Written by
Jessica Shee
When you create a new folderon your Mac, macOS will give your folder a default blue color. It is fine for some folders, but you may need different colors to help you identify different folders or subfolders instead of reading the folder names. Thankfully, you are allowed to change drive icons on Mac as well as change folder colors and icons.
Such a basic-sounding feature can be tricky on Mac. Unlike general settings in macOS System Preferences, you will need to follow the steps below to change folder color on Mac. This article also provides a tutorial on how to customize your folder icons on Mac.
Can folders be different colors on Mac?
macOS uses a default blue icon for all folders, but it also offers a built-in color coding system that allows you to change folder colors on Mac for separating multiple folders. You can literally use any color to customize your folder color on Mac by using the colors available by default on macOS or adjust the colors to your liking.
There are many third-party apps in the App Store that can help you control folder color on your Mac. These folder colorizers can save your time but many of them are paid apps.
If you really want your folders to stand out, a better way is to change their icons. You can also change a Mac folder's default blue icon to any picture, color, or shape you want.
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How to change color of folder on Mac desktop
Many people drag folders to their Mac's desktop for easier access or categorize files into folders for a more organized desktop. If the blue color of your folders on the desktop is conflicting with your wallpaper, here are the steps to color-code your Mac folders with another color.
To change folder color on Mac desktop with the Preview app:
1. Right-click on the folder you want to use a different color.
2. Select Get Info in the menu.
3. Click the default blue folder icon in the folder's info window to select it. Don't close the Get Info window because you will need it later. The folder icon will be highlighted with darker blue lines.
4. Press Command + C to copy the folder icon.
5. Open the Preview app from Finder > Applications.
6. Select File > New from Clipboard from the top menu bar.
7. Select the Markup toolwhich looks like a pencil at the right upper corner of the Preview window.
8. Select the color editor. In macOS Big Sur and Monterey, the color editor has three sliders while in macOS Catalina or earlier versions, it is a prism.
9. Adjust the Tint, Temperature, Sepia, Contrast, and other items to find your favorite color.
10. Press Command + C to copy the color.
11. In the Get Info window, select the blue folder icon again.
12. Press Command + V to paste the new colorful folder icon you just created.
Then you will find a white folder icon, green folder icon, or any color you set on your Mac desktop. These steps only change the color of the folder you selected and do not change all folder colors on the desktop. If you would like to use different colors for different folders, just repeat the processes.
If you want to change the macOS folder color to the default, just follow all steps but click Reset All in the color adjustment window.
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How to change folder colors in Mac Finder
There are quite a few steps to change folder colors on the Mac desktop. You can also use these steps to change folder color in Mac Finder.
In addition, Mac allows users to change color of folder using Tags.
How to customize folder colors on Mac with Tags:
1. Right-click on the folder you want to color-code.
2. Select Tags.
3. Add a new tag name and select a color.
4. Press the Return key to apply the color to your folder.
In fact, this method doesn't completely change the color of your folders on Mac. It just adds a colorful tag in front of your folder name to make the folder more visible or distinguished from other folders.
How to customize folder icons on Mac
If you want one step further to make your important folders stand out, you will need to change the icons of folders on Mac. In this way, your customized folder icons will be unique among all blue folders.
How to change folder icon on Mac:
1. Save an image you would like to use as your folder icon on your Mac. A PNG format is recommended. Many people use a graphic with a transparent background for a better result.
2. Select the picture and press Command + C to copy it.
3. Right-click on the folder you want to change and select Get Info.
4. Select the folder icon in the Get Info window.
5. Press Command + V to paste the picture to the folder icon.
Then you will have a folder with a special icon on your Mac.
Now you know how to change Mac folder color/icon, share it and let others know too!
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In the End
A Mac is a beautiful machine for simplicity and neatness, but it also offers many features, such as changing folder colors on Mac, for its users to customize their Mac computers according to their own aesthetics and habits.
