, follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Open Instagram Launch the Instagram app on your phone as you normally would.

Step 2: Find the Logo Look at the top of your home feed. You’ll see the Instagram logo (the camera symbol). This is your gateway to the new dramatic home screen icons.

Step 3: Tap and Explore Tap the Instagram logo at the top of your home screen. A menu will pop up showing all the available icon options.

Step 4: Select Your Style Browse through the fire, cosmic, slime, chrome, floral, and other designs. Choose the one that matches your mood or personal style.

Step 5: Apply Your Choice Once you select your preferred Instagram home screen icon, the app will automatically apply it to your device. Your home screen will refresh, and you’ll see your new custom icon replacing the standard Instagram logo.

The best part? You can change it whenever you want. If you get tired of the cosmic icon and want to switch to the slime icon, it only takes a few seconds.

Also Read: How to Change Your Name on Facebook (Step-by-Step Guide)

Why Instagram Is Only Offering This to Teen Accounts

Instagram’s decision to limit the Instagram new icons to teen accounts has sparked serious discussions online. Let’s talk about why the company made this choice.

The Teen Safety Strategy

Instagram launched its Teen Accounts feature in 2024 to give younger users a safer, more protected experience. The platform added restrictions on content, limiting exposure to mature material and focusing on age-appropriate feeds. The custom app icons are part of this bigger strategy.

By offering special features just for teens, Instagram is trying to make teen accounts feel like a benefit rather than a restriction. Instead of just limiting what young people can see, the platform is also giving them cool perks. The dramatic home screen icons are meant to make teen accounts seem exciting and exclusive.

A Response to Competition

Instagram faces real competition from other apps like TikTok and Snapchat, especially when it comes to teen users. Other platforms have learned that customization keeps younger users engaged. Snapchat, for example, offers custom app icons through its paid Snapchat+ subscription. Instagram is trying a different approach by making these custom home screen designs a free perk of having a teen account.

Age-Gated Features

Currently, Instagram has no plans to expand Instagram icon customization to older users or paid subscribers. This means adults using regular Instagram accounts cannot access these features yet. Instagram wants to keep this customizable Instagram design exclusively for the teen demographic, at least for now.

The Backlash: Why Adults Want These Icons Too

Despite Instagram’s intention, the response has been mixed. Many adult users are upset that they can’t access these dramatic icons. The backlash has been loud and clear on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

Some users pointed out that Instagram’s strategy feels unfair. They argued that if cool customization features are available, why shouldn’t everyone have access to them? Others compared this to other apps and platforms that offer customization options to all users.

The MySpace Comparison

Some users jokingly said the feature gives them “MySpace vibes,” referring to the old social media platform where users could customize almost everything about their profiles. People either found this nostalgic or dated, depending on their perspective.

The Snapchat+ Connection

Users also noted that Instagram seemed to be copying Snapchat’s model, where custom icons require a paid subscription. However, Instagram made the feature free for teen accounts, which is different. Still, the comparison highlights how customization has become a competitive feature in the social media world.

Despite the complaints, Instagram has made clear that customizable Instagram app icons remain exclusive to teen accounts for now. The company hasn’t ruled out future changes, but there’s nothing official in the works yet.

How Custom Icons Fit Into Instagram’s Bigger Plan

These Instagram new home screen icons are just one piece of a larger strategy by Meta and Instagram. The company is working hard to keep younger users happy and engaged on the platform.

Focus on Self-Expression

Instagram has always been about sharing and expressing yourself. These custom app icon designs extend that philosophy to how the app itself looks. By letting teens choose how their app appears, Instagram gives them another way to reflect their personality.

This connects to Instagram’s core mission. The platform has long encouraged users to curate their feeds, edit their photos, and share their authentic selves. Allowing Instagram aesthetic icons is just a natural extension of this philosophy.

User Interface Updates

Instagram has been updating its user interface regularly to stay fresh and modern. The Instagram home screen has received several makeovers over the years. These custom app icons represent one of the most visual and personal UI changes yet.

Competition in Social Media

The bigger picture involves competition among major social platforms. TikTok dominates the teen market, and Instagram wants to stay relevant. By offering features that teens love, like customizable icons, Instagram hopes to keep the platform fun and current.

What These Designs Say About Instagram’s Direction

The introduction of dramatic home screen icons tells us something important about where Instagram is heading. The company is thinking beyond just feeds and posts.

Visual Identity Matters

Instagram is acknowledging that how apps look matters to users, especially younger ones. The visual experience goes beyond just the content inside the app. The Instagram icon customization shows that the company understands this.

