How do I make all icons for a specific file type to be generic?

[MikeMcCollister]

I am using macOS 26.4 and with Microsoft Excel. While using the Finder, I find that the icons with previews for the Excel files are too busy for my eyes. Is there way for all Excel files to use the generic Excel icon while still opening with Microsoft Excel? I would like to do this for other file types like .docx and .pdf but still want the icon previews for things like image files.

Thanks.

 

[bradman83]

There isn't an officially supported way to turn off file icon previews for only specific file types, it's either on or off for everything with the only granularity being at the folder level.

What you can theoretically do, which is not officially supported, is remove the plugin that renders the preview for that file type. In your /Library/QuickLook/ or ~/Library/QuickLook/ folder are a series of plugins with the extension ".qlgenerator". Go into these folders and see if there is a generator plugin for whatever file formats you want to disable. Move these to a separate folder and then reboot the Finder.

 

[MikeMcCollister]

There isn't an officially supported way to turn off file icon previews for only specific file types, it's either on or off for everything with the only granularity being at the folder level.

What you can theoretically do, which is not officially supported, is remove the plugin that renders the preview for that file type. In your /Library/QuickLook/ or ~/Library/QuickLook/ folder are a series of plugins with the extension ".qlgenerator". Go into these folders and see if there is a generator plugin for whatever file formats you want to disable. Move these to a separate folder and then reboot the Finder.

Thanks. I'll give that a try this weekend. I appreciate your help.

 

[benwiggy]

In your /Library/QuickLook/ or ~/Library/QuickLook/ folder are a series of plugins with the extension ".qlgenerator".

Lots of apps actually have their generator within their application bundle, rather than installing it separately in /Library.

Personally, I find it much more useful to see the file's icon for all files, rather than an icon preview, and then show the preview in the Preview column, or using QuickLook when I need to.

 

[MikeMcCollister]

Curious, I have nothing in the /Library/QuickLook folder and I don't have a QuickLook folder in ~/Library.

 

[NoBoMac]

Won't be /Library as that spot is reserved for MacOS and the sealed volume/golden install of MacOS. /System/Library is where modifications/additions/installs can happen.

% cd /System/Library
% find . -name '*.qlgenerator'
find: ./DirectoryServices/DefaultLocalDB/Default: Permission denied
./QuickLook/Web.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/iWork.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Clippings.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Package.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Image.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Illustrator.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Text.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Font.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/PDF.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Audio.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/StandardBundles.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/LivePhoto.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Security.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Movie.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/iCal.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Office.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Icon.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Contact.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/LocPDF.qlgenerator

 

[MikeMcCollister]

Won't be /Library as that spot is reserved for MacOS and the sealed volume/golden install of MacOS. /System/Library is where modifications/additions/installs can happen.

% cd /System/Library
% find . -name '*.qlgenerator'
find: ./DirectoryServices/DefaultLocalDB/Default: Permission denied
./QuickLook/Web.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/iWork.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Clippings.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Package.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Image.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Illustrator.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Text.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Font.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/PDF.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Audio.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/StandardBundles.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/LivePhoto.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Security.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Movie.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/iCal.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Office.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Icon.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/Contact.qlgenerator
./QuickLook/LocPDF.qlgenerator

Thank you. I've tried to move it but I don't have the permission. I'll drop this for now as it looks like I might be getting into things that might mess up the system.