How to change the icon of an app or folder in macOS

Personalize your Mac in a unique way by changing the original icons of your apps, files or folders in just a few steps

As It has cost Apple over time the issue of customization in its operating systems. The latest versions of iOS are proof of this, especially iOS 18 will represent one of the biggest as it touches on the style of the icons on the screen. What about macOS? With the arrival of macOS Big Sur, Apple took the time to give it a new look in terms of the design of its operating system for Mac. Sometimes it may seem insufficienthas also seen a redesign of its Settings menu in recent years to more closely resemble iPadOS. In this article we bring you something new that we are sure will interest you, we will teach you how to change the icons of apps, files and folders in macOS.

Why should you customize macOS icons?

We know that It will take Apple a few more years to be able to delve deeper into the customization aspect of macOSWe thought that with the arrival of widgets it would be something easier and faster, but it is quite the opposite. We do not know exactly when another update will arrive, compared to what we saw previously with macOS Big Sur.

It is for this reason that We have taken the initiative to change the environment of your Mac. A few days ago we taught you how to customize the Dock by adding empty spaces, Now we will make more changes with the icons of apps, files and folders in the FinderIt is somewhat simpler than it seems, so you will not require much effort.

Making these kinds of changes is positive, helps you differentiate yourself from other users by giving it your unique style and we could also spread the word to other users who want to give macOS a special treat.

Change the app icon on macOS

1. You need Download the icons that you find most attractive for the corresponding apps. We suggest you macOSicons.com since it has a wide variety of designs. You can also look for other sources but you must make sure that the downloaded file has the extension .icns
2. Having the files downloaded, Go to your Applications folder in Finder
3. Right click on the app that you want to change the icon and Select Get Info
4. Opens the location with the icon displayed in a new window
5. Drag and hold the custom icon towards the original thumbnail icon in the Get Info window and release
6. The icon will have been changed

It is essential that the custom icon has the .icns extension since this applies to all the places where the app is stored (apps folder, Dock, Launchpad, Spotlight results, etc.). On the other hand, to change the icons of files or folders you can use any image in .jpg, .png or if you want any of the macOSicons icons, it is also possible.

Change app or folder icons

You can choose between an image from the internet, your own photograph or any other icon that you find interesting.

1. Copy the content of an image to clipboard
2. Now select the file or folder and with the Right click accesses Get Info
3. Select the thumbnail of the file or folder and paste using the Edit and Paste menu bar (or with Cmd + V) to add the new image

As an optional feature, you can also drag the icon to the thumbnail of the file or folder.

Use the icon of another file or folder

If there is an app, file or folder that has a particular icon that you want to move to another file or folder, it is possible to have it in a new folder or file.

1. Select the file or folder that contains the icon you want to use
2. Right click and then select the Get Info option
3. Now Select the icon on the thumbnail you want to copy and then click on the Edit menu bar and Copy (or with the keyboard press Cmd + C)
4. Immediately afterwards, Find the file or folder with the icon you want to change
5. Secondary click and then Get information
6. Select the icon on the thumbnail to replacethen in the menu bar Edit and Paste (or with the keyboard press Cmd + V).

Restore the original icon of an app, file or folder

If after some time you want to return to the original icons of apps, files or foldersdo the following

Restore original icon of an app, file or folder

1. Select the app, file or folder and right click to enter Get information
2. Then give Click on the icon thumbnail
3. In the menu bar Select Edit and then Cut

This will cause the custom icon to be removed and may be placed in the trash or another location, although you could also forget about it by copying something else to the clipboard.

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