The OnePlus 7 was a masterpiece of industrial design. That mechanical pop-up camera on the Pro model? Pure theater. But honestly, as the years have ticked by, the software hasn't always aged as gracefully as the glass and metal. If you’re still rocking a 7, 7 Pro, or 7T in 2026, you've probably noticed that the stock icons feel a bit... stagnant.
OxygenOS used to be the gold standard for clean, minimal aesthetics. Then the merger with ColorOS happened, and things got "squircle-y." If you’re staring at your home screen thinking the OnePlus 7 icon pack situation is a mess, you aren’t alone. It’s a mix of legacy Round icons, new OxygenOS 12/13/14 styles, and third-party apps that refuse to blend in.
The Weird History of the OnePlus 7 Icon Pack
Back when the OnePlus 7T launched, OnePlus introduced a specific "Round" icon pack that everyone obsessed over. It was meant to bring a sense of symmetry that the standard "Oxygen" pack lacked. It was clean. It was sharp. You could actually download the standalone APK for the OnePlus 7T round icon pack and force it onto the older 7 Pro.
But then things got complicated.
As updates rolled out, the "Edit" function—the one where you could long-press an icon and manually change it—basically vanished in OxygenOS 12. Users went from having total control to being stuck with whatever the system gave them. It felt like moving from a custom-built home into a high-end apartment where you aren't allowed to paint the walls.
Why Your Icons Look Like a Ransom Note
If you’ve updated your phone recently, you might notice the "Ransom Note" effect. This is when your system apps (like Phone and Settings) have a beautiful, unified look, but Spotify, Instagram, and your banking app look like they belong to three different operating systems.
The stock OnePlus 7 icon pack only covers a fraction of the apps you actually use. The rest get "masked." This means the system tries to shove a square app into a round hole (literally). It usually results in a tiny icon sitting inside a giant white circle. It looks cheap.
The OxygenOS 11 vs. OxygenOS 12 Dilemma
In OxygenOS 11, the icon pack was a simple choice in the "Customization" menu.
In OxygenOS 12 and 13, it moved to Settings > Personalization > Icons.
The problem? The newer versions removed the ability to change icons individually. If you don't like how the system themed "WhatsApp," you're stuck with it. Unless you know the workarounds.
Best Third-Party Alternatives for the OnePlus 7 Series
If the stock options aren't cutting it, you need to look at the Play Store. But don't just download the first thing you see. Most icon packs are designed for modern 120Hz displays and might actually feel "heavy" on older hardware if they aren't optimized.
- Moonshine: This is an old-school favorite. It fits the "Material Design" vibe that OnePlus originally championed. It’s free and covers thousands of apps.
- Borealis: If you want your OnePlus 7 to look like a $1,200 flagship from 2026, this is the one. It’s paid, but the level of detail is insane. It doesn't just change the icon; it redesigns it.
- Whicons: For the minimalists. It turns everything white. Against a dark wallpaper, the OnePlus 7's AMOLED screen makes these pop like crazy.
- Pix UI Icon Pack: If you miss the "Google Pixel" look that OnePlus used to mimic, this gives you those perfect circular icons for almost every app in existence.
How to Actually Apply a Custom Icon Pack (The 2026 Way)
Applying these isn't always as simple as hitting "Apply" in the app. The OnePlus launcher can be picky.
Using the Stock Launcher
Open Settings. Navigate to Wallpapers & style (or Personalization). Tap Icons. You should see your downloaded packs at the end of the carousel. Tap one. Boom. If it doesn't show up, the pack might be too old or not compatible with the current OxygenOS version.
The "Nova" Workaround
If you’re frustrated because you can't change one specific icon, you basically have to ditch the OnePlus launcher. I know, it's a tough pill to swallow. But a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Hyperion gives you back the power.
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You can long-press any app, hit edit, and pick a specific icon from any pack you've downloaded. You can even mix and match. Want Google apps to look like OxygenOS but everything else to look like Retro 8-bit? You can do that.
What Most People Get Wrong About Performance
There’s a myth that custom icon packs drain your battery.
Honestly? Not really.
The "drain" usually comes from the third-party launcher, not the icons themselves. If you use a heavy launcher with tons of animations and "live" widgets, yeah, your OnePlus 7 will feel the heat. But just swapping the icons in the stock settings? That’s just a skin. Your Snapdragon 855 can handle it in its sleep.
The real "cost" is storage. Some of these packs, like Borealis, are nearly 100MB because they contain 10,000+ high-res images. If your 128GB OnePlus 7 is already red-lining on storage, maybe stick to the smaller packs.
Moving Forward: Should You Even Bother?
If your OnePlus 7 is your daily driver, the OnePlus 7 icon pack you choose is the thing you'll look at 100 times a day. It’s worth the five minutes of fiddling.
Next Steps for Your Setup:
- Check your current version: Go to Settings > About Device. If you’re on OxygenOS 12 or higher, give up on "individual" icon editing in the stock launcher.
- Download "Icon Pack Studio": This app lets you create your own pack. You can take the stock OnePlus colors and apply them to every single app on your phone so they finally match.
- Audit your apps: If an icon looks terrible, check if the app has a "Beta" version. Often, developers update the icon in the beta channel months before the main release.
- Match your wallpaper: An icon pack is only as good as the background. If you’re using dark icons, get a light, minimalist wallpaper. If you’re using Whicons, go pure black.
The OnePlus 7 was built to last. A fresh coat of digital paint is sometimes all it takes to make an old friend feel brand new again.