How to Change Your Mac App Icons

Are you tired of looking at the same old icons for your Mac apps? Do you want to add a personal touch to your dock and app drawer? You're in luck! With this step-by-step guide, you can easily change your Mac app icons, including system ones.

My app drawer and dock with modified app icons are proof that it's possible. As you can see, I was even able to change the system apps' icons. Take a look at my macOS Catalina apps' icons - notice how the Activity Monitor icon has been changed too!

Before we dive into the tutorial, please note that I won't be responsible if anything goes wrong during the installation process. It's essential to read carefully and do some research with Google if you're unsure about any part of the process.

Changing Mac app icons can be a time-consuming task, especially when finding or creating custom icons. You might not want to go through this process for every app on your Mac. However, it's worth the effort to personalize your digital space.

Many people were worried about the upcoming Big Sur icons and how 'ugly' they looked (although I don't personally agree!). To keep only your newly-created icon, simply move the old icon to the App Library. If you already had the app on your home screen, you'll now have two icons.

To change an app's icon:

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap the 'Custom App Icons' option.

3. Use the search function to find the app you want to change the icon for.

4. Select the app and rename it as you want it to appear on your home screen.

5. Choose a replacement app icon image from your device's library, take a photo, or choose a file.

6. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen and select 'Take Photo,' 'Choose Photo,' or 'Choose File.'

7. Tap the '+' icon in the top-right corner to add the new icon.

The Shortcuts app can be complex, but for this purpose, it's relatively straightforward. If you find yourself constantly switching between apps and shortcuts, you might want to limit your custom icons to apps you use infrequently or not at all.

There are two major limitations to keep in mind when using this technique:

* You'll need to launch the Shortcuts app every time you open an app with a custom icon.

* This method won't work for apps that can't be opened from the dock or home screen.

If you're ready to skip the introduction and dive straight into the step-by-step guide, you can find it at timestamp 3:58.

Change app icon mac