There are many things to love about the Mac, but one of its stranger features is how easy it is to change icons for files and folders. By default, a file is represented by a sheet of paper, while folders are represented by a folder. You’ll also find zip files with zippers as well as other standard iconography. However, if you want to customize the look of your files and folders, Apple gives you an easy way to change icons without much effort.
Here’s how to change icons for files and folders on Mac, including tips for using different images or changing the color of the folder icon.
Use a different icon image
You can use an image as an icon for a file or folder on Mac. This is useful for quickly identifying what you need.
Step 1: Copy the image you want to use for the icon in one of the following ways:
- Open it in Preview and select it Edit > Copy from the menu bar.
- Select the image and select it Edit > Copy from the Finder menu bar.
- Right-click the image and select it Copy.
- Select the image and use the keyboard shortcut command + C.
The image will then be copied to your clipboard.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 2: Whether it is a file or a folder, open its properties to access its icon. Select the file or folder and select file > get information from the menu bar or right-click and select get information.
This will open a window full of details about the item. You will see the icon at the top left of this window.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 3: Select the icon in the Inspector window to highlight it. Then insert the image by selecting it Edit > paste via the menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut command + v.
You should see that the image you copied replaces the default icon for the file or folder. You can then close the “Information” window.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Change the color of the folder icon
If you just want to change the color of a folder icon on Mac, you can do it from Preview. Open the Info window for the folder as described above.
Step 1: Select the icon in the top left of the details window to highlight it. Now copy the icon by selecting it Edit > Copy via the menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut command + C.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 2: Open this preview app on your Mac and select file > New from the clipboard in the menu bar. You should see the folder icon that you can edit.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 3: Select that at the top of the Preview app Markup Toolbar button. Then select the Adjust the color Click on the button and use the hue Use the slider to select the desired color for the icon.
Optionally, you can also use the other color adjustment tools if necessary.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 4: Once the icon is the color you want, all you have to do is copy and paste it back into the folder details window.
Choose Edit > Select All and then Edit > Copy from the menu bar to copy the icon. You can also use the selection tool in the preview to outline the symbol and then select it Edit > Copy.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 5: Go back to the Get Info window you opened for the folder. Select the top left icon again to highlight it. Then insert the new symbol by clicking on it Edit > paste in the menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut command + v.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Whether you want to use a photo or logo for a file icon or simply change the color of a folder icon, you have the ability to highlight items on MacOS.
For more customizations, see How to change the background on Mac.
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