platypus1375

Q: Changing App Icons

I know how to change the icons, I've done it before on Yosemite. But now, certain apps (i.e. System Preferences, Preview) won't let me change their icons. I get the "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have the necessary permission"" message. And I can't change the "read" settings because, again, it gives me the "...you don’t have the necessary permission".

 

I've attempted repairing the disk, changing passwords, everything but restoring the computer to the factory settings. And I can't do that because I don't have anything to backup my information. I'm fine with leaving the icons as is, but I'd still like to solve the problem, whatever it is.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 16, 2016 4:42 PM

Close

Q: Changing App Icons

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by leroydouglas,Apple recommended

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Jan 16, 2016 9:15 PM in response to platypus1375
    Level 7 (23,789 points)
    Notebooks
    Jan 16, 2016 9:15 PM in response to platypus1375

    platypus1375 wrote:

     

    I know how to change the icons, I've done it before on Yosemite. But now, certain apps (i.e. System Preferences, Preview) won't let me change their icons. I get the "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have the necessary permission"" message. And I can't change the "read" settings because, again, it gives me the "...you don’t have the necessary permission".

     

    I've attempted repairing the disk, changing passwords, everything but restoring the computer to the factory settings. And I can't do that because I don't have anything to backup my information. I'm fine with leaving the icons as is, but I'd still like to solve the problem, whatever it is.

     

    Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

    System icons being protected by the new System Integrity Protection (SIP)

     

    more info: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204899

     

    Paths and applications protected by System Integrity Protection include:

    • /System
    • /usr
    • /bin
    • /sbin
    • Apps that are pre-installed with OS X
  • by platypus1375,

    platypus1375 platypus1375 Jan 19, 2016 2:47 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2016 2:47 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Is there any way to get around this?

  • by pinkstones,Solvedanswer

    pinkstones pinkstones Jan 19, 2016 3:33 PM in response to platypus1375
    Level 5 (4,209 points)
    Safari
    Jan 19, 2016 3:33 PM in response to platypus1375

    platypus1375 wrote:

     

    Is there any way to get around this?

     

    Yeah, if you turn SIP off, but I would never, never advise anyone to actually do that.  SIP exists for a reason.  It's not superfluous nonsense.  People ask here a lot about third-party hacks to change one thing or another or how to disable SIP for about the same reasons, and I don't know too many regular posters here who endorse any of it.  You take a lot into your own hands when you screw around with stuff like that, especially when you need to use the Terminal to do it.  One wrong punctuation mark and you can turn your computer into an expensive paperweight. 

     

    My advice to you would be to learn to love the app icons that you have.  They may not be as pretty or as flashy as you'd like, but keeping them is less trouble than trying to change them.