How to Add a Picture to a Folder on Mac

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This wikiHow guide teaches you how to replace any of your Mac's default folder icons with your own custom image.

Steps

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    This opens the picture in Preview.
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    The picture is now copied to your clipboard.
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    It's the two-toned smiley face icon on the Dock, which you'll find at the bottom of the screen.
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    This selects the folder.
    • Make sure you just click the folder one time so you don't accidentally open it.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This opens some information about the folder. [1]
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    It's in the upper-left area of the window.
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    Now you'll see the image you copied earlier replace the previous icon.
    • If you want to restore a folder's original icon, just come back to this screen, select the current icon, and then select Edit > Cut .
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What's the best scale of photo to use for folder icons?
    Community Answer
    Extra large icons: 256 x 256 pixels; large icons: 96 x 96 pixels (automatically rendered by Windows from 256 version); medium icons: 48 x 48 pixels.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 4
  • Question
    Will it look like a folder or just as a square ?
    Fancyghost
    Community Answer
    It could be either, depending on what your preferences are set to. Either way, it'll work the same.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    I've doneall that but I just get the JPEG icon.
    Gavin Moore
    Community Answer
    Sometimes the preview does not appear, especially since it is no longer on your desktop. If you double click the file, it should appear.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • You may want to use an icon with a transparent background for a clean look.
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      • If you want to make a folder's icon the same as another folder or file's icon, select the other file or folder, go to File > Get Info , click the icon, and select Edit > Copy . Then you can paste that icon into the other file's "Get Info" screen.
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      • You can often find free icons available for download. Try searching the web for "free Mac icons" or "Mac folder icons" to see what's out there.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-icons-for-files-or-folders-on-mac-mchlp2313/mac

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Double-click the picture you want to use.
      2. Click Edit and select Copy .
      3. Click the folder you want to change.
      4. Go to File > Get Info .
      5. Click the icon you want to change.
      6. Go to Edit > Paste .

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