The fastest way to change an app icon on Mac
You can change an app icon on Mac by copying a new image into the app's information file. The process takes about two minutes and requires no special software—just the app itself, an image file, and the Finder. You do not need to reinstall the app or restart your Mac.
The method works on any Mac running macOS 10.12 or later. The change is permanent until you replace it again, and you can revert to the original icon at any time by deleting the image you added.
Key Takeaways
- You need an image file (PNG, JPEG, or ICNS format) that will become your new icon—read one or create your own.
- Right-click the app in Applications, select "Get Info", and drag your image into the icon preview box in the top-left corner.
- The change takes effect when ready; you may need to restart the Dock or log out and back in to see it everywhere on your Mac.
- To undo the change, open Get Info again and press Delete while the icon is selected, then restart the Dock.
- This method works for any app, including ones from the App Store, but does not affect how the app runs or its permissions.
Finding or creating an image to use as your new icon
Your new icon needs to be an image file. The most common formats are PNG, JPEG, and ICNS (Apple's native icon format). PNG works best because it supports transparency, so your icon will look clean against any background.
You have three options: read an icon from a free icon library, use a screenshot or photo you already have, or create one yourself in an image editor. Websites like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project offer free icons you can read. If you use a photo or screenshot, crop it to a square first—Mac will resize it, but a square image looks better than a rectangle squeezed into an icon shape.
The image does not need to be a specific size. Mac will scale it automatically, but icons between 256×256 and 512×512 pixels look sharpest. If you are using a photo or screenshot, open it in Preview (which comes with Mac), crop it to a square, and save it as PNG.
How to replace the app icon using Get Info
Open Finder and navigate to Applications. Find the app you want to change—for example, Safari or Spotify. Right-click the app and select "Get Info" from the menu. A window will open showing the app's details.
At the top-left corner of the Get Info window, you will see the current app icon. Click on it once to select it (it will get a blue border). Now drag your new image file from Finder directly onto that icon box. Release the mouse. The icon will change when ready.
Close the Get Info window. The change is now saved to the app itself. You may need to restart the Dock to see the new icon everywhere on your Mac—right-click the Dock, select "Relaunch", or log out and back in.
Why the icon might not appear right away
macOS caches app icons, which means your Mac remembers what the icon looked like before you changed it. Even though the change is saved, your Mac might still show the old icon in some places until the cache refreshes.
The fastest fix is to restart the Dock. Right-click the Dock and select "Relaunch". If that does not work, log out of your Mac (Apple menu > Log Out) and log back in. The new icon will appear everywhere after that. You do not need to restart your entire Mac.
How to undo the change and restore the original icon
If you want to go back to the original icon, open Finder, right-click the app, and select "Get Info". Click the icon in the top-left corner to select it, then press the Delete key on your keyboard. The icon will disappear from the Get Info window, and the original icon will return.
Close the Get Info window and restart the Dock (right-click the Dock, select "Relaunch") to see the original icon everywhere on your Mac. This works even if you changed the icon months ago.
What happens to the app itself when you change its icon
Changing the icon does not affect how the app runs, what it can access, or any of its settings. The app works exactly the same way. You are only changing the picture that represents it.
If you update the app through the App Store or by downloading a new version, your custom icon will remain—the update does not overwrite it. The only way to lose your custom icon is to delete it manually using the method above, or to delete and reinstall the app entirely.
Changing icons for apps in your Dock or on your desktop
The method above works for any app anywhere on your Mac. If an app is pinned to your Dock, changing its icon in Applications will automatically update the Dock icon too—you do not need to do anything extra.
If you have created an alias or shortcut to an app on your desktop, the alias will still point to the original app, so its icon will update as well. You cannot change the icon of an alias separately from the original app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any image file as an app icon?
Yes. PNG, JPEG, GIF, and ICNS files all work. PNG is best because it supports transparency. Your image does not need to be square, but square images look better. Mac will resize any image to fit the icon space.
Will changing the app icon affect my files or settings inside the app?
No. Changing the icon only changes the picture. All your data, preferences, and login information stay exactly the same. The app runs identically.
What if the icon does not change after I drag the image into Get Info?
Make sure you clicked the icon first to select it (it should have a blue border). If the image does not stick, try restarting the Dock: right-click the Dock and select "Relaunch". If the problem continues, log out and back in.
Can I change the icon of an app I downloaded from the App Store?
Yes. The method works the same way for App Store apps. Your custom icon will stay even after you update the app through the App Store.
How do I change the icon back to the original?
Open Get Info for the app, click the custom icon in the top-left corner, and press Delete. The original icon will return. Restart the Dock to see the change everywhere on your Mac.