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How to Change Color of Social Media Icons in WordPress Ea…

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever wished your website’s social media icons matched your brand’s unique style? Those tiny icons may seem small, but their colors can make a big impact on your site’s overall look and feel.

Customizing social media icon colors isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a cohesive, professional impression for your visitors. Luckily, updating these icons in WordPress is easier than you think.

In this article, you’ll find clear steps, helpful tips, and creative insights to refresh your website’s social icons in no time.

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How to Change the Color of Social Media Icons in WordPress

Customizing the color of your social media icons can instantly boost your website’s personality and make it stand out. Whether you want your icons to match your brand, follow a particular theme, or simply freshen things up, WordPress gives you a variety of ways to easily change those social media icon colors to your liking.

Let’s break down the different ways you can do this, the benefits, potential challenges, and some smart tips to make your icons shine.

Why Change Social Media Icon Colors?

Your website’s design is a reflection of your brand. Social media icons, though small, play a vital role in attracting attention and encouraging visitors to connect with you on different platforms. Modifying their color can help you:

  • Align with your brand’s color palette
  • Improve icon visibility and contrast
  • Create a consistent and professional appearance
  • Make specific icons stand out for promotional purposes

Now, let’s explore step-by-step how you can change these colors.

Methods to Change Social Media Icon Colors in WordPress

There are several popular approaches you can use:

1. Customize via the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

WordPress offers a built-in Social Icons block that makes customization straightforward.

Steps:

  1. Open the page or post where you want to modify your social icons.
  2. Add or select the “Social Icons” block.
  3. With the block selected, look for the Block settings on the right sidebar.
  4. You’ll see options for changing icon color, background color, and icon size.
  5. Pick your preferred colors using the color picker or by entering a hex code.
  6. Save or update your page to publish the changes.

Advantages:
– No coding required.
– Immediate preview while editing.
– Can be customized for each page or section.

2. Customizing Icons in Widgets or Theme Customizer

Many themes add social icons to your header, footer, or sidebar through widgets or the theme customizer.

Typical Steps:

  1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Appearance > Widgets or Appearance > Customize.
  3. Locate the social media widget or section.
  4. Check if your theme offers color customization options (some premium themes do).
  5. If available, adjust the color settings.
  6. Save changes.

Note: Options vary depending on your theme. Some free themes may have limited or no color customization.

3. Using a WordPress Plugin

Plugins are a great solution if you need more control or your theme doesn’t support easy color changes.

Popular Plugin Options:

  • Social Icons Widget by WPZoom
  • Ultimate Blocks (includes multiple icon customization options)
  • Simple Social Icons

Steps:

  1. Install and activate your chosen social icon plugin.
  2. Add the social icon widget/block to your header, footer, or sidebar.
  3. Use the settings to adjust icon color, hover color, and background.
  4. Save and review your site.

Plugin Pros:
– Fine-grained control over appearance.
– Additional effects like hover color, shape, and spacing.
– Some plugins offer animation and advanced styling.

4. Custom CSS for Advanced Customization

If you wish to go beyond the basic settings or want full creative control, adding custom CSS is the way to go.

How to Add Custom CSS:

  1. Identify the CSS class or ID used by your social icons. You can right-click the icon and choose “Inspect” in your browser for this.
  2. Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.
  3. Enter your new CSS code. For example:
.my-social-icons a {
    color: #e1306c; /* Change icon color */
    background-color: #ffffff; /* Change background color */
}
.my-social-icons a:hover {
    color: #262626; /* Change icon color on hover */
    background-color: #f7cac9; /* Change background on hover */
}
  1. Click “Publish” to save your changes.

Tips for Custom CSS:

  • Always use specific class selectors to target only your social icons.
  • Use Google’s Chrome DevTools or Firefox Inspector for testing changes before applying.
  • Backup your CSS or keep a record of changes to avoid losing custom styling during theme updates.

Benefits of Customizing Social Media Icon Colors

Why go through this process? Here are some benefits:

  • Brand Cohesion: Matching icon colors to your palette reinforces your brand identity.
  • Attention-Grabbing: A unique color scheme makes icons stand out, increasing click-through rates.
  • Accessibility: Improving contrast can help all visitors see and use your social links.
  • Theme Adaptation: Seasonal or campaign-based color changes keep your site looking fresh.

Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them

While customizing, you might encounter a few roadblocks:

Limited Theme or Block Options

  • Solution: Try a feature-rich plugin for more customization, or use custom CSS.

Icons Not Updating or Showing Correctly

  • Solution: Clear your browser and site cache, check if custom CSS is overriding theme styles, and ensure you’re editing the correct elements.

Responsive Design Issues

  • Solution: Test your icons on mobile and tablet devices. Some plugins and themes have specific mobile settings.

Losing Changes After Updates

  • Solution: Use a child theme for CSS changes or keep a backup of your custom code in case theme or plugin updates overwrite your modifications.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

To get the most from your custom social icons, keep these best practices in mind:

  • Stick to Recognizable Brand Colors: If you want instant recognition, use each network’s official brand color for its icon.
  • Keep It Accessible: Ensure sufficient contrast between icon color and background for readability.
  • Don’t Overdo It: Too many colors can look cluttered. Try a balanced, harmonious color scheme.
  • Preview Before Publishing: Always preview your changes on different devices.
  • Test Hover Effects: Use subtle color shifts on hover to indicate interactivity.

Cost Tips

You can change social icon colors for free with the WordPress Block Editor, most themes, or plugins like Ultimate Blocks. However, certain premium plugins or themes may offer more advanced options, such as animated icons, extra styles, or conditional display features. Stick with free solutions unless you need these extras.

Summary

Changing the color of your social media icons in WordPress is a simple yet powerful way to customize your site. Whether you use the built-in block editor, theme options, a handy plugin, or custom CSS, you can easily match your icons to your brand and style.

Always consider accessibility, test on all devices, and regularly save your settings. With these tips, your social icons will not only look fantastic but also attract more clicks and followers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I quickly change the color of my social media icons in WordPress?
The fastest way is through the Social Icons block in the WordPress Block Editor. Just select the block, open its settings, and use the color pickers to set icon and background colors.

Can I change icon colors if my theme doesn’t support it?
Yes! Install a social icon plugin that offers color customization or use custom CSS to override the default styles.

What if my icons don’t display after changing colors?
This is often due to caching. Try clearing your browser and WordPress cache. Also, make sure you’re editing the correct widget or block.

Will changing icon colors impact my site’s speed or SEO?
No, changing icon colors is generally just a visual enhancement. If you use too many heavy plugins or large images, that might affect speed, but color changes themselves will not.

Is it better to use official social media brand colors or my own palette?
Both approaches have advantages. Official colors aid recognition, while using your own palette strengthens brand consistency. You might combine both: primary icons use official colors, and hover states reflect your site’s style.

With these guides and tips, you’re ready to own your website’s look and make those social media icons work for you!

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