From UITabBarItem class docs:

By default, the actual unselected and selected images are automatically created from the alpha values in the source images. To prevent system coloring, provide images with UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal.

The clue is not whether you use UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal, the important thing is when to use it.

To prevent the grey color for unselected items, you will just need to prevent the system colouring for the unselected image. Here is how to do this:

var firstViewController:UIViewController = UIViewController()
// The following statement is what you need
var customTabBarItem:UITabBarItem = UITabBarItem(title: nil, image: UIImage(named: "YOUR_IMAGE_NAME")?.imageWithRenderingMode(UIImageRenderingMode.AlwaysOriginal), selectedImage: UIImage(named: "YOUR_IMAGE_NAME"))
firstViewController.tabBarItem = customTabBarItem

As you can see, I asked iOS to apply the original color (white, yellow, red, whatever) of the image ONLY for the UNSELECTED state, and leave the image as it is for the SELECTED state.

Also, you may need to add a tint color for the tab bar in order to apply a different color for the SELECTED state (instead of the default iOS blue color). As per your screenshot above, you are applying white color for the selected state:

self.tabBar.tintColor = UIColor.whiteColor()

EDIT:

From here.

Each tab bar item has a title, selected image, unselected image, and a badge value.

Use the Image Tint (selectedImageTintColor) field to specify the bar item’s tint color when that tab is selected. By default, that color is blue.

Swift

For Image:

custom.tabBarItem = UITabBarItem(title: "Home", image: UIImage(named: "tab_icon_normal"), selectedImage: UIImage(named: "tab_icon_selected"))

For Text:

UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.gray], for: .normal)
    

UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.red], for: .selected)

you can set tintColor of UIBarItem :

UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.magentaColor()], forState:.Normal)
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.redColor()], forState:.Selected)

Swift 3

First of all, make sure you have added the BOOLEAN key "View controller-based status bar appearance" to Info.plist, and set the value to "NO".

Appdelegate.swift

Insert code somewhere after "launchOptions:[UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {"

1. Change the color of the tab bar itself with RGB color value:

UITabBar.appearance().barTintColor = UIColor(red: 0.145, green: 0.592, blue: 0.804, alpha: 1.00)

OR one of the default UI colors:

UITabBar.appearance().barTintColor = UIColor.white)

2. Change the text color of the tab items:

The selected item

UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.white], for: .selected)

The inactive items

UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: UIColor.black], for: .normal)

3. To change the color of the image, I believe the easiest approach is to make to separate images, one for each state.

If you don´t make the icons from scratch, alternating black and white versions are relatively easy to make in Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop (almost any version will do)

Make sure your icon image has transparent background, and the icon itself is solid black (or close).

Open the image file, save it under a different file name (e.g. exampleFilename-Inverted.png)

In the "Adjustments" submenu on the "Image" menu:

Click "Invert"

You now have a negative of your original icon.

In XCode, set one of the images as "Selected Image" under the Tab Bar Properties in your storyboard, and specify the "inactive" version under "Bar Item" image.

Ta-Da 🍺

Swift 3

I did it by creating a custom tabbar controller and added this code inside the viewDidLoad method.

    if let count = self.tabBar.items?.count {
for i in 0...(count-1) {
let imageNameForSelectedState   = arrayOfImageNameForSelectedState[i]
let imageNameForUnselectedState = arrayOfImageNameForUnselectedState[i]


self.tabBar.items?[i].selectedImage = UIImage(named: imageNameForSelectedState)?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
self.tabBar.items?[i].image = UIImage(named: imageNameForUnselectedState)?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
}
}


let selectedColor   = UIColor(red: 246.0/255.0, green: 155.0/255.0, blue: 13.0/255.0, alpha: 1.0)
let unselectedColor = UIColor(red: 16.0/255.0, green: 224.0/255.0, blue: 223.0/255.0, alpha: 1.0)


UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: unselectedColor], for: .normal)
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: selectedColor], for: .selected)

It worked for me!

