How to Change Folder Icon on Mac: The Ultimate Guide and Tutorial

I. Introduction

If you’re a Mac user, you might have wanted to customize your folder icons for some reason. Perhaps you want to organize your files better or give your folders a personal touch. Whatever the reason, your Mac allows for a few different methods for changing folder icons. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to changing folder icons on Macs.

II. Step-by-step tutorial with screenshots

The first method we will cover involves manually changing the icon for each folder on your Mac. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:

1. Select the folder you want to change the icon of and open “Get Info” from “File” menu or press “Command + I”.
2. Click the current icon at the top left corner of the “Get Info” window in order to select it.
3. Copy the new icon you want to use to the clipboard (by either selecting it and pressing “Command + C” or right-clicking and selecting “Copy”).
4. Go back to the “Get Info” window and click on the current icon once again.
5. Press “Command + V” to paste the new icon from your clipboard. You can also right-click and select “Paste”.
6. Close the “Get Info” window and your folder icon will have changed.

Here’s a screenshot of what steps 2 through 5 would look like:

III. Video tutorial

If you prefer a more visual guide, video tutorials can be a great option. Here’s a video tutorial showing you how to change folder icons on a Mac:

Video tutorials have the advantage of allowing you to see exactly what to do, making it easier to follow along and ensuring you don’t miss any important steps.

IV. Using third-party apps

If you’d rather not go through the hassle of manually changing folder icons, there are a few third-party apps you can use. Here are some popular options:

1. LiteIcon – a simple app that allows you to change system icons and folder icons.
2. CandyBar – a more advanced app that lets you customize system icons as well as use, create, and edit icon sets. However, it should be noted that this app is no longer officially supported by the developer since 2012.
3. Pimp Your Screen – a customization app that includes over 1000 wallpapers, themes, and icon packs.

While using third-party apps can simplify the process of changing folder icons, there are some downsides. For instance, they can take up valuable storage space on your Mac and may not be compatible with newer macOS versions.

V. System preferences

If you need to change multiple folder icons at once, you may find it more efficient to use the system preferences. Here’s how:

1. Open “System Preferences” from your dock or “Apple Menu”.
2. Click on the “Appearance” button.
3. Select “Folder” under the “View” tab.
4. Choose a folder icon you want to use.
5. Your folder icon will have changed.

By using this method, you can change all your folder icons to the same one, making your Mac look even more organized.

VI. Customizing icons

If you want to personalize your folder icons even more, you can use images or pictures to customize them. Here’s how:

1. Select the image or picture you want to use as your folder icon.
2. Open “Preview” on your Mac.
3. Go to “File” and select “Export”.
4. Change the format to PNG.
5. Save the file to your desktop.
6. Select the folder you want to change the icon of and open “Get Info”.
7. Click on the current folder icon and then drag the PNG file you just created to the top left corner of the “Get Info” window that appears.
8. Close the “Get Info” window and your folder icon will have changed.

Using custom images or pictures can make your folder icons stand out in a unique way.

VII. Icon packs

If you want to go even further with customizing your folder icons, you can use icon packs. Icon packs are collections of icons that you can use to replace the default icons on your Mac. Here are some popular icon packs:

1. Flaticon – offers over 3 million free icons for personal and commercial use.
2. IconArchive – a large library of icon packs available for download.
3. DeviantArt – a community of artists that share their custom icon designs.

Using icon packs can be a great way to make your Mac look even more unique and personalized.

VIII. Keyboard shortcuts

Finally, if you want to speed up the process of changing folder icons, keyboard shortcuts can help. Here are some useful keyboard shortcuts to customize folder icons on a Mac:

1. Press “Command + I” to open “Get Info”.
2. Press “Command + C” to copy.
3. Press “Command + V” to paste.
4. Press “Command + A” to select all items.
5. Press “Command + Z” to undo your last action.

By using keyboard shortcuts, you can seamlessly and quickly change your folder icons without interrupting your workflow.

IX. Conclusion

Changing folder icons on a Mac may seem like a small tweak, but it can make a big difference in your organization and personalization. Whether you choose to manually change each folder icon, use third-party apps, or customize your icons with your own images, there’s a method that works best for you. Try out the different methods we’ve outlined and find the one that works best for your Mac.