How to change a folder icon on Mac
You can swap any folder's icon on macOS in about ten seconds — no extra app required. Here's the built-in way step by step, how to undo it, and a faster route when you want every folder to look consistent instead of doing them one at a time.
The built-in way: change a folder icon with Get Info
macOS lets you paste any image on top of a folder's icon. It works with a PNG, a copied icon from another folder, or an image you found online. The trick is that you paste into the small icon preview inside the Get Info window — not onto the folder itself.
How to revert a folder to its default icon
Select the folder, press ⌘ + I to open Get Info, click the small icon in the top-left corner of the window once so it's highlighted, then press Delete. The folder instantly returns to the standard blue macOS folder.
Common problems (and fixes)
- Paste does nothing: you clicked the big preview instead of the tiny icon at the very top-left of the Get Info window. Click that small one until it has a blue highlight, then ⌘V.
- The icon looks blurry: use a square image of at least 512×512 px. macOS scales it down cleanly but can't add detail to a small source.
- You want a transparent background: the image needs to already be a PNG with transparency — macOS won't remove a white background for you.
- “You don't have permission”: the folder is locked or owned by the system. Check the Sharing & Permissions section at the bottom of the same Get Info window.
The faster way: style every folder at once with Mac+
The Get Info method is perfect for one or two folders. But finding good-looking icons, cropping them square, exporting transparent PNGs and pasting them one by one gets tedious fast — especially if you want a whole desktop that matches.
Mac+ is a native macOS app built for exactly this. It ships with 52 icon patterns mapped onto the real macOS folder shape, so they always look like proper Mac folders — not flat stickers. You pick a folder, choose a pattern and a color, and apply. You can also drop in your own image and Mac+ fits it to the folder shape for you. The free tier includes 6 folder icons, palettes and a couple of widgets, so you can try it before deciding.
Change a folder icon in 4 steps
- Get the image you want to use — a square PNG works best. Open it in Preview and press ⌘C to copy it.
- In Finder, click the folder once to select it, then press ⌘ + I to open Get Info.
- Click the small folder icon in the top-left corner of the Get Info window so it shows a blue highlight.
- Press ⌘V to paste. The folder's icon changes immediately. Close the window — you're done.
macOS 13 or later. Apple Silicon and Intel. Free tier, no account required.
Frequently asked questions
Can you change a folder icon on Mac without an app?
Yes. Select the folder, press ⌘ + I, click the small icon at the top-left of the Get Info window, and paste an image with ⌘V. No third-party app is needed for a single folder.
How do I change a folder color on Mac?
macOS has no built-in “folder color” setting, but you can paste a colored folder image via Get Info, or use an app like Mac+ that recolors the real folder shape with 44 palettes — no image hunting required.
How do I reset a folder icon back to normal?
Open Get Info (⌘ + I), click the small icon in the top-left so it's highlighted, and press Delete. The folder returns to the default macOS look.
What image size should a Mac folder icon be?
Use a square image of at least 512×512 pixels for a crisp result. A transparent PNG looks best because the background won't cover the folder shape.