Swift 3

This worked for me (referring to set tabBarItems image colors):

UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = ThemeColor.Blue


if let items = tabBarController.tabBar.items {
let tabBarImages = getTabBarImages() // tabBarImages: [UIImage]
for i in 0..<items.count {
let tabBarItem = items[i]
let tabBarImage = tabBarImages[i]
tabBarItem.image = tabBarImage.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
tabBarItem.selectedImage = tabBarImage
}
}

I have noticed that if you set image with rendering mode = .alwaysOriginal, the UITabBar.tintColor doesn't have any effect.

Try add it on AppDelegate.swift (inside application method):

UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = UIColor(red: 0/255.0, green: 0/255.0, blue: 0/255.0, alpha: 1.0)


// For WHITE color:
UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = UIColor(red: 255/255.0, green: 255/255.0, blue: 255/255.0, alpha: 1.0)

Example:

func application(application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [NSObject: AnyObject]?) -> Bool {
// Tab bar icon selected color
UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = UIColor(red: 0/255.0, green: 0/255.0, blue: 0/255.0, alpha: 1.0)
// For WHITE color: UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = UIColor(red: 255/255.0, green: 255/255.0, blue: 255/255.0, alpha: 1.0)
return true
}

Example:

My english is so bad! I'm sorry! :-)

Simply add a new UITabBarController reference to the project.Next create a reference of UITabBar in this controller:

@IBOutlet weak var appTabBar: UITabBar!

In its viewDidLoad(), simply add below for title text color:

    appTabBar.tintColor = UIColor.scandidThemeColor()

For image

    tabBarItem = UITabBarItem(title: "FirstTab", image: UIImage(named: "firstImage"), selectedImage: UIImage(named: "firstSelectedImage"))

Swift 3.0

I created the tabbar class file and wrote the following code

In viewDidLoad:

self.tabBar.barTintColor = UIColor.white
self.tabBar.isTranslucent = true


let selectedColor   = UIColor.red
let unselectedColor = UIColor.cyan


UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: unselectedColor,NSFontAttributeName: UIFont(name: "Gotham-Book", size: 10)!], for: .normal)
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSForegroundColorAttributeName: selectedColor,NSFontAttributeName: UIFont(name: "Gotham-Book", size: 10)!], for: .selected)


if let items = self.tabBar.items {
for item in items {
if let image = item.image {
item.image = image.withRenderingMode( .alwaysOriginal )
item.selectedImage = UIImage(named: "(Imagename)-a")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
}
}
}

After viewDidLoad:

   override func tabBar(_ tabBar: UITabBar, didSelect item: UITabBarItem) {


if(item.title! == "title")
{
item.selectedImage = UIImage(named: "(Imagname)-a")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)


}
if(item.title! == "title")
{
item.selectedImage = UIImage(named: "(Imagname)-a")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)


}
if(item.title! == "title")
{
item.selectedImage = UIImage(named: "(Imagname)-a")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)


}
if(item.title! == "title")
{
item.selectedImage = UIImage(named: "(Imagname)-a")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)


}
if(item.title! == "title")
{
item.selectedImage = UIImage(named: "(Imagname)-a")?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)


}


}

in view did load method you have to set the selected image and other image are showing with RenderingMode and in tab bar delegate methods you set the selected image as per title

Subclass your TabbarViewController and in ViewDidLoad put this code:

 [UITabBarItem.appearance setTitleTextAttributes:@{NSForegroundColorAttributeName : [UIColor darkGreyColorBT]} forState:UIControlStateNormal];
[UITabBarItem.appearance setTitleTextAttributes:@{NSForegroundColorAttributeName : [UIColor nightyDarkColorBT]} forState:UIControlStateSelected];


self.tabBar.items[0].image  = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"ic-pack off@3x.png"]  imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal];
self.tabBar.items[0].selectedImage  = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"ic-pack@3x.png"]  imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal];
self.tabBar.items[1].image = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"ic-sleeptracker off@3x.png"] imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal];
self.tabBar.items[1].selectedImage  = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"ic-sleeptracker@3x.png"] imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal];
self.tabBar.items[2].image = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"ic-profile off@3x.png"] imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal];
self.tabBar.items[2].selectedImage  = [[UIImage imageNamed:@"ic-profile@3x.png"] imageWithRenderingMode:UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysOriginal];

