Can't change file icons

[arkum]

Hi,

Downoaded a pack of icons and been trying to replace certain folder icons with the new ones.

I command click and choose 'getInfo' on the icon file I want, but when I select the icon in the getInfo window, copy is greyed out in the edit menu.

I am the only user on my macbook pro and therefore have administration rights. I've checked the permissions of rellevent files and all are set to read/write.

Any ideas?

 

[eyebeaz]

Find the icon you want to use in the finder, and without selecting get info on it, just select it and hit Command + C to copy it. Then find the folder whos icon you want to change, right click and get info and then click the icon in the upper left (so that it is highlighted with a blue border) and Command + V to paste. That should work.

 

[showtime]

straight from apple: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304735

 

[dann345]

Hi,

Downoaded a pack of icons and been trying to replace certain folder icons with the new ones.

I command click and choose 'getInfo' on the icon file I want, but when I select the icon in the getInfo window, copy is greyed out in the edit menu.

I am the only user on my macbook pro and therefore have administration rights. I've checked the permissions of rellevent files and all are set to read/write.

Any ideas?

I'm having exactly the same problem... I am searching on forums right now for help... but seems no one knows any other way, or at least an explanation and a solution for the problem... :S

 

[osplo]

I'm having exactly the same problem... I am searching on forums right now for help... but seems no one knows any other way, or at least an explanation and a solution for the problem... :S

Well, I know it is an old post, but if I found this searching for help, others will.

I discovered why it didn't work... I was trying to do the copy from the big icon in the Preview part of the Info panel, but you have to do it in the small icon on the top of the panel. As simple as that, but I suppose that's why you couldn't do it either.

Hope this helps.

Regards

 

[allisonb]

Same problem--so frustrating!

I'm having the same problem. Even called Apple Support for help and they couldn't figure it out either. Any suggestions? I've tried Apple's traditional instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2493?viewlocale=en_US

The problem is that when I click "get info" on my desired icon file, the small icon (in the top-left corner) isn't displaying properly. It's just the default JPG icon. When I go to copy it, it pastes as the same default icon picture, not the desired icon. I've tried this with many different icon files.

 

[derekbbyro]

I'm having the same problem. Even called Apple Support for help and they couldn't figure it out either. Any suggestions? I've tried Apple's traditional instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2493?viewlocale=en_US

The problem is that when I click "get info" on my desired icon file, the small icon (in the top-left corner) isn't displaying properly. It's just the default JPG icon. When I go to copy it, it pastes as the same default icon picture, not the desired icon. I've tried this with many different icon files.

Ugh I'm having the same problem. I feel like i have searched the whole internet and you are the only other one! I REALLY hope someone can solve this. I'm getting tired of spending countless hours trying to figure this out and downloading pointless apps that don't work. I'm sad to say I wanna through my mac up against the wall

 

[Gregg2]

Or, you can leave the icons as they are. That will work.

 

[NuthinSpecia1]

Ugh I'm having the same problem. I feel like i have searched the whole internet and you are the only other one! I REALLY hope someone can solve this. I'm getting tired of spending countless hours trying to figure this out and downloading pointless apps that don't work. I'm sad to say I wanna through my mac up against the wall

I'm having the same problem:/

I do believe I understand why this is happening to us though. When you click the icon picture and hit 'Get Info', the picture at the top left is not the same as the one in the Preview section below. The picture at the top (the one you copy to change the icon of another folder/app) is the default Preview icon!

So we are really just copying the default Preview icon and pasting it to the folder/app we want to change. I believe this is b/c the icon image we are trying to copy is set to open with Preview.

For the people who don't have this problem.....What default program is your icon picture set too before making a copy?


-T

 

[MichaelMaggs]

The official Apple instructions do not work for me, either, as when I select Get Info on an icon in ICNS format that I have downloaded from IconArchive, the small image at top left of the Info box is different from the lower main image. I have no idea why, but here is a work-around:

1. Remove the file extension from the downloaded icon file, and rename it from eg "icon.icns" to "icon".

2. Open the file. This will display the resources contained within it - probably several different-sized versions of the image.

3. Select the largest one, and copy to clipboard.

4. Go to the Info box for the file for which you want to replace the icon, and click on the padlock at bottom right to unlock the file properties. Make sure you have full user rights. If not, change the permissions.

5. Select the small image at top left of that box, and paste from clipboard.

There may be a better way, but this seems to do it.

Michael

 

[NuthinSpecia1]

Solved!!

The official Apple instructions do not work for me, either, as when I select Get Info on an icon in ICNS format that I have downloaded from IconArchive, the small image at top left of the Info box is different from the lower main image. I have no idea why, but here is a work-around:

1. Remove the file extension from the downloaded icon file, and rename it from eg "icon.icns" to "icon".

2. Open the file. This will display the resources contained within it - probably several different-sized versions of the image.

3. Select the largest one, and copy to clipboard.

4. Go to the Info box for the file for which you want to replace the icon, and click on the padlock at bottom right to unlock the file properties. Make sure you have full user rights. If not, change the permissions.

5. Select the small image at top left of that box, and paste from clipboard.

There may be a better way, but this seems to do it.

Michael

Awesome!! Thanks Michael!

I actually tried it the way you explained and it worked. After that I started messing around and found out an even easier way No need to change the extension just open the icon using preview (you might have to right click on the icon, go to 'open with' and find 'preview'). Once it opens you will have a bunch of images. Select the largest one from the right panel and copy it.

Then just right click the icon you wish to change and click 'get info'. Click the little image in the upper left hand corner (just below the close button at the top) and past ur new icon image in


Enjoy

 

[0hy3ah]

I had the same problem, and the directions I found made it seem so easy! But one step has been left out... the easiest, smallest step. Click on the folder icon info, when the box opens on the side of the screen go all the way down to the bottom where it gives a list of users. It should give read/write, read only ect. options. Change all to read and write. Then follow the normal steps to changing the icon. It works!!!!!

 

[kcdc]

these methods still didn't work for me, but i found if you control click the application in the "application Folder" then click "show package contents"
you can easily navigigate to the resources file where the original icon is kept in the form *filename*.icns so you can just rename YOUR downloaded icon to that and replace it by dragging it in

worked for me

 

[orfeas0]

I realised you don't have to copy the image, nor the get info image etc.

You just open the image you want to use, CMA+A (to select it all, or you can select a part of it if you want) and CMD+C (copy).

Then CMD+I (info) on the folder you want to change its icon, select the top-left icon and press CMD+V (paste).

It basically requires for you to copy-paste an image, as in the whole thing as is displayed in preview, and not the file that CONTAINS the image.

 

[CASLondon]

Hi,

Downoaded a pack of icons and been trying to replace certain folder icons with the new ones.

I command click and choose 'getInfo' on the icon file I want, but when I select the icon in the getInfo window, copy is greyed out in the edit menu.

I am the only user on my macbook pro and therefore have administration rights. I've checked the permissions of rellevent files and all are set to read/write.

Any ideas?

The easy way to do this is to get the now-freeware

http://www.panic.com/blog/2012/08/candybar-mountain-lion-and-beyond/

this will let you drag n drop change any/all the icons you desire, very easy. Just install and upgrade to newest version first

 

[Leo Chen]

If you attempted to change a folder icon on macOS, but nothing happened. Here is a solution I found.

 

[Gregg2]

Good tip! Thanks for finding this old thread to update. 👌