How to Change Icons on Your Mac

All files and folders on your computer are represented by icons. What many people don't know is that you are not stuck with those icons if you are on a Mac. It's very easy to change them and you don't need any special programs to do this.

For this tutorial, we will be changing Safari's icon to a different icon representing Safari (one which I like even better than the original). I've provided a link at the bottom of the page in the Additional Resources section to the Apple page where you can browse, search for, and download icons for your Mac.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
    
   Right-click and

   To change a Mac icon, first right-click on the icon you wish to change and select "Get Info".

2. 
    
   Safari icon at the top of the Info window

   After you've selected "Get Info", a new window will pop up, giving you information about Safari. This window has the Safari icon at the top.

3. 
    
   Selected Safari icon

   Highlight the Safari icon at the top of the Info window. Simply click on it, and a blue halo will appear around the icon.

4. 
    
   Icon

   Right-click on the icon picture (the actual picture file that is the image you want) and select "Get Info".

5. 
    
   Highlight the icon.

   Highlight the image at the top of the window by clicking on it, as you did before.

6. Once the icon is highlighted, press CTRL-C to copy the image.

7. 
    

   Click on the Safari info window. Make sure that the Safari icon is still highlighted. Press CTRL-V to make the Safari icon that which you copied.

8. You now have a new Safari icon. You will be able to see this image in the "preview" window at the bottom of the info screen. It will also be the icon that is seen wherever you have the Safari icon, such as on your dock. You change the icon for just about any program- but some (such as System Preferences, Finder, and Dashboard) will only appear on your dock as the default icon, while appearing with the new icon in folders and Finder.

9. If you want to go back to your default icon, all you have to do is go to the "Get Info" window of the file you want to change. Highlight the icon and press CTRL-X. This will delete the new icon, reverting to the default
   
   Note: Unless you have saved the new icon, you won't be able to get it back unless you download it again (but you will always be able to get the default icon back).

Tips & Warnings

• I find it looks better if there is some conformity of the icons, such as color scheme.
• Instead of right-clicking in steps one, four, and nine, you can simply press CTRL-I.

Resources

• Download YouTube Videos Quickly
• Download Mac Icons Here
• Mac OSX: The Missing Manual