Changing the 'Finder' Icon

i just tried changing mine - and it worked. changed the file located in:

HD>System>Library>CoreServices>CoreTypes.bundle>Contents>Resources

"FinderIcon.icns"

and as soon as I relaunched the Finder it worked, showed new icon, etc...

What I did (there are actually several ways to do this, one uses Terminal) was copy the original to my Desktop by a drag 'n drop. Renamed it there, then saved my replacement to the Desktop with the original name. I then trashed the original that was still in the Resources folder--at which point you will be asked to authenticate--and drug the two files, Old and replacement, into the the Resources folder. You will again be asked to authenticate. You'll need to restart, or maybe just logout and back in, to see the change. Probably wouldn't hurt to repair permissions.


Francine
Schwieder

There are ton of of icns files located here:

/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/

When you get to the CoreTypes.bundle you need to hold down the control key and then click-hold to access the contextual menu, and then select Show Package Contents.

These things are all icns files, so you need to know how to work with them, and have the proper programs installed to do so. You also need to know how to properly handle permissions issues, since these files belong to the system.

Proceed at your own risk! 😉 And for heaven's sake, make sure you have a bootable clone of your system.


Francine
Schwieder

Just thought I'd throw something else out there - it seems that an application called Pixadex (Iconfactory makes it, easily found on google) can take regular icon files from any file you prefer, import them, and will let you export them as the proper size .icns file - with easy drag/dropping - I tested it out to make sure, replacing the iMac.icns file as stated and with a quick logout/in it works like a charm, don't even need Photoshop (unless of course you want to make your own icons...)

I use Candy Bar and Zonic IconLab, which is a Photoshop plugin that allows me to open icon and save them as .icns files while doing all the work in Photoshop.

I also use Iconit to add a composite icon onto the existing folder icon on the fly without need of Photoshop or other editing programs.

I pretty much have every folder in my system changed as well as the basic CD/DVD icons and hard drive icons - even clipping files.

Lots of fun but it serves a useful purpose, too. Every folder is unique to what's in it, I have one client who does comic book stuff so I place the appropriate comic book icon on top of the folder icon. Allows me to find things much faster.

Besides, as a graphic artist Mac's original icons are just too boring.

Solution! I restarted my PowerBook a hundred times
and it didn't do a thing. But then I pressed command
+ option + escape and relaunched finder and the new
icon showed up. Funny but if anyone else has that
problem, then try it.

Yep! The Finder forcing to restart did the trick.

By the way: I found three places where the findericon resides:
/Mac Os System/Library/Coreservices/Coretypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/
FinderIcons.icns ,
/Mac Os System/Library/Coreservices/Dock/Contents/Resources/Finder.png
and last but not least,
/Mac Os System/Library/Coreservices/Finder/Contens/Resources/Finder.icns

Dear greetings, Sanne


Imac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

I just tried what you said - getting info and copy/pasting - didn't work. But in the folder I was asking about there is the iMac.icns file - which can be edited just like the sidebar icons and changed that way. Back it up first of course...

And BTW I'm using IconbuilderPro & Photoshop to edit and create .icns files in case anyone was wondering...

Abe, I'm afraid you need an icns file. If you have installed Developer Tools, you'll have a very rudimentary tool for working with icns files. It looks like Nick has the ideal program combination. You might be able to find some other icns file that suits you better, just be sure to open it in Preview to make sure it is the same size--the iMac.icns file is rather tiny, 32x32. If you have something the same size that you would prefer you can use it. Just rename the existing file to iMacOld.icns, and add your file as iMac.icns. You'll have to authenticate to do this. Personally, I substituted a gory heart with an arrow thru it for the ToolBarFavorites icon (I made the graphic some years ago for Valentine's Day). I scaled it to the correct size with Photoshop, made a mask with Photoshop, then used Icon Composer from Developer Tools to create the icns file.


Francine
Schwieder

I use Candybar and Pixadex, and I have changed many icons including the finder icon, and I love these programs. I also create many icons in Photoshop and use Iconconverter to change jpegs to png or to icns, and to maintain transparancy. I create folders for all movies with screen captures on top, and I love that...

David

Solution! I restarted my PowerBook a hundred times and it didn't do a thing. But then I pressed command + option + escape and relaunched finder and the new icon showed up. Funny but if anyone else has that problem, then try it.

I want to be able to change system-level icons WITHOUT using Candybar.

Anyone know where some other icons are located (such as the sidebar default icons for the Pictures, Music, Movies folders etc)?

And before you ask why I do not want to use Candybar, let me say this - yes Candybar is a great app, yes it does exactly what I'm asking here, but I want to be able to do it on my own. I don't need training wheels anymore...

Francine,

In that folder you mentioned I saw the iMac icon that is used for "Computer" in the sidebar. It is possible to do a Get Info copy paste etc. to get the icon to be an iBook?

Or do I need to copy and rename the iBook icon (which I got from xicons.com to iMac.icns?

Sorry for butting in, but I have posted this question, about changing the iMac icon to an iBook, many times and haven't gotten answer. I hoping this will work.

A quick PS--I took a look at some iBook icons from xicons, the ones I saw appear to be resources, not icns files. You have to have something that actually IS an icns file, you can't just name something else "iMac.icns" and have it work. A quick Google search on "iBook.icns" didn't turn up anything much.


Francine
Schwieder

How exactly did you go about renaming the iMac.icns file? I tried to, but it doesn't work. I've even changed the owner to me, abe, and I still can't rename it. It click on it and press the enter key (what I usually do to rename file) it doesn't work.

Thanks...

I can almost taste victory.