Can I create my own icons as shortcuts to apps on my tablet?

[ffranny]

I would like to use an image from my own files as a desktop shortcut to certain apps on my new Galaxy Tab A.

I found a site (makeappicon.com) that automatically takes my .jpg and converts it to an icon, but I can't find any information on how to move it to the tablet and make it an active shortcut.

I see lots of "icon packs" on Google Play Store, but I don't want a bunch of icons someone else designed, I just want to use *one* (or maybe more if I figure out how to do it) that I've created. It's not clear from the descriptions whether any of them have the ability to to do that.

Can anyone point me to a site that explains clearly how to do that, or an app that will do it for me?

Thanks!

 

[Lourens Van Der Westhuizen]

I would like to use an image from my own files as a desktop shortcut to certain apps on my new Galaxy Tab A.

I found a site (makeappicon.com) that automatically takes my .jpg and converts it to an icon, but I can't find any information on how to move it to the tablet and make it an active shortcut.

I see lots of "icon packs" on Google Play Store, but I don't want a bunch of icons someone else designed, I just want to use *one* (or maybe more if I figure out how to do it) that I've created. It's not clear from the descriptions whether any of them have the ability to to do that.

Can anyone point me to a site that explains clearly how to do that, or an app that will do it for me?

Thanks!

Hey ffranny!

Use https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.momocode.shortcuts
You can:

• Take a photo and use it as an icon.
• Use a photo from your gallery as an icon.
• Install Icon packs and use them from within the app.

Hope it helps!
L.

 

[Javier P]

Hello ffrany, welcome to the forums! You can also use a custom launcher to edit your shortcuts. My first choice would be Nova.

 

[ffranny]

Hmm. Looks interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[ffranny]

If Lourens' suggestion doesn't work, I'll try yours. Thanks!

 

[ffranny]

Sorry, guys. I tried both Awesome Icons and Nova Launcher. Both suffer from the same problem I'm finding in far too many apps: When you open them, they don't give you any clear navigation, no instructions, and mostly not even any consistent convention for swiping/tapping/pinching/whatever to get into them and figure out how to use them.

I was unable to do *anything* with Awesome. It listed my existing icons, but it gave me no clue as to how to replace them with an image of my choosing.

I started to go through the settings of Nova (at least I got that far), but for many of the items I had no idea what they were referring to (What does "dock" mean, for instance?). As soon as I opened it, it completely changed my home screen so I had no idea where anything was. It also seemed to instantly change all the icons the tablet came with into its own designs -- this is not what I was looking for. So I uninstalled it.

I have no objections to the icons that came with the tablet. I have no objections to the icons that show up when I install new apps.

What I want is a way to create an icon as a shortcut to a *new* folder (or whatever the correct term is) where I keep several other related apps and files. In this case, I want to create a shortcut icon on the home screen that leads to a folder where I keep apps and files related to an upcoming trip to New York. I have an image of the Chrysler Building I'd like to use as that icon. It would take me to a folder containing a subway app, a Google Maps program my husband created, and any other links/apps/files we decide would be useful for our trip.

If I ever figure out how to do this, I could create other such icons as shortcuts to other categories of information on the tablet.

But I Do Not Want to change all the icons on the tablet, and I Do Not Want any more apps that make me go on treasure hunts (which too often turn into snipe hunts) to figure out how they work.

Sorry for the rant there. Hope this additional info helps direct your suggestions. Thanks for your help.

 

[Javier P]

Try this with Nova. Create the folder, long press on it and a menu should pop up, select edit. Now tap on the folder icon and then select Gallery apps. Tap on your gallery/photos app, search for your image, click on it and then confirm/done to finish the process.

This way you can individually change any icon. Also there are many icon packs in the Play Store that you can download to custom your icons.

 

[ffranny]

Javier: Thanks, that sounds like it might work if I new how to create a folder in Nova to begin with. Rather than keep coming back to you with more noobish questions, is there a site with complete instructions for using Nova?

Before you give me the link to "Let Me Google That for You," I have searched on "nova launcher manual." It appears there are quite a few sites that claim to provide such instructions. I could just randomly check those out, but if you know of one or more that offer especially clear and complete information, I'd be very grateful if you could point me in that direction. Thanks!

 

[Javier P]

Don't worry, I won't give you that kind of link and feel free to ask as many times as you need. All of us were newbies at some point.

First the folders. Tap & hold on the icon and drag it on top of the one you want to merge. That will create a folder with those two apps included. Repeat the same process for any app you want to add. If the icons bump on each other and move around instead of merging it means that your dragging is very slow. A faster motion will do the trick.

Nova guide. I remember reading some tutorials and watching a couple of videos when I started using it. Nothing very complete so I can't recommend you one in special. This guide can give you a general idea of how Nova (and most custom launchers) work. Worth a read.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=299378

It will be a bit of hit and miss in the beginning but you don't need to worry, it's completely safe. Just avoid the "uninstall" option when you edit an icon and you'll be good.

And again, ask anytime you need help. That's the main point of this forum

 

[ffranny]

Thanks, I appreciate that. One question immediately comes to mind after looking at a few of these sites/videos: Most of them refer to use on a phone. I need to know how to do this stuff on a tablet, namely my Galaxy Tab A. I can tell that the menus look a bit different, but I can probably handle that. Are there other differences I need to be aware of? Are there different instructions for tablets vs. phones?

 

[Javier P]

Never used Nova on a tablet but, as far as I know, there shouldn't be big differences compared with a phone. Maybe some settings as grid size and such could give you more options. I'll check around just in case, but most differences should be just aesthetical on the menus.

 

[ffranny]

Slight sidetrack: I just installed Icon Changer. I was able to create an icon using the image I wanted. I dragged it to the folder where I already had the subway app and our map thingy. So now the icon on the home screen has three tiny icons within it -- the image, the subway icon and the icon for the map thingy. It does work the way I want -- I click on it and it goes to that folder and I can go to either thing inside it -- but it doesn't look the way I want. What I want is for the whole surface of the home screen icon to just be the Chrysler Building image I created -- I don't want to see the other things inside the folder until I click on it. Does that make sense? Is it possible given my current level of incompetence?

 

[Javier P]

Never used that app so no much help for that. Are you using Icon changer AND Nova? Nova comes with its own feature to edit your icons. Apps like Icon changer are meant to be used with stock launchers that don't include that option. I'd recommend you to use one or the other, no need to have both at the same time.

 

[ffranny]

Nope, just Icon Changer.

 

[Javier P]

I just installed that Icon Changer app and ran a quick test. It seems that you can't change folder icons, at least with the free version, only individual app icons and shortcuts. You'd need to install another app to create a special folder and then try to apply the new icon. Too complicated and I'm not even sure if it could work.

As far as I know using a custom launcher is the easiest way to edit your folders.

 

[ffranny]

OK, thanks.

 

[Doncankook]

I would also suggest a different launcher.

I use Apex Launcher, and it allows you to edit the shortcuts and folder icons, to change the name and assign a different image. For example, for the Automotive apps folder, I changed the icon to a photo of my car, so you don't see the icons of the applications in the folder, which don't even have car-related icons (A gas pump icon doesn't make me think of "cars.")