Things you can theme

Updated: June 30, 2012

This page correctly assumes you've read these pages first:
If you want to reuse the graphics on the iPhone (or just check their size) you'll need to convert them to a usable format. This tutorial will help you with that.

Here I will compile a list of graphics that can be changed on the iPhone using WinterBoard, or by replacing them directly with SSH. This list concerns the iPhone 4. For the iPhone 3G S ignore the @2x designator. Note that this list will NEVER completely represent every graphic on the iPhone. It's just a starting point for some of the most common graphics people like to change. If you find a theme you like, and want to know how they changed what they changed, simply install the theme then use SSH to transfer the theme to your Mac so you can analyze how they did it. Note I use WinterBoard with SummerBoard mode enabled. Because of this some of my icon paths using WinterBoard may be different than yours. I know with 5.1.1 firmware some of the icon paths have changed like Music, Mail and Camera. I only needed to update my Music path to make the icon work.

I'll be getting a lot of my information from previous WinterBoard tutorials I've created for earlier firmwares and from this very informative thread over at Mac Themes.net.

Do not use the sample graphics on display below. They are only examples for reference.






Animated lockscreen images

By installing programs like Clown Fish LS from Cydia you can have animated graphics on your lockscreen. You can read my tutorial for 4.x firmware here.





Animated springboard images

By installing programs like Falling Leaves from Cydia you can have animated graphics on your springboard. You can read my tutorial for 4.x firmware here.





Application program icons


Note some icons have a captial I in their name.
     


What Location of graphic WinterBoard path
App Store /Applications/AppStore.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/AppStore.app/icon@2x.png
Calculator /Applications/Calculator.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Calculator.app/icon@2x.png
Calendar /Applications/MobileCal.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileCal.app/icon@2x.png
Camera /Applications/Camera.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Camera.app/icon@2x.png
Clock /Applications/MobileTimer.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileTimer.app/icon@2x.png
Compass /Applications/Compass.app/Icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Compass.app/Icon@2x.png
Contacts /Applications/Contacts~iphone.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Contacts~iphone.app/icon@2x.png
Game Center /Applications/Game Center~iphone.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Game Center~iphone.app/icon@2x.png
iTunes /Applications/MobileStore.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileStore.app/icon@2x.png
Mail /Applications/MobileMail.app/Icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileMail.app/Icon@2x.png
Maps /Applications/Maps~iphone.app/Icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Maps~iphone.app/Icon@2x.png
Messages /Applications/MobileSMS.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileSMS.app/icon@2x.png
Music /Applications/Music~iphone.app/Icon-Small@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.mobileipod/icon@2x.png
Newsstand /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/
NewsstandIconBackground
@2x~iphone.png
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/
NewsstandIconBackground
@2x~iphone.png
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/
NewsstandIconBorder
@2x~iphone.png
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/
NewsstandIconBorder
@2x~iphone.png
Nike /Applications/Nike.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Nike.app/icon@2x.png
Notes /Applications/MobileNotes.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileNotes.app/icon@2x.png
Phone /Applications/MobilePhone.app/icon@2x~iphone.png Theme/Folders/MobilePhone.app/icon@2x~iphone.png
Photos /Applications/MobileSlideShow.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileSlideShow.app/icon@2x.png
Reminders /Applications/Reminders.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Reminders.app/icon@2x.png
Safari /Applications/MobileSafari.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/MobileSafari.app/icon@2x.png
Settings /Applications/Preferences.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Preferences.app/icon@2x.png
Stocks /Applications/Stocks.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Stocks.app/icon@2x.png
Videos /Applications/Videos.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Videos.app/icon@2x.png
Voice Memos /Applicatons/VoiceMemos.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/VoiceMemos.app/icon@2x.png
Weather /Applications/Weather.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/Weather.app/icon@2x.png
YouTube /Applications/YouTube.app/icon@2x.png Theme/Folders/YouTube.app/icon@2x.png






Battery icons

     

There are 17 graphics that represent the various states of charge of the battery. These are displayed only when the iPhone is plugged in and being charged. There is also a mask graphic which makes a reflection of the battery.

Location of graphic WinterBoard path
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/BatteryBG_1@2x.png

Continue this naming convention up to _17@2x.png
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/BatteryBG_1@2x.png

Continue this naming convention up to _17@2x.png
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/BatteryReflectionMask@2x.png Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/BatteryReflectionMask@2x.png

Additional notes
There is a graphic that masks the battery graphic reflection. Making it black will eliminate the reflection. This graphic is normally a gradient and is found here: /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/BatteryReflectionMask@2x.png






Camera icon (on lockscreen)

     

With 5.1.1 firmware the camera icon was added to the lockscreen next to the slide to unlock slider for quicker access. If you want this icon to go away, and have your slider look normal again, then install No LockScreen Camera from Cydia. You can't just swap out the graphic. If you do you'll be left with a gap where the graphic was, even if you replacement is 1 pixel by 1 pixel. You can customize this icon with the path below.

