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How to change the folder colour on Mac?

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  • 4 min read

Do you want to change the folder colour on Mac from boring blue to something exciting? Same-colour folders are indistinguishable, and when you need to navigate to some folder that you forgot the name of, there is a slight inconvenience.

But don’t worry; there are ways to change all that and customise the folders on Mac as per your wish. In this article, we’ll show you how to change the folder colour on Mac using different methods.


Method 1: Using Preview

The macOS Preview app is a versatile application designed for effortlessly viewing various file formats. Additionally, it empowers users to make edits to PDF files.

You can use the Preview app to change the folder colour on Mac. Just follow the steps below to do so:

Step 1: Right-click on the folder you wish to customize and select Get Info.

Step 2: In the Info window, click on the folder icon’s thumbnail, then use Command + C to copy it.

Step 3: Open Preview and navigate to File > New from Clipboard.

Step 4: Adjust the colour using the Tools menu > Adjust Color.

Step 5: Once satisfied with the modifications, select the edited image and press Command + C to copy it.

Step 6: Return to the folder’s Info window, click on the thumbnail of the folder icon and use Command+V to paste the modified icon.

Also read: How to change the wallpaper on macOS?


Method 2: Using Tags

You can also change the folder colour on Mac using Tags. The tags feature allows you to colour-code the folder to look organised.

To set the tag, right-click on the folder and select one of the colourful tag icons.

Note: To create a custom tag, right-click on the folder and select Tags. After that, enter the name of the new tag and click on Create new tag.


Method 3: Using third-party applications

There are many third-party applications, such as Folder Color, Folder Designer, and Folder Marker, that allow you to change the folder colour on Mac.

Here are the general steps to use one of these apps:

  • Launch the app and permit it to access your folders.
  • Select the folder that you want to change the colour of and drag it to the app window.
  • Choose a colour from the palette or use the colour picker tool to select a custom colour.
  • Click on Apply or Save to confirm the changes.

You can also use these apps to change the folder icon, add text or images, or apply different effects and styles. Some of these apps also have a batch mode that allows you to change the colour of multiple folders at once.

Also read: Why is the Caps Lock stuck on Mac? Quick Fix


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let us head to some FAQs on the topic:

How do I change the colour of a folder on my Mac without Preview?

If you don’t want to use the Preview feature on Mac to change the colour of a folder, try using the Tags feature or go for some third-party application.


How do I change the colour of a folder on my Mac 2023?

You can change the folder colour on Mac using the Preview feature or Tags. You can also download several third-party applications for this specific purpose.

Also read: Fix: Safari not working on Mac

Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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