Here’s how to change folder icon or color Mac

Your Mac relies on a calming shade of blue for all folders. It’s fine for a few folders, but those of us who create multiple folders and subfolders end up awash in a sea of cyan.

Instead of reading folder names, you can change your Mac’s folder icons or colors, making it easier to find the documents you need quickly. It also livens up your Mac’s home screen or Finder!

We’ll show you how to change Mac folder color, change Mac folder icon for easier navigation, and discuss the best ways to accomplish both tasks.

The easiest way to change folder icon on Mac

The easiest way to do most tasks on a computer is with automation, and there’s no better app for automating a tidy desktop with colorful icons than Declutter.

Declutter transforms your cluttered desktop with tons of blue folders into a tidy arrangement of folders, all different colors. Images, videos, music, and documents are the default options, but you can create your own folders as well. All you need to do is name your folder, choose an icon, provide some parameters to Declutter (like a file type or naming scheme you’re using) and choose from one of eight beautiful colors.

The app can also tidy your desktop on a schedule; it’s the perfect companion for those who work hard and want to walk up to a tidy desktop each morning. Simply allow Declutter to automatically manage your desktop each evening, and the next morning will greet you with a fresh canvas to work from.

To choose your own folders and colors with Declutter, follow these steps:

1. Download Declutter from Setapp
2. Open Declutter from the menu bar by clicking the Declutter icon
3. Select the ‘plus’ icon at the bottom right of the popout window
4. Give your folder a name, choose a unique icon, and give Declutter the appropriate parameters
5. Select a folder color if you like
6. Select “Done” at the bottom of the window

That’s all it takes! Declutter will create the new folder for your desktop, and clean your files up on a schedule of your choosing.

Manual way to change folder icon on Mac

Can you change folder icon Mac? Loading custom icons Mac folders for desktop needs is fairly simple, and changing a folder on your desktop to include a custom icon instead isn’t difficult. Here’s how:

1. Create a folder on your desktop by right clicking the desktop
2. Select “New folder” from the menu
3. Name your folder
4. Find an image from the web you’d like to use as your folder icon (Note: macOS is picky about the images it will allow. PNG files are the most successful, but may not always work.)
5. Download the image to your Mac
6. Right click the image and select “Copy”
7. Right click the folder you created on your desktop
8. Select “Get info”
9. In the menu that appears, select the folder icon. (Note: It will have a dark blue line around it to show it’s been selected.)
10. With the icon selected, select “Edit” from the menu bar
11. Select “Paste”

How to change folder color on Mac manually

Now that you know how to change folder icon Mac desktops don’t easily allow for, and how to change folder color Mac the easy way, can you do it all without an app?

You can – but it’s a long, arduous process. There’s also no way to add custom icons Mac just doesn’t allow for that. But if you’d rather go change the color of your desktop icons manually, here’s how:

1. Create a folder on your desktop by right clicking the desktop
2. Select “New folder” from the menu
3. Name your folder
4. Right click the folder
5. Select “Get info”
6. In the menu that appears, select the folder icon. (Note: It will have a dark blue line around it to show it’s been selected.)

7. With the icon selected, select “Edit” from the menu bar
8. Select “Copy” from the menu

9. Open the Preview app on your Mac
10. From the menu bar, select “New from Clipboard”
11. With Preview open, select the “Markup” tool
12. Select the color adjustment tool

Note: In macOS Big Sur, the color adjustment tool in Preview is the same as the color adjustment tool in apps like Photos: three sliders. In Catalina and prior, the color adjustment tool icon is a prism.



13. Adjust the temperature, tint, sepia, and other items as you like
14. When you’re finished adjusting the color in Preview, select the folder in Preview
15. Press Command + C to copy it
16. Repeat the first five steps of this process if you’ve closed the “Get info” window
17. From the “Get info” window, select the folder icon again
18. Press Command + V to paste the new, colorful folder icon
19. Close the “Get info” window

That’s a lot of steps! We’re not sure why Apple doesn’t want you changing folder icons or colors, but they definitely don’t make it easy.

Bonus tips for organizing your Mac

Organizing folders with snappy colors and changing icon Mac is a great way to stay focused. Keeping track of all the files you’re working on can be difficult, but Trickster has you covered.

Like Declutter, Trickster lives in your Mac menu bar, tracking ever file, folder, and app you’re working on or have opened recently. Trickster can automatically track your desktop activity, but you’re also able to manually configure it to track only the items you want; file types, names, destinations, and folders can be targeted with Trickster.

In addition to finding your favorite files and folders, Trickster lets you open them right from the app. It’s like Spotlight, just more proactive and customized to your needs. For keyboard warriors, Trickster supports hotkey switching to really speed up your workflow.

Organization matters, but so does keeping your Mac healthy. Adjusting files, folders, and documents can cause a lot of unnecessary data to pile up on your Mac. This is why you should have CleanMyMac X.

CleanMyMac X keeps your Mac clear of unnecessary files, thwarts privacy threats, and speeds your Mac up with its incredible Smart Scan module. Smart Scan helps you identify and clear up the simplest issues, but CleanMyMac X goes so much further.

Erasing malware, clearing your cache, optimizing your file system for faster content discovery, uninstalling or updating apps – all easy work for CleanMyMac X. It even helps you thin out downloads and mail attachments from dominating your Mac’s storage space.

A sea of blue folders is boring, so why not liven them up with custom icons and colors? Declutter is a great app for those who enjoy colorful folders with clean, minimal icons to help identify what a folder is at a glance. You’ll also like that Declutter’s folders are larger than the normal Mac system folders. 

Trickster helps you stay productive, saving you tons of time wasted searching for files on your desktop or beyond. CleanMyMac X is simply the best tool for ensuring your Mac stays performant.

All three of these apps, as well as nearly 200 more, are available for free during a seven day trial of Setapp, an amazing suite of productivity apps for your Mac. During your week-long trial, you can try all of the apps you want without paying a dime. When the trial ends, continued access to the full Setapp catalog is only $9.99 per month.

Don’t wait any longer; start your free trial of Setapp today!