Location of graphic WinterBoard path
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/CameraGrabber@2x~iphone.png Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/CameraGrabber@2x~iphone.png






Carrier bars


Three sets of icons are needed. White icons for dark backgrounds, blue icons for light backgrounds and another set of white icons for the notifications page. This other site of white icons have a drop shadow and require 1 pixel of padding on either side of the image for non-retina display iPhones (3G S) and 2 pixels of padding for retina display iPhones (4). To be honest, unless you are really picky you won't notice the difference if you don't do this. You can just duplicate your WhiteOnBlackEtch set and name it WhiteOnBlackShadow.

Location of graphic
Unknown. They are not in the same location as in 4.x firmware (even though the files are still there, they are now named differently).

WinterBoard path
Theme/UIImages/

Black graphics are named: WhiteOnBlackEtch_0_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_1_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_2_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_3_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_4_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_5_Bars@2x.png.

Blue graphics are named: ColorOnGrayShadow_0_Bars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_1_Bars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_2_Bars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_3_Bars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_4_Bars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_5_Bars@2x.png.

Black graphics (for the notifications center) are named: WhiteOnBlackShadow_0_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_1_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_2_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_3_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_4_Bars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_5_Bars@2x.png.






Carrier logos

There are three graphics. One that looks good on white (Default), black (FSO) and one for the notification center background (TS). I find the FSO graphic can be used as a TS graphic.

Verizon users you may find a solution here.

Location of graphic (AT&T) WinterBoard path (AT&T)
/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/ATT_US.bundle/Default_CARRIER_ATT@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.ATT_US/Default_CARRIER_ATT@2x.png
/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/ATT_US.bundle/FSO_CARRIER_ATT@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.ATT_US/FSO_CARRIER_ATT@2x.png
/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/ATT_US.bundle/TS_CARRIER_ATT@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.ATT_US/TS_CARRIER_ATT@2x.png

Location of graphic (T-Mobile) WinterBoard path (T-Mobile)
/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/Unknown.bundle/Default_CARRIER_TMOBILE_1only_@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.Unknown/Default_CARRIER_TMOBILE_1only_@2x.png
/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/Unknown.bundle/FSO_CARRIER_TMOBILE_1only_@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.Unknown/FSO_CARRIER_TMOBILE_1only_@2x.png
/System/Library/Carrier Bundles/iPhone/Unknown.bundle/TS_CARRIER_TMOBILE_1only_@2x.png Theme/Bundles/com.apple.Unknown/TS_CARRIER_TMOBILE_1only_@2x.png






Custom audio

You can change most any sound on the iPhone with your own sound. Things like slide to unlock, the lock sound, e-mail and text message sounds, et cetera. For a tutorial on how to create audio files and convert them properly, along with a master list of the names of the audio files on the iPhone, click here.

Location of file
/System/Library/Audio/UISounds

WinterBoard path
Theme/UISounds/<original file name.caf>






Custom text strings



These files contains various text strings found on the iPhone like: slide for emergency, slide to power off, slide to unlock, et cetera. I use a special set of thin sliders for slide to unlock, slide to power off and slide to answer, so I like to remove the text for these events. The paths below are specifically for these events. There are lots of .strings files all over the iPhone that store various other messages.

Edit the files to make them say what you would like. Keep in mind the messages must be short or they will be truncated when displayed. If choosing to not display a message, you may need to leave a blank space between " ". I use the program BBEdit to work on .strings files.

There is a second file specifically for the slide to answer text. I don't know where the stock file is on the iPhone but you can download replacement files from me here that you can use WinterBoard to theme.

Location of file
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/English.lproj/SpringBoard.strings (slide to unlock, et cetera)

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/en.lproj/SpringBoard.strings (slide to unlock, et cetera)
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.mobilephone.incomingcall/en.lproj/Localizable.strings (slide to answer)






Dock background

     

In order to change this graphic (and many others in the SpringBoard) you must rename (much safer than deleting) the corresponding graphic (ending in .cptbitmap) in this folder:

/private/var/mobile/Library/Caches/com.apple.springboard.sharedimagecache/Persistent


Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBDockBG@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/SBDockBG@2x~iphone.png






Dock icon reflections


Any icons placed in your dock will have a reflection which fades away toward the bottom of the screen. You remove the reflection by creating a transparent graphic. You could also just rename the graphic and then it wouldn't load.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBDockMask@2x.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/SBDockMask@2x.png






Dock icon shadows


Any icons placed in your dock will have a shadow (not to be confused with a reflection), though it is hard to see with the stock dock and the reflection graphics. You remove the shadow by creating a transparent graphic. You could also just rename the graphic and then it wouldn't load. See also Icon shadows and Switcher icon shadows, as they use different graphics.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/WallpaperIconDockShadow@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/WallpaperIconDockShadow@2x~iphone.png






Folder icon background


This is the graphic that appears as a folder icon background.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FolderIconBG@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/FolderIconBG@2x~iphone.png

Additional notes
When replacing this graphic you must also go to /var/mobile/Library/Caches/com.apple.springboard.sharedimagecache/Persistent and delete the file: FolderIconBG.cpbitmap. It will be regenerated on respring. Simply renaming the file will not work.






