Mandatory transition on Android phones: The big transformation begins tomorrow

Google is requiring all developers to add “themed icon” support as of October 15, 2025.

With this decision, a radical visual change will come into effect that will concern millions of Android users.

The new app policy aims to create an icon design that is fully compatible with the wallpaper and system colors of Android devices.

Every app icon will now automatically change color based on the theme the user chooses.

Until now, each app used icons in colors that reflected its brand identity. However, with the new system, this is a thing of the past.

Thanks to Android's "themed icon" feature, all icons will automatically match the user's preferred wallpaper and color theme.

So, for example, if the user chooses a green theme, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and even banking apps will appear in shades of green. If those who prefer a darker or simpler look choose a black-and-white (monochrome) theme, all icons will switch to this layout.

This feature, which was optional with Android 13, will be mandatory for all apps as of October 15, 2025. After this date, every app listed on the Play Store must have icons that automatically match the device's color theme.

Google's goal is to make the Android interface simpler, more elegant, and more integrated. App icons will change color based on users' wallpaper or system theme, ensuring a uniform aesthetic across the device.

The company announced that it may remove apps from the Play Store that do not update by the specified date.