How to Change App and Folder Icons on Your Mac

The fastest way to change an icon on your Mac

You can change the icon of any app or folder on your Mac in about two minutes using the Get Info window. Right-click the app or folder, select Get Info, click the icon in the top-left corner of the window to highlight it, then paste a new icon image you've copied to your clipboard. The old icon disappears and the new one takes its place when ready.

This method works for apps you've installed, folders you've created, and even some system apps. The new icon stays in place until you change it again or reinstall the app. If you want to undo the change, you can use the same process to paste the original icon back, or delete the app and reinstall it.

Key Takeaways

Open Get Info by right-clicking any app or folder and selecting Get Info from the menu.
Click the icon in the top-left corner of the Get Info window, then paste a new icon image you've copied to your clipboard.
Icon images must be in a format your Mac recognizes, such as PNG, JPG, or ICNS, and work best at 512 pixels or larger.
You can find free icon packs online, create your own in design software, or take a screenshot of an image and crop it to square.
Changing an icon does not affect how the app works — it only changes how it looks in Finder and on your dock.

Where to find or create a new icon image

Before you can change an icon, you need an image file to use. Icon packs are available on sites like Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project — many offer free downloads if you create an account. Search for the name of the app or a description of what you want the icon to look like, read the image, and save it to your Downloads folder or Desktop.

If you want to use an image you already have — a photo, a screenshot, or artwork — you can use that too. Open the image in Preview (the built-in Mac app), crop it to a square if it isn't already, and save it as a PNG file. The larger the image, the sharper your icon will look, so aim for at least 512 pixels wide.

You can also create custom icons in design software like Figma (free online), Canva, or Adobe Express. These tools have icon templates and let you read your finished design as an image file. If you use design software, export your icon as a PNG file at 512 pixels or larger for the best result.

Step-by-step: changing an app icon

First, open Finder and locate the app you want to change. You can find most apps in your Applications folder — click the Finder icon in your dock, then click Applications in the sidebar. Right-click the app and select Get Info. A window will open showing details about the app.

In the Get Info window, you'll see the app's current icon in the top-left corner. Click that icon once to highlight it — it will show a blue border around it. Open Finder in a separate window, navigate to where you saved your new icon image, and drag that image onto the highlighted icon in the Get Info window. The new icon will replace the old one when ready.

If dragging doesn't work, try copying and pasting instead. Right-click your new icon image, select Copy, then click the highlighted icon in Get Info and press Command+V to paste. Close the Get Info window when you're done. The icon change takes effect right away in Finder and on your dock.

Changing folder icons the same way

The process for folder icons is identical to app icons. Right-click any folder, select Get Info, click the folder icon in the top-left corner, and paste or drag your new icon image onto it. This works for any folder you own — your Documents folder, a project folder, a Downloads subfolder, or any folder you've created.

Changing a folder icon is useful for organizing your Mac visually. You might use a different icon for each project folder, color-code folders by type, or use icons that match your overall Mac theme. The icon change applies only to that specific folder, so you can give each one a unique look.

Icon file formats that work on Mac

Your Mac accepts several image formats for icons: PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, and ICNS (the native Mac icon format). PNG and JPG are the most common and easiest to find online. If you read an icon pack, it usually comes as PNG files, which work perfectly.

If you find an icon in a format your Mac doesn't recognize, you can convert it using free online tools like CloudConvert or Convertio. Upload the image, select PNG as the output format, and read the converted file. Then use that PNG file as your new icon.

Undoing an icon change or restoring the original

If you change your mind about a new icon, you have two options. The simplest is to reinstall the app — read it again from the App Store or the developer's website, and the original icon returns. This doesn't erase your settings or data if the app stores those in the cloud or in a separate location.

If you want to keep the app installed without reinstalling, you can restore the original icon manually. You'll need a copy of the original icon image, which you can sometimes find by searching the app's name plus "icon" online, or by looking in the app's package contents. Right-click the app, select Show Package Contents, navigate to Contents > Resources, and look for an image file with a name like "AppIcon" or the app's name. Copy that image, open Get Info for the app, and paste the original icon back.

What happens to your icon change when you update the app

When you update an app through the App Store or the developer's website, your custom icon usually stays in place. The update replaces the app's code and resources but leaves your icon change alone. However, some apps may restore their original icon during a major update — if that happens, you can straightforward change it back using the same process.

If you're concerned about losing your custom icon, take a screenshot of it or save a copy of the image file you used. That way, if the icon reverts, you can restore it quickly without searching for the image again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the icon of a system app like Mail or Finder?

You can change the icons of some system apps, but not all. Mail, Calendar, and Notes can be changed using Get Info. Finder and System Preferences cannot be changed this way because they're protected by macOS. If you try to change a protected app's icon, the Get Info window will not let you click the icon.

Why won't the icon change stick after I restart my Mac?

Icon changes usually persist through restarts, but occasionally macOS resets them. This happens most often with apps in the Applications folder if your user account doesn't have full permissions. Try moving the app to a different folder, changing the icon again, then moving it back. If the problem continues, reinstall the app.

Can I use an emoji as an app icon?

Not directly — emojis are text characters, not image files. However, you can take a screenshot of an emoji, crop it to a square in Preview, save it as a PNG, and use that image as your icon. The result will be pixelated if the emoji is small, so this works best if you enlarge the emoji first before screenshotting.

What size should my icon image be?

Your Mac will resize any image to fit the icon space, so technically any size works. For the sharpest result, use an image that's at least 512 pixels wide and tall. If your image is smaller, it may look blurry when displayed at full size. Square images work best — if your image is rectangular, your Mac will add empty space around it.

Can I change the icon of an app I downloaded from outside the App Store?

Yes, the process is the same. Right-click the app, select Get Info, and change the icon. This works for apps you've downloaded from a developer's website, apps you've installed with Homebrew, or any other app on your Mac.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.