Folder switcher background


This is the graphic that appears when opening a folder or the task switcher.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FolderSwitcherBG@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/FolderSwitcherBG@2x~iphone.png

Additional notes
When replacing this graphic you must also go to /var/mobile/Library/Caches and delete the following 4 files: com.apple.SpringBoard.folderSwitcherLinen.0, com.apple.SpringBoard.folderSwitcherLinen.1, com.apple.SpringBoard.folderSwitcherLinen.2, and com.apple.SpringBoard.folderSwitcherLinen.3. They will be regenerated on respring. Simply renaming these files will not work.







Icon mask


When you press an icon it gets darker to indicate its selection. You remove the darkening overlay by creating a transparent graphic. You could also just rename the graphic and then it wouldn't load. There are two other graphics of interest: AppIconOverlay@2x~iphone.png (which I think just adds the shine effect to the top of the icon), and AppIconShadow@2x~iphone.png (which I don't know what it does).

Location of graphic
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileIcons.framework/AppIconMask@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Unknown






Icon shadows


All icons have a shadow. You remove the shadow by creating a transparent graphic. You could also just rename the graphic and then it wouldn't load. See also Dock icon shadows and Switcher icon shadows, as they use different graphics.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/WallpaperIconShadow@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/WallpaperIconShadow@2x~iphone.png





Icon text label shadows

There are no shadows on the text for your application icons like Phone, Mail, Camera, et cetera. Upload this .plist to Theme/Info.plist.






Lockscreen camera icon


If you double click your Home button on the lockscreen the camera application button will appear.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/LockScreenCamera@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/LockScreenCamera@2x~iphone.png






Lockscreen clock (shaded bar)

This is the shaded bar that appears behind the clock and date to make it easier to read on light backgrounds. The graphic is only 1 pixel wide and is stretched across the width of the screen. Used in conjunction with the Cydia program Lockscreen Clock Hide, you can greatly simplify how your lockscreen looks.

Location of file
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/BarLCD@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/TelephonyUI.framework/BarLCD@2x~iphone.png






Lockscreen clock (font)

You have a couple options if you want to change the font. You could use a program like BytaFont or you could create a simple info.plist file, and tell it that you want to use a font that already exists on your iPhone to take the place of the standard font. For a complete list of fonts, go to /System/Library/Fonts/Cache.

You can download a sample .plist here. Decompress this file and place the .plist into Theme/Info.plist.






Lockscreen clock & date hide


This will hide the clock and date on the lockscreen. Look for "Lockscreen Clock Hide" on Cydia.

You can also use this clear font file to replace the LockClock.ttf found here: /System/Library/Fonts/Cache. Remember to backup or rename the original file you are replacing!

You could also edit the DateFormats.plist found at /private/var/mobile/library/cahces. Look for the key UINoAMPMTimeFormat, and erase the characters "h:mm" from the string.

To hide the date edit the DateFormats.plist found at /private/var/mobile/library/cahces. Look for the key UIWeekdayNoYearDateFormat, and erase the characters "EEEE, MMMM d" from the string.






Notification background


This is the gray linen background that appears when swiping from top to bottom on your iPhone.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/BulletinListLinen@2x.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/BulletinListLinen@2x.png






Notification badges


Background for # of calls, messages, etc. missed and push notifications.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBBadgeBG@2x.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/SBBadgeBG@2x.png






Notification bubble


When you miss a phone call, et cetera, this black bubble and a message appears on your lockscreen.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/BulletinListLockScreenFirstAlertBG@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/SpringBoard.app/BulletinListLockScreenFirstAlertBG@2x~iphone.png






Page indicators


These are the dots toward the bottom of the screen used to indicate which page of your home screen you are on. They have both a white and gray state.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/Frameworks/UIKit.framework/Shared@2x.artwork or Shared@2x~iphone.artwork (I don't know to decrypt the new .artwork files yet.)

WinterBoard path
Theme/UIImages/UIPageIndicator.png
Theme/UIImages/UIPageIndicatorCurrent.png.






Slider "tray"


This is the graphic that the slide to answer, power off and unlock buttons travel in when moving left to right.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/WellLock@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/TelephonyUI.framework/WellLock@2x~iphone.png

Additional notes
If you would rather replace the slide motion with a tap, try out the theme "Tap To Unlock (iPhone 4)" on Cydia. It will replace your slider graphics, eliminate the slider tray and clear the three text strings for a cleaner look.






