How To Change Image Of Folder On Mac

If you're a Mac user, and you want to personalize your desktop, you've come to the right place. Mac allows you to customize your folder icons by replacing them with pictures, icons you've downloaded, or icons from other file folders. You can even change the color of your folder icons.

In this guide, we'll show you different ways to customize folder icons on a Mac. We'll also answer some frequently asked questions related to the topic.

How to Change Folder Icon on a Mac to a Picture

Whenever you create a new folder on your Mac, it's automatically a blue file folder icon. If your desktop is full of generic file folders, it might take you a long time to find what you're looking for. This could be frustrating, especially if you're in a hurry.

Once you organize your entire desktop by changing your folder icons, it will improve your productivity. It will also help you classify your folders into different groups. There is no limit to how you can customize your Mac desktop, and it will only take you a few minutes.

There are a couple of ways to change your folder icon on your Mac. You can technically use a picture for your folder icon. It can be any picture you want, whether you downloaded it from your browser or if you took it with your camera.

To change the folder icon on a Mac to a picture, follow the steps below:

Locate the picture that you want to use for the folder icon.
Double-click on the picture to open it in the Preview app.
Press the "Command" and "A" keys to select the picture.
Click on the "Edit" tab on the top menu bar.
Choose "Copy" from the drop-down menu.

Note: You can also press the "Command" and "C" keys at the same type to copy the image.
Locate the folder that you want to customize.
Right-click on the folder and choose "Get Info" from the drop-down menu. This will open a new window.
Select the icon in the upper-left corner of the window.
Go to the "Edit" tab on the menu bar.
Choose "Paste."
Select the red traffic light in the upper-left corner to exit the window.

Note: To speed up this process, press the "Command" and "V" keys at the same time to paste the image to the folder "Info" window.

The picture you copied will automatically replace the folder icon. If nothing has changed, then make sure that you've selected the folder icon before you pressed the paste command.

Aside from using your own pictures, you can also use folder icons that you've downloaded from your browser. If you're looking for personalized folder icons, Pinterest is the best place to search for them. Keep in mind that the image must have a .jpeg or .png format. If the photo you want to use has a different format, you'll have to convert it before you do this.

How to Use an Icon From Another Folder

If you don't want to go through the hassle of searching for and downloading icons from the web, you can use an icon from another folder or file. This is done in a similar manner:

Find the folder or file that has an icon you'd like to use.
Right-click on it, and choose "Get Info" from the drop-down menu.

Note: Another quick way to open the "Info" box is by right-clicking on the folder. Next, press the "Command" and "I" keys at the same time.
Click on the folder icon in the upper-left corner of the window.
Go to "Edit" and then "Copy." You can also select the folder icon and press the "Command" and "V" keys at the same time to copy the folder icon.
Close the window.
Locate the folder that you want to customize.
Right-click on it and select "Get Info."
Select the folder icon on the new window.
Go to "Edit" once again, and choose "Paste" from the drop-down menu.

That's all there is to it. Once you close the folder "Info" window, you'll notice that your folder icon has been changed. This method is much quicker than the others, since you won't have to customize or adjust the icon in any way to make it compatible with your folder.

How to Change the Folder Color on a Mac

Another option you have is to change the color of the folder icon on your Mac. Changing a folder icon's color is done with the Preview app. To do this on your Mac, follow the steps below:

Locate and right-click on the folder you want to customize.
Select "Get Info" from the drop-down menu.
Click on the folder icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Navigate to "Edit" on the top toolbar.
Choose the "Copy" option from the drop-down menu.
Close the folder "Info" window.

Now it's time to use the Preview app to change the color of your folder icon. This is how it's done:

Launch the Preview app on your Mac.
Go to "File" on the top menu bar.
Select "New from Clipboard" at the top of the drop-down menu. This will open the folder icon that you copied.
Proceed to the "Tools" tab on the top menu bar.
Click on the "Adjust color…" option.
To change the color, go to "Tint" on the new window.
Click on the slider and drag it to the left or right side of the scale to adjust the color. You can also adjust the saturation, exposure, contrast, temperature, and other color settings to change your icon into a specific color.
Close this window once you've finished.
Go to "Edit" on the top menu bar and select "Copy."
Close the Preview app.
Go back to the "Info" window of the folder you want to customize.
Proceed to "Edit" and then "Paste."
Close the "Info" box.

The color of the folder icon will be changed instantly. Although this process might be slightly lengthy, you can literally create any color you want for your Mac file folders. It's a great way to organize all of your file folders on your desktop. Not only will they be more accessible, but the entire desktop will be visually pleasing as well.

Additional FAQs

How can I restore the original folder icon on a Mac?

If you change your mind about a particular folder icon, you can always restore the default icon. This will only take you a few moments. Here's what you need to do:

1. Locate the folder that you want to customize.

2. Right-click on the folder and choose "Get Info" from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on the icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

4. Navigate to the "Edit" tab on the menu bar.

5. Choose "Cut" from the drop-down list.

This will automatically revert the folder to its default icon, which is the blue file folder.

How do I create a custom folder icon on a Mac?

If you want to get more creative, you can make your own custom icons for any file folders on your Mac. Keep in mind that you will need a third-party app to do this. You can use Illustrator, Procreate, Photoshop, and various other photo editing apps.

No matter which third-party app you choose, you can select the dimensions for each custom icon. Square images are usually the best option for creating folder icons. You can also create your own design. Try to keep it fairly simple, as adding too many details will make it look blurry once it's minimized.

Once you've made your design in one of these apps, all you need to do is export it to your device. This is what you can do next:

1. Open your custom icon.

2. Press "Command" and "A" at the same time to select it.

3. Press "Command" and "C" at the same time to copy it.

4. Find the folder you want to use the custom icon for.

5. Right-click on it and choose "Get Info" from the drop-down list of options.

6. Click on the folder in the upper-right corner of your screen.

7. Go to "Edit" and then "Paste."

8. Close the "Info" window.

Your folder will now have a custom icon. You can do this for all of your folders on your Mac.

Personalize Your Mac Desktop

Changing the folder icons on your Mac will allow you to create a visually pleasing desktop, as well as to organize all your folders and files. In addition to making your folder icon a picture, you can also change the color of the folder icon. To go a step further, you can make your own custom folder icons. There is no limit to what you can do to customize your Mac desktop.

Have you ever changed a folder icon on your Mac before? Did you use any of the methods covered in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.