Yes, you can change folder colors on Mac using the built-in tools

macOS lets you assign colors to folders directly through Finder without installing anything extra. You can pick from a set of preset colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and gray — and explore them to any folder on your Mac. The color change happens when ready and stays with the folder across all your drives.

The process takes seconds and works the same way whether you're using the latest macOS or an older version. Once you color-code your folders, you'll see the colored folder icon everywhere: in Finder windows, on your desktop, in search results, and in the sidebar.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any folder, select "Get Info", and click the colored circle next to the folder icon to pick a color from the seven options macOS provides.
  • You can change a folder's color back to the default gray by selecting "None" in the color picker.
  • Colored folders work across all your drives and external storage, and the color sticks even if you move the folder to a different location.
  • If you need more than seven colors or custom shades, third-party apps like LabelFloat or Folder Colorizer offer expanded options.

How to color a folder using Get Info

Open Finder and locate the folder you want to color. Right-click the folder and select "Get Info" from the menu that appears. A window will open showing the folder's details.

At the top of the Get Info window, you'll see a small preview of the folder icon. Just below or to the left of that icon is a colored circle. Click that circle to open the color picker. Choose any of the seven colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, or gray — and the folder icon will change when ready. Close the Get Info window and you're done.

Changing a folder back to gray

If you want to remove the color and return a folder to its default gray appearance, open Get Info the same way. Click the colored circle next to the folder icon and select "None" from the color options. The folder will revert to standard gray.

This works even if you've colored the folder multiple times before. You can change colors as many times as you want without any effect on the folder's contents or how it functions.

Using colors to organize your Mac

Color-coding folders is most useful when you have many folders at the same level and need to spot them quickly. For example, you might color your work projects red, personal files blue, and archived folders gray. The colors show up in list view, icon view, and column view, making them visible no matter how you browse your files.

Colors also appear in Spotlight search results, so if you search for a file and see multiple folders with the same name, the color helps you pick the right one. The color coding persists if you move a folder to an external drive or share it with another Mac on your network.

What to do if you need more than seven colors

macOS limits you to seven preset colors, which is enough for most people. But if you need custom colors, gradients, or more options, third-party apps can help. Apps like LabelFloat, Folder Colorizer, and Folder Color give you access to hundreds of colors and sometimes let you add custom icons or patterns to folders.

These apps cost between $5 and $15 and work by adding extra color options to the Get Info window or creating a separate menu. They don't change how your Mac works — they just expand what the built-in tool can do. Check the app's compatibility with your macOS version before buying.

Coloring folders in different views

The color you assign shows up consistently across Finder views. In icon view, you see the colored folder icon. In list view, the folder name appears with a colored dot or the folder itself takes on a tint. In column view, the colored icon appears in each column as you navigate.

On your desktop, colored folders appear with their assigned color. If you use Smart Folders or saved searches, those don't take on colors the same way — only regular folders do. The color is purely visual and doesn't affect search, sorting, or any other Mac function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does coloring a folder affect its performance or storage?

No. Assigning a color is a visual tag only. It doesn't change the folder's size, speed, or how your Mac stores or accesses the files inside. You can color as many folders as you want without any impact on performance.

Will the color stay if I move the folder to an external drive?

Yes. The color is stored as part of the folder's metadata on macOS. If you move a colored folder to an external drive formatted as Mac OS Extended or APFS, the color travels with it. On drives formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, the color may not persist.

Can I color folders on a shared network drive?

You can assign a color to a folder on a network drive, but the color is stored locally on your Mac. Other users on the network won't see the color you assigned — it's personal to your account. Each person can color the same folder differently.

What if the colored circle doesn't appear in Get Info?

Make sure you're right-clicking a folder, not a file. Files don't have the color option. If you're coloring a folder and the circle doesn't show, try closing and reopening Get Info, or restart Finder by holding Option and clicking the Finder icon in the dock, then selecting "Relaunch".

Can I color multiple folders at once?

The built-in tool colors one folder at a time. Select the first folder, open Get Info, pick a color, close the window, then repeat for the next folder. Some third-party apps let you select multiple folders and color them together, which saves time if you're organizing many folders.