This is the simplest working solution I have

For Swift 4.0, it's now changed as:

tabBarItem.setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.gray], for: .normal)
tabBarItem.setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: UIColor.blue], for: .selected)

You don't have to subclass the UITabBarItem if your requirement is only to change the text color. Just put the above code inside your view controller's viewDidLoad function.

For global settings change tabBarItem to UITabBarItem.appearance().

You may also do by this way:

override func viewWillLayoutSubviews() {
if let items = self.tabBar.items {
for item in 0..<items.count {
items[item].image = items[item].image?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
items[item].selectedImage = items[item].selectedImage?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysTemplate)
}

Optional:

 UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = UIColor.red

I hope it will help you.

Swift 4: In your UITabBarController change it by this code

tabBar.unselectedItemTintColor = .black

Swift 5 and Xcode 13

The solution that worked for me:

1. Image setup - from the storyboard set Bar Item Image and Selected Image. To remove the tint overlay on the images go to Assets catalog, select the image and change its rendering mode like this:

This will prevent the Tab bar component from setting its default image tint.

2. Text - here I created a simple UITabBarController subclass and in its viewDidLoad method I customized the default and selected text color like this:

    class HomeTabBarController: UITabBarController {
   override func viewDidLoad() {
   super.viewDidLoad()
   
   
   let appearance = UITabBarItem.appearance(whenContainedInInstancesOf: [HomeTabBarController.self])
   appearance.setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: .black], for: .normal)
   appearance.setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedStringKey.foregroundColor: .red], for: .selected)
   }
   }
   

Just set this class as your Tab bar controller custom class in identity inspector in IB.

Voila! That's it.

iOS 13 Update:

+ iOS 15 / Xcode 13 Update:

Add this to your setup for iOS 13 and iOS 15: Update 23/09/2022 for strange behaviour on iOS 15 when built on Xcode 13 when the tab bar is missing:

if #available(iOS 13, *) {
let appearance = UITabBarAppearance()
appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.selected.titleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: .red]
tabBar.standardAppearance = appearance
// Update for iOS 15, Xcode 13
if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
tabBar.scrollEdgeAppearance = appearance
}
}

In Swift 4.2:

UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.white], for: .normal)
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.red], for: .selected)

This Code works for Swift 4 if you want to change the image of Tab Bar Item when pressed. Copy and paste in the first viewDidLoad method that is hit in the project

   let arrayOfImageNameForSelectedState:[String] = ["Image1Color", "Image2Color","Image3Color"]
let arrayOfImageNameForUnselectedState: [String] = ["Image1NoColor","Image2NoColor","Image3NoColor"]




print(self.tabBarController?.tabBar.items?.count)


if let count = self.tabBarController?.tabBar.items?.count {
for i in 0...(count-1) {
let imageNameForSelectedState   = arrayOfImageNameForSelectedState[i]
print(imageNameForSelectedState)
let imageNameForUnselectedState = arrayOfImageNameForUnselectedState[i]
print(imageNameForUnselectedState)
self.tabBarController?.tabBar.items?[i].selectedImage = UIImage(named: imageNameForSelectedState)?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
self.tabBarController?.tabBar.items?[i].image = UIImage(named: imageNameForUnselectedState)?.withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
}
}

I know here are lots of answers but I can't find an easy and valid copy/paste answer for Swift 4.2/ Swift 5.1

tabBarController?.tabBar.tintColor = UIColor.red
tabBarController?.tabBar.unselectedItemTintColor = UIColor.green

Or use UITabBar.appearances() instead of tabBarController?.tabBar like this:

UITabBar.appearances().tintColor = UIColor.red
UITabBar.appearances().unselectedItemTintColor = UIColor.green

