MacOS makes it easy to distinguish a file from a folder by the icon. The icon for a file represents the type of file. For instance, a text file is a piece of paper, and a zip file shows a zipper. The icon for a folder is even simpler: It’s a folder.
What isn’t always obvious is how to change the icons for files and folders on Mac. Maybe you want an image as a file icon or a different color for a folder icon. In just a few clicks, you can make those icons almost anything you want.
Use a different icon image
You can use a picture as the icon for either a file or folder on Mac. This is handy for spotting what you need quickly.
Step 1: Copy the image you want to use for the icon one of these ways:
- Open it in Preview and select Edit > Copy from the menu bar.
- Select the image and pick Edit > Copy from the Finder menu bar.
- Right-click the image and select Copy.
- Select the image and use the keyboard shortcut Command + C.
You’ll then have the image copied to your clipboard.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Step 2: Whether a file or a folder, you’ll open the properties for it to access its icon. Select the file or folder and pick File > Get Info from the menu bar or right-click and choose Get Info.
This opens a window full of details about the item. You’ll see the icon on the top left of that window.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Step 3: Select the icon in the Get Info window to highlight it. Then paste the image by selecting Edit > Paste from the menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut Command + V.
You should see the image you copied replace the default icon for the file or folder. You can then close the Get Info window.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Change the folder icon color
If you simply want to change the color of a folder icon on Mac, you can do this using Preview. Open the Get Info window for the folder as described above.
Step 1: Select the icon on the top left of the detail window to highlight it. Now, copy the icon by selecting Edit > Copy from the menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut Command + C.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Step 2: Open the Preview app on your Mac and select File > New From Clipboard in the menu bar. You should see the folder icon display for you to edit.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Step 3: At the top of the Preview app, select the Markup button in the toolbar. Then, pick the Adjust Color button and use the Tint slider to choose the color you want for the icon.
Optionally, you can use the other color adjustment tools if you like.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Step 4: Once you have the icon colored the way you want, you just need to copy it and paste it back into the folder details window.
Pick Edit > Select All and then Edit > Copy from the menu bar to copy the icon. You can also use the selection tool in Preview to outline the icon and then pick Edit > Copy.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Step 5: Head back to the Get Info window you opened for the folder. Select the icon on the top left once more to highlight it. Then, paste the new icon by picking Edit > Paste in the menu bar or using the keyboard shortcut Command + V.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Whether you use a photo or a logo for a file icon or decide simply to change the color of a folder icon, you have options to make items stand out on MacOS.
For other customizations, check out how to change the background on Mac.
Editors’ Recommendations