Personalization Is Key

In a world where everyone uses the same apps, personalization helps users feel like the app belongs to them. These Instagram new designs recognize that teens want to make technology feel more personal and unique.

Youth Engagement Strategy

Meta’s overall strategy with Instagram involves keeping young users on the platform. Between custom home screen icons, teen account protections, and other features, the company is building a more appealing experience for younger audiences.

How to Get These Icons if You Don’t Have a Teen Account

If you’re an adult user feeling left out, you have options. While you can’t access Instagram’s official Instagram custom app icons, there are workarounds.

Using Device Shortcuts

On iPhone, you can use the Shortcuts app to create custom icons that launch Instagram. This requires a bit of setup, but it’s possible. You create a shortcut that opens Instagram but uses a custom image as its icon.

Third-Party Launcher Apps

Android users can download launcher apps like Nova Launcher or Smart Launcher. These apps let you customize how your entire home screen looks, including app icons. You can download custom Instagram icon designs from various sources and apply them through these launchers.

Icon Pack Downloads

Several websites and apps offer free icon packs that include custom Instagram designs. You can find these on platforms like Pinterest, Etsy, and specialized icon websites. While these aren’t official, they scratch that customization itch.

Waiting for Official Expansion

The simplest approach is to wait and see if Instagram expands the feature. The company hasn’t ruled it out completely. If enough people request it, there’s a chance adults might get access eventually.

Timeline: When These Icons Became Available

Instagram announced these dramatic home screen icons on October 21, 2025, sharing the news on their official social media channels. The rollout began immediately, starting with October 22, 2025.

The feature is rolling out globally to all teen account users, though it may take several weeks to reach everyone. This gradual rollout is standard for Instagram, as the company tests features across different regions and devices before making them universally available.

The Bigger Picture: Instagram’s Focus on Teen Safety and Experience

These custom Instagram home screen icons don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re part of Instagram’s larger commitment to creating a safer, better experience for younger users.

In 2024, Instagram introduced Teen Accounts with stricter protections. These accounts limit exposure to adult content, restrict who can contact younger users, and add other safety features. The custom app icons represent a more positive approach to keeping teens engaged while keeping them safe.

Instagram also uses AI technology to identify teens who misrepresent their age and automatically enrolls them in the more restricted teen accounts. This shows that the company is serious about age-appropriate experiences on the platform.

What Users Are Saying About the New Design Update

The response from the Instagram community has been diverse. Here’s what people are saying about these dramatic home screen icons.

Teen Users Love It

Most teen users seem genuinely excited about the Instagram new icon designs. They appreciate having options and the ability to personalize their phones. Many have already changed their icons multiple times.

Adults Feel Excluded

As mentioned earlier, adult users are vocal about feeling left out. Social media is full of comments from people asking why they can’t access these custom app icons too. Some jokingly say they’re going to pretend to be teens just to get the feature.

Designers Appreciate the Creativity

People who work in design appreciate Carlos Oliveras Colom’s work. Many have complimented the Instagram icon designs for being bold, colorful, and well-executed. The collaboration between Colom and Instagram’s team has been widely praised.

The Debate Continues

Overall, the feature has sparked healthy debate about app customization, age-gating features, and fairness in design decisions. Whether people love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Instagram got people talking.

Where to Learn More About Instagram Updates

If you want to stay current with Instagram news, several reliable sources cover the platform regularly. Social Media Today consistently publishes updates about Instagram’s latest features and changes. They provide in-depth analysis of why Instagram makes certain decisions.

For breaking tech news and social media updates, TechCrunch is an excellent resource. They often get exclusive information about new features before they roll out to everyone. Their coverage of the Instagram custom app icons announcement was particularly thorough.

Instagram’s official design account (@design) is also worth following if you use the platform. They frequently post about new features and design decisions directly from the source.

Conclusion

Instagram’s introduction of six dramatic new home-screen icons marks an exciting moment in the platform’s evolution. These custom app icons, designed by illustrator Carlos Oliveras Colom, show that Instagram is serious about personalization and keeping young users engaged.

From the fiery orange flames of the fire icon to the dreamy beauty of the cosmic icon, each design offers something unique for teens to express themselves. While the decision to limit these custom home screen icons exclusively to teen accounts has sparked debate among adult users, it’s clear that Instagram is using customization as a tool to make teen accounts more appealing and fun.

Whether you have access to these features now or you’re waiting for Instagram to expand them, one thing is certain: personalization is becoming more important than ever in how we experience the apps we use every day. As Instagram continues to evolve and compete in the crowded social media landscape, expect to see more creative features like these dramatic home screen designs in the future.