Definition
Icons is a Setup feature for managing and customizing the icons used for custom objects, tabs, and applications in the Salesforce user interface. Administrators can choose from the Salesforce icon library or upload custom icons to help users visually distinguish different objects and apps.
Real-World Example
The admin at BrightPath Consulting changes the icon for the custom "Project" object from the default box icon to a briefcase icon that better represents the object's purpose. She also uploads a custom company logo as the icon for the "Project Tracker" Lightning app, making it instantly recognizable in the App Launcher.
Why Icons Matters
Icons in Salesforce are visual identifiers assigned to custom objects, tabs, and Lightning apps that help users quickly distinguish between different elements in the interface. Administrators can select from Salesforce's extensive built-in icon library, which contains hundreds of categorized icons, or upload custom icons to match the organization's visual identity. Icons appear in the App Launcher, navigation tabs, record pages, related lists, and search results, providing visual context that helps users navigate the platform more efficiently. Well-chosen icons reduce cognitive load by allowing users to identify objects and apps at a glance rather than reading text labels.
As organizations build more custom objects and apps, thoughtful icon selection becomes important for user adoption and productivity. An org with 30 custom objects all using the default box icon creates confusion, as users cannot visually distinguish between objects when searching or navigating. Custom icons also play a branding role when organizations build customer-facing Experience Cloud sites or partner portals where the standard Salesforce icons would look out of place. Administrators should establish icon standards as part of their org governance, choosing icons that intuitively represent each object's purpose and uploading branded icons for customer-facing apps to maintain a professional, cohesive appearance.
How Organizations Use Icons
- BrightPath Consulting — BrightPath Consulting changed the icon for their custom Project object from the default box to a briefcase, and their Milestone object to a flag icon. They also uploaded their company logo as the icon for the 'Project Tracker' Lightning app. The visual distinction helped new employees learn the system faster during onboarding, reducing time-to-productivity by one week.
- GreenLeaf Agriculture — GreenLeaf Agriculture created custom icons for their 15 custom objects related to crop management, including a leaf for Crop Records, a water droplet for Irrigation Schedules, and a sun for Weather Data. Field agents using the mobile app can now quickly find the right object in the App Launcher even in bright outdoor sunlight where reading small text is difficult.
- NexGen Auto Dealers — NexGen Auto Dealers uploaded custom vehicle brand logos as icons for their record types on the Vehicle Inventory object. When sales staff browse the inventory list, they can instantly identify the manufacturer by icon before reading the record details, speeding up the lot walkthrough process when matching customers to available vehicles.