With the final release of Google’s newest iteration of Android OS named Android 10, Google is finally offering users more flexible options in terms of customizability.
Not only they have brought the highly requested system-wide dark mode theme, but have also given users the ability to change the system accent color and icon shapes for the first time.
While it does require users to go into the Developer Options menu for Android 10, it is possible to change the color of the system UI elements such as the brightness bar, QS tiles, volume control overlay, toggles in Settings and much more with a single option.
When Android 8.0 Oreo was released, Pixel Launcher added support for new icon shapes alongside the ‘Adaptive Icon’ feature. But it was mostly restricted to the launcher itself. Now with the release of Android 10, Google is finally adding system-wide changes to the icon shapes. You will notice the changes in-app settings, overview menu, even the QS tiles in the Notification shade.
It’s great to see these features making its way to Stock Android, and not exclusive to custom ROMs anymore.
System Accent Colors & Icon Shapes
Currently, there are eight system accent colors to choose from:
- Device default (Blue)
- Black
- Green
- Purple
- Cinnamon
- Ocean
- Space
- Orchid
You will have five different icon shapes to choose from. These are:
- Device default (Circle)
- Square
- Teardrop
- Squircle
- Rounded Rectangle (Previously known as Rounded Square)
Rounded Rectangle
If you are currently an owner of a Pixel device running Android 10, continue reading this article to learn how to change system accent color and icon shape on Android 10.
How to change the system accent color on Android 10
Currently on Android 10, if you want to change the system accent color, you have to enable the Developer Options. Here’s how you can enable it and change the system accent color:
- First, open Settings on your device.
- Swipe up to scroll down and tap on About phone option.
- Then, tap on Advanced to expand the section.
- After that, continuously tap on Build number until you get the toast notification saying “You are now a developer!”. If you have a pattern or PIN set up, you may need to confirm it to continue.
- Now head back to the main Settings menu.
- Locate the System menu and tap on it.
- Then, tap on Developer options.
- After opening Developer options, scroll down and locate the Accent color option.
- Tapping on the Accent Color option will open a window with several colors to pick from. Tap on your preferred one to change the accent color.
How to change the icon shape on Android 10
For some weird reasons Google has opted to move the option to change icon shapes to Developer Options on Android 10, where previously on Android 8.0 Oreo and 9.0 Pie, users could long-press on the home screen, choose Home Settings and get the option Change icon shapes to choose between different icon shapes. Here’s how to change it on Android 10:
- First, open the Settings app on your device.
- Scroll down and tap on System.
- After that, tap on Advanced to expand the section.
- Tap on Developer options. (If you don’t see the option, follow Step 3 and 4 of the ‘change system accent color’ guide above to enable Developer options)
- Once you enter Developer options, scroll all the way down, locate the option labeled Icon Shape and tap on it.
- This will open a window with a list of icon shapes to choose from. Tap on the preferred one to change the icon shapes system-wide.
Wrapping up
Based on a teardown of Android Q Developer Preview 3 by XDA a couple of months ago, it’s possible that these customization options are going to be moved to a new app called ‘Pixel Themes’ which will be preinstalled on Google’s Pixel devices running Android 10. It will include the option to change the system-wide accent color, icon shapes, and even fonts. Some people hesitate to change settings in developer options, so we hope Google shifts the theming options to an easily accessible app in the near future.
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Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.
