[android] How to change an application icon programmatically in Android?

Is it possible to change an application icon directly from the program?
I mean, change icon.png in the res\drawable folder.
I would like to let users to change application's icon from the program so next time they would see the previously selected icon in the launcher.

Programatically, you may want to publish the application launcher yourself :

Note: this method no longer works starting with Android 8.0 - Oreo

In your AndroidManifest.xml, add :

<uses-permission android:name="com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT"/>

Then you need create your app launcher intent:

Intent myLauncherIntent = new Intent();
myLauncherIntent.setClassName("your.package.name", "YourLauncherActivityName");
myLauncherIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);

Create an install shortcut intent with your app launcher and custom icon:

Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_INTENT, myLauncherIntent);
intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_NAME, "Application Name");
intent.putExtra
       (
        Intent.EXTRA_SHORTCUT_ICON_RESOURCE,
        Intent.ShortcutIconResource.fromContext
                                    (
                                         getApplicationContext(), 
                                         R.drawable.app_icon
                                    )
       );
intent.setAction("com.android.launcher.action.INSTALL_SHORTCUT");

And finally launch the broadcast intent:

getApplicationContext().sendBroadcast(intent);

As mentioned before you need use <activity-alias> to change the application icon. To avoid killing the application after enabling appropriate activity-alias you need to do this after the application is killed. To find out if the application was killed you can use this method

1. Create activity aliases in AndroidManifest.xml

<activity android:name=".ui.MainActivity"/>

<activity-alias
    android:name=".one"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_one"
    android:targetActivity=".ui.MainActivity"
    android:enabled="true">

    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>

</activity-alias>

<activity-alias
    android:name=".two"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_two"
    android:targetActivity=".ui.MainActivity"
    android:enabled="false">

    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>

</activity-alias>

2. ?reate a service that will change the active activity-alias after killing the application. You need store the name of new active activity-alias somewhere (e.g. SharedPreferences)

class ChangeAppIconService: Service() {
    private val aliases = arrayOf(".one", ".two")

    override fun onBind(intent: Intent?): IBinder? = null

    override fun onTaskRemoved(rootIntent: Intent?) {
        changeAppIcon()
        stopSelf()
    }

    fun changeAppIcon() {
        val sp = getSharedPreferences("appSettings", Context.MODE_PRIVATE)

        sp.getString("activeActivityAlias", ".one").let { aliasName ->
            if (!isAliasEnabled(aliasName)) {
                setAliasEnabled(aliasName)
            }
        }
    }

    private fun isAliasEnabled(aliasName: String): Boolean {
        return packageManager.getComponentEnabledSetting(
            ComponentName(
                this,
                "${BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID}$aliasName"
            )
        ) == PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
    }

    private fun setAliasEnabled(aliasName: String) {
        aliases.forEach {
            val action = if (it == aliasName)
                PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
            else
                PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED
                
            packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                ComponentName(
                    this,
                    "${BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID}$aliasName"
                ),
                action,
                PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP
            )
        }
    }
}

3. Add service to AndroidManifest.xml

<service 
    android:name=".ChangeAppIconService"
    android:stopWithTask="false"
    />

4. Start ChangeAppIconService in MainActivity.onCreate

class MainActivity: Activity {

    ...

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
       ...

       startService(Intent(this, ChangeAppIconService::class.java))

       ...
    }

    ...

}

To get the solution by Markus working I needed the first Intent so be:

Intent myLauncherIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
            myLauncherIntent.setClassName(this,  this.getClass().getName());
            myLauncherIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);

Try this solution

<activity android:name=".SplashActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    <activity-alias android:label="ShortCut"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_short_cut"
        android:name=".SplashActivityAlias"
        android:enabled="false"
        android:targetActivity=".SplashActivity">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity-alias>

Add the following code when you want to change your app icon

PackageManager pm = getPackageManager();
                    pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                            new ComponentName(YourActivity.this,
                                    "your_package_name.SplashActivity"),
                            PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
                            PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

                    pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                            new ComponentName(YourActivity.this,
                                    "your_package_name.SplashActivityAlias"),
                            PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
                            PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

Try this, it works fine for me:

1 . Modify your MainActivity section in AndroidManifest.xml, delete from it, line with MAIN category in intent-filter section

<activity android:name="ru.quickmessage.pa.MainActivity"
    android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation"
    android:screenOrientation="portrait"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:theme="@style/CustomTheme"
    android:launchMode="singleTask">
    <intent-filter>
        ==> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <== Delete this line
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

2 . Create <activity-alias>, for each of your icons. Like this

<activity-alias android:label="@string/app_name" 
    android:icon="@drawable/icon" 
    android:name=".MainActivity-Red"
    android:enabled="false"
    android:targetActivity=".MainActivity">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>   
</activity-alias>

3 . Set programmatically: set ENABLE attribute for the appropriate activity-alias

 getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
        new ComponentName("ru.quickmessage.pa", "ru.quickmessage.pa.MainActivity-Red"), 
            PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

Note, At least one must be enabled at all times.