Images have to be UIImageRenderingModeAlwaysTemplate

Year: 2020 iOS 13.3

Copy below codes to AppDelegate.swift -> func didFinishLaunchingWithOptions

//Set Tab bar text/item fonts and size
let fontAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.font: UIFont(name: "YourFontName", size: 12.0)!]
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes(fontAttributes, for: .normal)
//Set Tab bar text/item color
UITabBar.appearance().tintColor = UIColor.init(named: "YourColorName")

Swift 5:

let homeTab = UITabBarItem(title: "Home", image: UIImage(named: "YOUR_IMAGE_NAME_FROM_ASSETS")?.withRenderingMode(UIImage.RenderingMode.alwaysOriginal), tag: 1)

In Swift 5 ioS 13.2 things have changed with TabBar styling, below code work 100%, tested out.

Add the below code in your UITabBarController class.

override func viewWillAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
super.viewWillAppear(animated)
let appearance = UITabBarAppearance()
appearance.backgroundColor = .white


setTabBarItemColors(appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance)
setTabBarItemColors(appearance.inlineLayoutAppearance)
setTabBarItemColors(appearance.compactInlineLayoutAppearance)


setTabBarItemBadgeAppearance(appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance)
setTabBarItemBadgeAppearance(appearance.inlineLayoutAppearance)
setTabBarItemBadgeAppearance(appearance.compactInlineLayoutAppearance)


tabBar.standardAppearance = appearance
}


@available(iOS 13.0, *)
private func setTabBarItemColors(_ itemAppearance: UITabBarItemAppearance) {
itemAppearance.normal.iconColor = .lightGray
itemAppearance.normal.titleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.gray]


itemAppearance.selected.iconColor = .white
itemAppearance.selected.titleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.orange]
}


@available(iOS 13.0, *)
private func setTabBarItemBadgeAppearance(_ itemAppearance: UITabBarItemAppearance) {
//Adjust the badge position as well as set its color
itemAppearance.normal.badgeBackgroundColor = .orange
itemAppearance.normal.badgeTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.white]
itemAppearance.normal.badgePositionAdjustment = UIOffset(horizontal: 1, vertical: -1)
}

Swift 5.3

let vc = UIViewController()
vc.tabBarItem.title = "sample"
vc.tabBarItem.image = UIImage(imageLiteralResourceName: "image.png").withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
vc.tabBarItem.selectedImage = UIImage(imageLiteralResourceName: "image.png").withRenderingMode(.alwaysOriginal)
        

// for text displayed below the tabBar item
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.black], for: .selected)

If you want to support iOS 13 and above please try this code, because the way to set UItabBar is totally changed from iOS 13.

        if #available(iOS 13, *) {
let appearance = UITabBarAppearance()
            

//            appearance.backgroundColor = .white
appearance.shadowImage = UIImage()
appearance.shadowColor = .white
            

appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.normal.iconColor = .gray
appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.normal.titleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.gray]
//            appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.normal.badgeBackgroundColor = .yellow
            

appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.selected.iconColor = .systemPink
appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.selected.titleTextAttributes = [NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.systemPink]
            

// set padding between tabbar item title and image
appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.selected.titlePositionAdjustment = UIOffset(horizontal: 0, vertical: 4)
appearance.stackedLayoutAppearance.normal.titlePositionAdjustment = UIOffset(horizontal: 0, vertical: 4)
            

self.tabBar.standardAppearance = appearance
} else {
// set padding between tabbar item title and image
UITabBarItem.appearance().titlePositionAdjustment = UIOffset(horizontal: 0, vertical: 4)
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.gray], for: .normal)
UITabBarItem.appearance().setTitleTextAttributes([NSAttributedString.Key.foregroundColor: UIColor.systemPink], for: .selected)
}

Since Xcode 13.0 you have options to set this color on the UI too: Select the tab bar, then in the Inspector customize both Standard and Scroll to Edge Appearance, and below this items you will find a Stacked and Inline customization options. If you select custom, then you will have the "Title Color" setting. You have to set them all (4).