Slide to answer button


Location of graphic
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobgreen@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobgreen@2x~iphone.png

Additional notes
To change the text slide to answer, see the Custom text strings section.

If you would rather replace the slide motion with a tap, try out the theme "Tap To Unlock (iPhone 4)" on Cydia. It will replace your slider graphics, eliminate the slider tray and clear the three text strings for a cleaner look.






Slide to power off button


Location of graphic
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobred@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobred@2x~iphone.png

Additional notes
To change the text slide to power off, see the Custom text strings section.

If you would rather replace the slide motion with a tap, try out the theme "Tap To Unlock (iPhone 4)" on Cydia. It will replace your slider graphics, eliminate the slider tray and clear the three text strings for a cleaner look.






Slide to unlock button


Location of graphic
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobgray@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobgray@2x~iphone.png

Additional notes
To change the text slide to unlock, see the Custom text strings section.

If you would rather replace the slide motion with a tap, try out the theme "Tap To Unlock (iPhone 4)" on Cydia. It will replace your slider graphics, eliminate the slider tray and clear the three text strings for a cleaner look.






Slide to unlock text mask


This is the graphic that makes the letters show through as white (under a gray mask), and moves from left to right.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarlocktextmask@2x.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Folders/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarlocktextmask@2x.png

Additional notes
To change the text slide to answer see the Custom text strings section.






SMS background image


Background image for text message conversations. I found that a graphic of 480 by 480 worked well in either portrait or landscape mode.

WinterBoard path
Theme/SMSBackground.png






Spotlight search indicator


This is the magnifying glass toward the bottom of the screen used to indicate whether or not you are on a search page. It has both a white and gray state.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBSearchPageIndicator@2x.png
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBSearchPageIndicatorCurrent@2x.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/SBSearchPageIndicator@2x.png
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/SBSearchPageIndicatorCurrent@2x.png






Status bar background


This is the colored bar at the top of the screen. When you open an application like Notes it turns black and is called Black_Base@2x.png. When you open an application like Safari it turns white and is called Silver_Base@2x.png. The default color of this bar is seen on the lockscreen and the springboard and is called Translucent_Base@2x.png.

Location of graphic
Unknown.

WinterBoard path
Theme/UIImages/ Black_Base@2x.png, Silver_Base@2x.png, Translucent_Base@2x.png






Switcher icon shadows


Any icons in your switcher bar will have a shadow. You remove the shadow by creating a transparent graphic. You could also just rename the graphic and then it wouldn't load. See also Dock icon shadows and Icon shadows as they use different graphics.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SwitcherIconShadow@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/SwitcherIconShadow@2x~iphone.png






Wallpaper gradient

     

There is a dark gradient that starts at the bottom of the screen and extends half way up the screen fading as it goes up. Switching this graphic out with a transparent one (1 pixel wide by 960 pixels high) eliminates this effect. In the sample image a white wallpaper is being used to demonstrate the default gradient.

Location of graphic
/System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/WallpaperGradientPortraitBottom@2x~iphone.png

WinterBoard path
Theme/Bundles/com.apple.springboard/WallpaperGradientPortraitBottom@2x~iphone.png






Wallpaper rotating

By installing the program Apple Backgrounds from Cydia you can swap out their wallpaper images for your own. Either edit the wallpaper.html file to change the default timer and file names, or just rename your own images to match their image names. Comes with 11 images. You can review my tutorial for 4.x firmware here.






Wi-Fi icons


Three sets of icons are needed. White icons for dark backgrounds, blue icons for light backgrounds and another set of white icons for the notifications page. This other site of white icons have a drop shadow and require 1 pixel of padding on either side of the image for non-retina display iPhones (3G S) and 2 pixels of padding for retina display iPhones (4). To be honest, unless you are really picky you won't notice the difference if you don't do this. You can just duplicate your WhiteOnBlackEtch set and name it WhiteOnBlackShadow.

Location of graphic
Unknown. They are not in the same location as in 4.x firmware (even though the files are still there, they are now named differently).

WinterBoard path
Theme/UIImages/

Black graphics are named: WhiteOnBlackEtch_0_WifiBars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_1_WifiBars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_2_WifiBars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackEtch_3_WifiBars@2x.png.

Blue graphics are named: ColorOnGrayShadow_0_WifiBars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_1_WifiBars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_2_WifiBars@2x.png, ColorOnGrayShadow_3_WifiBars@2x.png

Black graphics (for the notifications center) are named: WhiteOnBlackShadow_0_WifiBars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_1_WifiBars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_2_WifiBars@2x.png, WhiteOnBlackShadow_3_WifiBars@2x.png







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