@P-A's solution partially works for me. Detail my findings below:

1) The first code snippet is incorrect, see below:

<activity
    ...
    <intent-filter>
        ==> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <== This line shouldn't be deleted, otherwise will have compile error
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> //DELETE THIS LINE
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

2) Should use following code to disable all icons before enabling another one, otherwise it will add a new icon, instead of replacing it.

getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
        getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

BUT, if you use code above, then shortcut on homescreen will be removed! And it won't be automatically added back. You might be able to programmatically add icon back, but it probably won't stay in the same position as before.

3) Note that the icon won't get changed immediately, it might take several seconds. If you click it right after changing, you might get an error saying: "App isn't installed".

So, IMHO this solution is only suitable for changing icon in app launcher only, not for shortcuts (i.e. the icon on homescreen)

AndroidManifest.xml example:

<application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

        <activity android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity"
                  android:label="@string/app_name"
                  android:launchMode="singleTask">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
                <!--<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>-->
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

        <activity-alias android:label="RED"
                        android:icon="@drawable/ic_android_red"
                        android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Red"
                        android:enabled="true"
                        android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity-alias>

        <activity-alias android:label="GREEN"
                        android:icon="@drawable/ic_android_green"
                        android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Green"
                        android:enabled="false"
                        android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity-alias>

        <activity-alias android:label="BLUE"
                        android:icon="@drawable/ic_android_blue"
                        android:name="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Blue"
                        android:enabled="false"
                        android:targetActivity="com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity-alias>

    </application>

Then follow below given code in MainActivity:

ImageView imageView = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.imageView);
            int imageResourceId;
            String currentDateTimeString = DateFormat.getDateTimeInstance().format(new Date());
            int hours = new Time(System.currentTimeMillis()).getHours();
            Log.d("DATE", "onCreate: "  + hours);

            getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
                    getComponentName(), PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

            if(hours == 13)
            {
                imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_red", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
                getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
                        new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Red"),
                        PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
            }else if(hours == 14)
            {
                imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_green", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
                getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
                        new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Green"),
                        PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

            }else
            {
                imageResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("ic_android_blue", "drawable", this.getPackageName());
                getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(
                        new ComponentName("com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample", "com.pritesh.resourceidentifierexample.MainActivity-Blue"),
                        PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

            }

            imageView.setImageResource(imageResourceId);

You cannot change the manifest or the resource in the signed-and-sealed APK, except through a software upgrade.

Applying the suggestions mentioned, I've faced the issue of app getting killed whenever default icon gets changed to new icon. So have implemented the code with some tweaks. Step 1). In file AndroidManifest.xml, create for default activity with android:enabled="true" & other alias with android:enabled="false". Your will not contain but append those in with android:enabled="true".

       <activity
        android:name=".activities.SplashActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait"
        android:theme="@style/SplashTheme">

    </activity>
    <!-- <activity-alias used to change app icon dynamically>   : default icon, set enabled true    -->
    <activity-alias
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
        android:name=".SplashActivityAlias1" <!--put any random name started with dot-->
        android:enabled="true"
        android:targetActivity=".activities.SplashActivity"> <!--target activity class path will be same for all alias-->
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity-alias>
    <!-- <activity-alias used to change app icon dynamically>  : sale icon, set enabled false initially -->
    <activity-alias
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_store_marker"
        android:roundIcon="@drawable/ic_store_marker"
        android:name=".SplashActivityAlias" <!--put any random name started with dot-->
        android:enabled="false"
        android:targetActivity=".activities.SplashActivity"> <!--target activity class path will be same for all alias-->
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity-alias>

Step 2). Make a method that will be used to disable 1st activity-alias that contains default icon & enable 2nd alias that contains icon need to be changed.

/**
 * method to change the app icon dynamically
 *
 * @param context
 * @param isNewIcon  : true if new icon need to be set; false to set default 
 * icon
 */

public static void changeAppIconDynamically(Context context, boolean isNewIcon) {
    PackageManager pm = context.getApplicationContext().getPackageManager();
    if (isNewIcon) {
        pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                new ComponentName(context,
                        "com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias1"), //com.example.dummy will be your package
                PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
                PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

        pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                new ComponentName(context,
                        "com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias"),
                PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
                PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
    } else {
        pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                new ComponentName(context,
                        "com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias1"),
                PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED,
                PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);

        pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(
                new ComponentName(context,
                        "com.example.dummy.SplashActivityAlias"),
                PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
                PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
    }
}

Step 3). Now call this method depending on your requirement, say on button click or date specific or occasion specific conditions, simply like -

// Switch app icon to new icon
    GeneralUtils.changeAppIconDynamically(EditProfileActivity.this, true);
// Switch app icon to default icon
            GeneralUtils.changeAppIconDynamically(EditProfileActivity.this, false);

Hope this will help those who face the issue of app getting killed on icon change. Happy Coding :)

Assuming you mean changing the icon shown on the home screen, this could easily be done by creating a widget that does exactly this. Here's an article that demonstrate how that can be accomplished for a "new messages" type application similar to iPhone:

http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10278814-251.html