How to Add a Picture to a Folder on Mac

Download Article

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: October 25, 2024

Download Article

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

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-1-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 the picture in Preview.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-2-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>"}

The picture is now copied to your clipboard.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-3-Version-4.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-3-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>"}

Open Finder on your Mac

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/1\/1d\/Macfinder2.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Macfinder2.png\/32px-Macfinder2.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":431,"bigWidth":32,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of a macOS icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

. It's the two-toned smiley face icon on the Dock, which you'll find at the bottom of the screen.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-4-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>"}

4
Click the folder you want to change. This selects the folder.
- Make sure you just click the folder one time so you don't accidentally open it.
{"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]
X
Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-6.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>"}

It's in the upper-left area of the window.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/aid4461704-v4-728px-Add-a-Picture-to-a-Folder-on-Mac-Step-7.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>"}

7
Click the Edit menu and select Paste . 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 .

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

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.
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 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
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

You may want to use an icon with a transparent background for a clean look.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

Log in

How to Add a Picture to a Folder on Mac

Steps

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories