[iMac 2020 Intel] Custom folder icons completely broken/generic after latest update – even in Safe Mode

Question

Level 1

4 points

[iMac 2020 Intel] Custom folder icons completely broken/generic after latest update – even in Safe Mode

iMac 2020 Intel: Custom folder icons completely broken/generic after latest update – even in Safe Mode

Hi everyone,

I’m facing a major issue with folder icons on my iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020 (Intel) after the latest system update. All my customized folder icons have been replaced by the standard blue macOS folder icon, and I’m unable to restore them.

The Symptoms:

Global Reset: Every single custom folder icon is gone. This includes folders on the internal SSD and, crucially, all folders on external drives that were plugged in during the update.
Broken 'Get Info' UI: When I press Cmd + I on a folder or file, the small icon preview in the top-left corner is missing. Instead of the folder icon or a thumbnail, it shows a generic document/image placeholder.
Manual Overrides Fail: I cannot drag-and-drop or paste a new icon onto that top-left placeholder. It simply doesn't react.

Everything I’ve tried (without success):

Safe Mode Boot: Performed a full restart in Safe Mode to clear system caches. No change.
Terminal - LaunchServices: Tried resetting the database via lsregister, but the system returned: "The -kill option has been removed because it was dangerous and no longer useful."
Terminal - IconServices: Deleted the cache manually via sudo rm -rf /Library/Caches/com.apple.iconservices.store and restarted Finder. The icons remain generic.
Permissions Check: Verified that I have Full Disk Access and Read/Write permissions for the affected folders.
Manual Replacement: Tried the "Cmd+C / Cmd+V" method in the Info window; the system ignores the command entirely.

It seems like this update has broken the way Intel-based Macs render or recognize com.apple.ResourceFork metadata or custom icon resources.

Has anyone found a workaround or a new Terminal string that works for this specific OS build? It feels like the system is intentionally (or via a bug) blocking user-defined folder skins. Thanks in advance for any insights!

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Mar 26, 2026 4:27 AM

Reply

Answer 1

etresoft

Level 9

59,052 points

Mar 26, 2026 4:53 AM in response to Czarecki64

It sounds like you're using the old "Get Info" method for customizing folders. There is a new method using File > Customize Folder in the Finder. You can also control-click or right click on the icon to bring up Customize Folder in a context menu. Does the new method still work?

Most likely, Apple simply stopped supporting the old "Get Info" customization method.

Reply

Answer 2

Czarecki64 Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 26, 2026 9:54 AM in response to etresoft

That's a very valid point. If it's showing up on Apple Silicon too, it confirms that it's more of a fundamental macOS API bug rather than an Intel-specific limitation. It seems like the 'accent color' metadata isn't being properly propagated outside of Finder's own process. It’s frustrating that such a visible UI feature is so inconsistent across the system. Hopefully, this discovery makes it more likely for Apple to treat it as a universal bug and fix it in a future update.

Reply

Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

114,427 points

Apr 10, 2026 7:19 AM in response to Czarecki64

According to Apple, ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4.1 addresses an issue that could cause the M5 MacBook Airand M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro models to fail to join 802.1X Wi-Fi networks when using content filter extensions.

Update: According to several readers, the update also fixes an issue experienced by Intel-based Mac users on macOS 26.4 that resulted in broken customized folder icons.

Reply

Answer 4

Czarecki64 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 10, 2026 12:41 AM in response to etresoft

Thanks for your interest in my post. I am definitely trying to use the old (and previously perfectly functioning) 'Get Info' method. I’m familiar with the method you mentioned, but it’s very basic and graphically limited when it comes to icons. The 'Customize Folder' option doesn't allow you to apply any custom graphic of your choice as a folder icon. BR.

[Edited by Moderator]

Reply

Answer 5

etresoft

Level 9

59,052 points

Mar 26, 2026 7:46 AM in response to Czarecki64

Czarecki64 wrote:

Thanks for your interest in my post. I am definitely trying to use the old (and previously perfectly functioning) 'Get Info' method. I’m familiar with the method you mentioned, but it’s very basic and graphically limited when it comes to icons. The 'Customize Folder' option doesn't allow you to apply any custom graphic of your choice as a folder icon. BR.

But does the new method work? I've just kicked off an update for 26.4 myself. I was going to hold off on it but then I remembered that I purchased that test machine specifically for update testing, so I should perform the update. I've still got a functional Sequoia machine that I use for anything official.

Apple may not support that old file/folder customization method anymore. And since Apple has already announced the next WWDC date, there's a good chance that this bug, even if it isn't intentional, won't ever be fixed.

Reply

Answer 6

Czarecki64 Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 26, 2026 8:41 AM in response to etresoft

Sure, the new method works, but only in a very limited and narrow capacity. You can only change the folder color and overlay an icon (or emoji) from the system's predefined set—not just any custom icon of your choice. After reading through numerous posts on several other forums, the consensus seems to be that this issue primarily affects Intel-based Macs. So, rather than some conspiracy to restrict user 'freedom' regarding icons, it’s likely just a technical bug. I’m hoping Apple releases a patch soon. Unless, of course, some 'homegrown expert' finds a workaround first and shares it in the comments.

Reply

Answer 7

etresoft

Level 9

59,052 points

Mar 26, 2026 8:56 AM in response to Czarecki64

It's not 100% intel specific. There is also a bug rendering those new customized folders in 3rd party apps that try to mimic the Finder appearance of a folder. If you create a customized folder and set a non-default accent colour, the Finder will display the customized folder using the user-specified accent colour. But 3rd party apps will display the customized folder using the default colour. And this bug shows up on Apple Silicon.

Reply

Answer 8

etresoft

Level 9

59,052 points

Mar 26, 2026 9:59 AM in response to Czarecki64

Czarecki64 wrote:

Hopefully, this discovery makes it more likely for Apple to treat it as a universal bug and fix it in a future update.

Apple has already announced WWDC2026. That "future update" may be macOS 27 sometime "this fall".

I skipped Sonoma and I plan to skip Tahoe too. I bought my test computer specifically to test beta software. macOS 26 never made it out of beta quality. I'll just switch to the other beta OS in June and keep my primary computer running Sequoia.

Reply

Answer 9

etresoft

Level 9

59,052 points

Mar 27, 2026 5:48 PM in response to etresoft

etresoft wrote:

I've just kicked off an update for 26.4 myself. I was going to hold off on it but then I remembered that I purchased that test machine specifically for update testing, so I should perform the update. I've still got a functional Sequoia machine that I use for anything official.

Well that was a bad idea - even for my test computer. Now Apple News crashes within 30 seconds after each launch.

Note to reader - macOS 26.4 is one of the buggiest of all Tahoe releases, and that's saying something.

Do not install!

Reply

Answer 10

etresoft

Level 9

59,052 points

Mar 26, 2026 8:24 AM in response to etresoft

etresoft wrote:

But does the new method work?

Just to clarify. Both the new method and the old method work fine with 26.4 on my M2 computer.

Reply

Answer 11

Czarecki64 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 10, 2026 12:35 AM in response to etresoft

I'm pleased to report that the latest system update has fixed the issue of deleted icons from folders. Everything is back to normal. Well done, Apple!

Reply