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How to Change Folder Color on Mac

Organize and customize with color-coded folders for your Mac

By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 22, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Ways to Customize Folder Colors on Mac How to Change Folder Color on Mac Using Preview Customizing Folders With Images and Icons Changing Folder Colors on Mac With Apps Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

Use Preview App: First, copy folder. Next, in Preview app, go to File > New from Clipboard > Markup tool icon. Then, select Adjust Color icon > adjust with tint slider. Copy colored folder. Go back to Folder Info box > select folder > paste. You can also use apps like Folder Color to automate the process. This article explains how to use Mac's built-in Preview app to color-code your folders to any hue in the rainbow, or even replace the default folder icons with your own images. If that's too complicated, you can also accomplish the same task much faster with a premium app from the App Store.

Ways to Customize Folder Colors on Mac

Folders in macOS are all a pleasant shade of blue, which can lead to a sea of sameness on your desktop that eventually becomes difficult to navigate. If you have a few important ones you want to keep track of, you can change folder color on Mac without too much trouble. Apple gives you a few different ways to change folder colors in macOS, and you can also use custom non-folder icons in place of the traditional folder icon. Here are the main ways to customize your folder icons: Use the built-in Preview app: This method uses the Preview app to tweak the color of a folder icon.Copy a different image using the Preview app: This method copies a photo or icon using the Preview app, so it can change the color of a folder icon, replace it with an image, or even replace it with a custom icon.Use a premium app like Folder Color: This method requires a premium app like Folder Color, which you can buy from the app store. It automates the process and makes it easier.

How to Change Folder Color on Mac Using Preview

Using the preview app, you can customize the color of any folder. This is a multi-step process that's complicated enough that you will probably have to refer to this guide the first couple times you do it, but it isn't difficult. Right click or control+click on the folder you want to customize. Select Get Info from the context menu. Click the folder icon in the upper left of the folder info window so that it is highlighted. Click Edit in the menu bar near the top left of the screen and select Copy from the drop down menu. Locate and open the Preview app. With Preview open, click File in the menu bar. Select New from Clipboard. Select the Markup tool (looks like the tip of a pencil). Select the Adjust Color icon (looks like a prism with light shining through). In the Adjust Color window, slide the tint slider from left to right until you find the color you want, then click the X in the upper left corner of the window to close it. You can use the other sliders, like saturation, to fine tune the color of your folder. You can also use the image editing software of your choice if the options in the Preview app don't give you the color you want. Select the colored folder, and press command+C to copy it. Return to the Folder Info box from earlier. If you have closed it, get it back by right clicking the folder you are trying to customize. Click the folder in the Folder Info box, and press command+V. You can now close the Folder Info box, and your folder will have the new color. If you want, you can repeat this process to customize as many folders as you like.

Customizing Folders With Images and Icons

You can customize your folders with your own images and custom icons using this same basic process. Instead of pasting a copy of your original folder into Preview, you need to open a photo or icon with Preview, and copy it. You can then paste it into the Folder Info box just like you did in step 11 above. This will replace the original folder icon with a custom photo or any other icon you like.

Changing Folder Colors on Mac With Apps

If the process outlined above seems too complicated or time consuming, you will find apps like Folder Color in the app store that are designed to automate the process. Folder Color in particular allows you to change the color of a folder, add small icons and decorations to a folder, replace a folder with an image, or even quickly edit one of your images into the shape of a folder. How to Change Folder Icons on a Mac FAQ How do you delete folders on a Mac? Right-click the folder you want to delete and select Move to Trash. To permanently delete the folder from your trash, select the trash can icon and choose Empty. How do you make a new folder on a Mac? Click anywhere on your desktop screen. In the top menu, select File > New Folder. The folder will appear on your desktop, allowing you to rename it and drag in files or images. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Change Folder Icons on a Mac How to Lock a Folder in Windows 10 How to Change a Login Picture on Mac How to Change Folder Icons in Windows 11 How to Change the Desktop Background in Windows 11 How to Use Preview: The Mac’s Secret Image Editor How to Change the Color of Apps on iOS 14 How to Password Protect a Folder How to Change Background Color in Photoshop How to Copy Folders in Google Drive How to Change the Color of Your Apps on Android How to Use Your Mac's Display Calibrator Assistant How to Import Photos from GoPro to Mac How to Customize an iPhone's Home Screen How to Delete Streamlabs on Mac How to Add Text to Photos on Phones and Computers Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies