While the Home app makes it incredibly easy to connect and automate your smart devices, locating them can be tricky if you have multiple accessories around your home. This is especially true if your home has multiple of the same device types, such as lights or smart plugs, as these share the same standard icons. The same goes for Scenes.

So to track them down faster, you'll want to customize each one by changing their icons and colors. We show you how.

Changing Home App Icons: Reasons and Limitations

There are many reasons why you might want to change the icons for your accessories. As mentioned earlier, the main reason for assigning different icons and colors is to make your favorites instantly recognizable. Customizing the Home app icons is also useful if you allow others to control your Apple HomeKit accessories. By changing a light icon from the standard bulb to a lamp or chandelier, everyone in your household will know what to look for when it matches what's in your home. In most cases, the Home app has alternate icons for most applications. However, you are limited to icons based on device type, so there may be times when a perfect match isn't available and you can't upload custom images. The only exception to the device type restriction is with smart plugs. With smart plugs you can choose from Outlet, Light or Fan, each with its own icons. No matter the reason or device type, changing icons is easy: just a few taps in the Home app.

Change device icons in the Home app

While you can change your device icon when you add a smart home product to Apple HomeKit, for this guide we'll focus on existing accessories. As you'd expect, you'll need to head to the Home app to get started.

Launch the Home app.

Navigate to your device.

Tap your device to display the controls.

Tap the Settings icon.

Tap the device icon next to the name.

Tap the icon that best represents your device.

Tap Done to save your changes.

How to Change Smart Plug Icons in the Home App

Thanks to the versatile nature of smart plugs, the steps above allow you to choose between different outlet styles, or change the device type entirely. By changing the device type to a fan or light, you can further customize it to match the fixtures in your home.

Change device type:

Launch the Home app.

Navigate to your smart plug.

Tap your plug to reveal device controls.

Tap the Settings icon.

Tap View as.

Tap Fan, Light or Outlet as desired.

Once your device type is set, you can now reference it more naturally using Siri voice commands.

Change icons and colors for scenes in the Home app

Just like with devices, you can customize icons and colors when you create HomeKit scenes in the Apple Home app, or afterwards. And since Scenes in the Home app usually span multiple devices, there are many more customization options available.

For existing scenes:

Launch the Home app.

Navigate to your scene.

Tap and hold your scene to reveal additional options.

Tap Edit Scene.

Tap the scene icon next to the current name.

Tap an icon and color that best suits your scene.

Tap Done to save your changes.

With 12 colors and over 100 unique icons to choose from, you should have no problem choosing the perfect match for your scene. And remember, after you've customized your scene, you can find it even more easily by tapping the Add to Home View option.

Customize your smart devices and scenes in the Home app

Now that you know how to change the device and scene icons in the Home app, you can customize your smart home to suit your needs. Whether you replace an incandescent bulb with a downlight or customize a movie night scene with a popcorn icon, you'll make finding your favorites a breeze for everyone in your home.