How to Change Folder Icons or Color on a Mac?

Folder colors are a fun and unique way to color code your files on your Mac Finder. Even though your Mac comes with blue folders, that might be fine for some files, but many of your files can get mixed in the Finder. So, instead of reading every folder name, a convenient way to avoid going through the names of each folder and find documents quickly. It makes your Mac screen aesthetically pleasing and looks even more organized. 

If you have OCD and love making everything proper, we advise you to keep scrolling through this article. Towards the end of this article, you will be able to learn how to change the folder color on Mac, color tagging, add images, and even reverse the process so you can bring it back to the blue folder. 

3 Methods To Change Colors on Mac

If you’re a Mac user, you know all the folders are in the color blue, and it can be challenging for some people to navigate through quickly. Mac users get the opportunity to customize and change the color of the folders. This way, you can easily color code work, education, and personal files. 

Here are a few ways to make changes to your folder icons:

  1. Use the default Preview application: Through this method, you can change the color of the folders of your choice. 
  2. Change the image of the folder: Another fun alternative to customizing your folders is changing the image. Copy and paste a new image on the Preview application and replace the icon. If a folder has any school-related items, you can change the image to books. This is also a fun way to organize and customize your folders to keep everything in check. 
  3. Through Folder Color: Folder Color is a premium application allowing users to purchase the application from the App Store. You can then easily change the color of your folders through the automated method, making everything smooth and quick. 

How to Change Color of Folder on Mac

How to Change Color of Folder on Mac

If you plan to change the color of folders on Mac, the best way is to use the Preview application. Even though the outcome is easy, you will have to follow a few steps to get the color of your choice. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with the process. 

  1. Control+Click on the folder that you want to edit according to your choice. 
  2. Now, from the menu that opens up, select the Get Info option
  3. Then, from the upper-left side of the folder info, choose the folder icon so it’s highlighted. 
  4. In the menu bar, click on Edit, and then from the drop-down menu that appears, choose Copy. 
  5. Now open the Preview application and then click on the File option in the  Menu bar. 
  6. From the Clipboard, select the New option. 
  7. Choose a Markup tool that is quite similar to a pencil. 
  8. Now, using the Adjust Color icon, you can decide which color you’d like to use for your folder. Slide it from left to right, and choose a bright red, yellow, orange, green, or even grey. 
  9. After choosing the color, click X at the left corner to close the Window. 
  10. Choose the colored folder when you’re done, and press the Command+C to copy the color settings. 
  11. Go back to the Folder Info Box, and then Press Command+V.  After you’re done, just close the Folder Info box. 
  12. Ta-da! You will then find your folder in the color that you have chosen for it. You can repeat the same steps and customize and change the colors of all the folders. 

Adding Images to Your Folders

Adding images isn’t a complex process; you just have to follow the abovementioned process. But when the copying process comes, instead of pasting a copy of the initially selected folder into the Preview application, you just need to choose an icon or picture of your choice. Then, after choosing it, copy and paste it into your Folder Info. This process will then replace the original icon with the one you just added. 

Use Tags And Color Code Folders on Mac 

Use Tags And Color Code Folders on Mac

Another smart way of keeping track of numerous folders is by color-coding them. This allows you to access these folders with ease without any trouble. However, the color coding process is time-consuming, so an alternative to this is the tags feature on Mac

The Tags feature allows you to choose your color for the chosen folders. These tags then appear as a circle with a color of your choice next to the folder name. Users can also search for the folders easily through the applied Tag. 

Here’s how you can Tag and color code your folders:

  1. Start by searching a folder through the Finder or on your desktop screen. 
  2. Now right-click on the folder, and then select the default tag icon. 

You can also customize your Tags using the following steps:

  1. Search for the folder using your Finder on Mac or allocate it on the desktop. 
  2. Now right-click on the chosen folder, and then select the Tags option. 
  3. Choose a color and then add a new tag name to it. 
  4. Then select Create a new Tag, then press the Enter key to apply the changes to your folders. 

Restore the Original Folder Icon

If you want to reverse the entire process and get the original icon for your chosen file or folder back, then follow the steps below:

  1. Start by selecting a folder on your Mac.
  2. Now, under the Choose File menu, choose the Get Info option. 
  3. In the Info box, select the custom icon. Make sure to choose the small icon instead of the large icon under Preview. 
  4. Select Choose Edit, then cut in the menu bar to reverse the edits. 
  5. Voila, you will see that the folder is back to its original blue color. 

FAQs

  1. How do I change folder icons on Mac?

To change the color of your Folder, you can follow the steps below:

  • Control+Click on the folder you’d like to make changes to. 
  • Now select the Get Info from the menu. 
  • Then, choose the folder icon shown on the upper-left side. 
  • In Preview, choose the  New option from the Clipboard and then adjust the color to your liking. Now copy the same settings and paste it into the Info Box. 
  • Repeat the same steps for all the folders. 
  1. Can you change the color of a folder icon?

In the Explorer window, right-click on your folder to open the Context Menu. Now, a sub-menu will appear under the Change Icon. You can then find the pre-defined colors and apply them to your folder. Now click the color of your choice, and the folder will change. 

Bottom Line

Changing the color of your folders can be quite helpful. The color coding can assist you in differentiating between your folders; you can choose the same colors for your work relation applications, a different color for your school-related apps, and color for your apps. This ensures your desktop stays clean and organized at all times. Adding a picture makes it even more aesthetically pleasing and ensures a smoother experience. 

Get rid of dull blue colors and lighten up your desktop; customize it to a color of your choice to make it brighter or minimalistic. It is all up to you!

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By Abdul Wahab

Abdul Wahab is a Software Engineer by profession and a Tech geek by nature. Having been associated with the tech industry for the last five years, he has covered a wide range of Tech topics and produced well-researched and engaging content. You will mostly find him reviewing tech products and writing blog posts. Binge-watching tech reviews and endlessly reading tech blogs are his favorite hobbies.

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