You can change a folder's icon in three ways: copy an icon from another file, use an image file you have saved, or download icons from the internet

The fastest method is to grab an icon from an existing file on your Mac — an app, another folder, or a document — and paste it onto the folder you want to change. You can also use any image file (a PNG, JPG, or ICNS file) that you've saved or downloaded. macOS doesn't have a built-in icon library, so if you want something beyond what's already on your computer, you'll need to find and download icons from a website first.

All three methods use the same final step: the Get Info window. Once you understand how that works, you can switch between methods depending on what icons you have available.

Key Takeaways

  • The Get Info window is where you actually change the icon — right-click the folder, select Get Info, click the icon in the top-left corner, and paste a new one.
  • You can copy an icon directly from another app or file on your Mac by opening Get Info on that file, copying its icon, then pasting it onto your folder.
  • Image files (PNG, JPG, ICNS) can be converted to icons by dragging them into the icon well in Get Info, or by copying and pasting them the same way you would an app icon.
  • Icon websites like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project let you download individual icons, though you may need to convert JPG files to PNG or ICNS format first.
  • Changes you make are permanent until you change the icon again — there's no "revert to default" button, but you can always restore the original folder icon by deleting the custom one.

Copy an icon from an app or file you already have

This is the quickest method if you like the look of an icon that's already on your Mac. Open the Applications folder, find an app you like, right-click it, and select Get Info. A window will open with a small icon in the top-left corner. Click that icon once to select it, then press Command+C to copy it.

Now navigate to the folder you want to change. Right-click it, select Get Info, and click the icon in the top-left corner of that window. Press Command+V to paste. The folder icon will change immediately. Close the Get Info window and you're done.

You can also copy icons from files — documents, PDFs, images — using the same method. Any file with a distinctive icon can become your folder icon.

Use an image file you've downloaded or saved

If you have an image file on your Mac (a PNG, JPG, or ICNS file), you can use it as a folder icon. The easiest way is to open Get Info on your folder, click the icon in the top-left corner, then drag your image file directly onto that icon well. macOS will convert it automatically.

If dragging doesn't work, try the copy-and-paste method instead. Open the image file in Preview (the default image viewer on Mac), press Command+A to select all, then Command+C to copy. Go back to your folder's Get Info window, click the icon, and paste with Command+V.

JPG files sometimes paste as a blank icon. If that happens, convert the JPG to PNG first using Preview: open the image, go to File > Export, change the format dropdown to PNG, and save. Then try pasting again.

Download icons from the internet

Websites like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project have thousands of free icons you can download. Search for what you want, download the file (usually as PNG or SVG), and save it to your Downloads folder or Desktop.

Most of these sites offer icons in multiple formats. For Mac folder icons, download PNG or ICNS if available — these work best. If you only see SVG files, you can still use them, but they may not display as crisply as PNG or ICNS.

Once downloaded, use the image file method above: drag the icon onto your folder's Get Info window, or copy and paste it. If the icon looks too small or too large in the folder, you may need to find a different size version from the website — most sites let you choose icon dimensions before downloading.

Restore a folder to its default icon

There's no "undo" button for folder icons, but restoring the default is simple. Right-click the folder, select Get Info, click the icon in the top-left corner, and press Delete. The folder will return to the standard gray folder icon.

If you want to keep a custom icon but also have a copy of the original, duplicate the folder first (right-click and select Duplicate), then change the icon on one copy. That way you have both versions.

Why some icons don't work or look wrong

Icons pasted from very old files sometimes don't display properly — they may appear blank or distorted. This usually means the icon format is too old for your version of macOS. Try finding a newer version of that icon or downloading a fresh one from an icon website instead.

If an icon looks pixelated or blurry, it was probably designed for a smaller size. Most icon websites let you download the same icon at different resolutions — try a larger size. Icons designed for 512×512 pixels or larger will look sharper on modern Mac displays.

Occasionally, an icon you paste will appear in Get Info but won't show up on the folder itself in Finder. Restart Finder by holding Option, clicking the Finder icon in the dock, and selecting Relaunch. This refreshes how Finder displays custom icons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the icon of a system folder like Documents or Downloads?

Yes. Right-click the folder, select Get Info, and follow the same steps. macOS will let you change system folder icons without any special permissions. If you ever want to restore the original, delete the custom icon and the folder will return to its default appearance.

What's the difference between PNG, ICNS, and SVG files for folder icons?

PNG and ICNS are raster formats — they work reliably on Mac and display at a fixed size. SVG is a vector format that scales smoothly but sometimes doesn't paste correctly into Get Info. For folder icons, PNG or ICNS is safer. If you only have SVG, try it anyway — it often works fine.

Can I change the icon of a folder inside iCloud Drive or a cloud service?

Yes, the process is identical. The custom icon is stored locally on your Mac, so it won't sync to other devices or to the cloud. If you access the same folder from another Mac or iPhone, it will show the default icon there.

Do I need special software to change folder icons?

No. Get Info is built into macOS and works for any folder. You don't need third-party apps unless you want a graphical icon picker or a library of pre-made icons — but you can find those icons free online and use them with Get Info instead.

What happens if I change an icon and then move the folder to another Mac?

The custom icon moves with the folder. When you transfer the folder to another Mac, the icon comes along. If the other Mac doesn't have the original app or file you copied the icon from, the icon will still display — it's embedded in the folder's metadata.