5 Easy Ways to Customize Folder Colors on Mac

In macOS, the default folder icon is a boring, beige-colored box. But if you want to add some personality to your Mac, you can change the color of your folders to anything you want. With just a few simple steps, you can make your folders stand out and reflect your personal style.

To get started, open Finder and select the folder you want to change the color of. Then, click on the “Get Info” option in the File menu. In the “Get Info” window, select the “Custom Color” option from the “Label:” drop-down menu. Then, click on the color picker to select the color you want to use. Once you’ve selected a color, click on the “Apply” button to save your changes.

You can also change the color of multiple folders at once. To do this, select all of the folders you want to change the color of, then right-click on one of the folders and select the “Get Info” option. In the “Get Info” window, select the “Custom Color” option from the “Label:” drop-down menu, then click on the color picker to select the color you want to use. Once you’ve selected a color, click on the “Apply to All” button to save your changes.

Customizing Folder Colors for Organization

Customizing folder colors is an effective way to organize and manage files on your Mac. By assigning different colors to different categories of files, you can easily identify and locate what you need. Whether you’re working with projects, personal documents, or anything in between, color-coding folders can streamline your workflow and save you time.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Folder Colors on Mac

Right-click on the folder you want to change the color of and select “Get Info” from the menu.
In the “Get Info” window, click on the colored square next to the folder’s name.
A color picker will appear. You can choose a color from the Color Wheel, the Crayons tab, or the Palettes tab. Enter a specific color code in the field provided if you prefer.
Once you have selected a color, click on the Set Color button.

The folder’s color will now be changed to the one you selected.

You can also customize the colors of multiple folders at once by selecting them all and following the steps above. This can be helpful for creating a consistent color scheme for a specific project or category of files.

Color	Meaning
Blue	Business
Green	Personal
Yellow	Creative

Using Terminal Commands to Modify Folder Colors

To customize folder colors via Terminal commands, follow these steps:

Define the Folder’s Unique ID

Open Terminal and execute this command to display a list of all folders:

“`
ls -la | grep Desktop
“`

Locate the line corresponding to the desired folder and note its numeric ID, which appears before the folder’s name. For example, if your folder is labeled “Documents”, its ID might be ‘1001’.

Create a Color Tag

Use the following command to create a color tag. Replace ‘1001’ with the folder’s ID and ‘[color name]’ with a desired color from the table below:

“`
xattr -w com.apple.metadata:_kMDItemUserTags ‘[color name]’ /path/to/folder
“`

| Color Name | Hex Value |
|—|—|
| Blue | 0072CE |
| Green | 659D31 |
| Yellow | FFE205 |
| Red | D70316 |
| Purple | 9B26AF |
| Orange | FF6600 |
| Pink | FF88AA |

For example, to tag the “Documents” folder with the blue color, execute:

“`
xattr -w com.apple.metadata:_kMDItemUserTags ‘Blue’ /Users/username/Desktop/Documents
“`

Confirm the Color Change

To verify the color change, execute this command:

“`
ls -l@
“`

The desired folder should now display the updated color tag, e.g.:

“`
Documents
“`

Utilizing Automator to Automate Folder Color Changes

Automator is a Mac app that allows you to create workflows to automate repetitive tasks. You can use it to change the color of multiple folders at once, saving you a lot of time. Here’s how to do it:

Open Automator and click on “New Document”. Select “Workflow” as the document type.
In the library pane, search for “Get Folder Items” and drag it into the workflow area. This action will get the folders you want to change the color of.
Next, search for “Set Folder Color” and drag it into the workflow area. Connect the “Get Folder Items” action to the “Set Folder Color” action.
In the “Set Folder Color” action, click on the “Folder Color” drop-down menu and select the color you want to apply to the folders.
Finally, click on the “Run” button to execute the workflow. Automator will now change the color of the selected folders.

Below is a step-by-step table with more details:

Step	Action
1	Open Automator and click on “New Document”.
2	Select “Workflow” as the document type.
3	In the library pane, search for “Get Folder Items” and drag it into the workflow area.
4	Search for “Set Folder Color” and drag it into the workflow area.
5	Connect the “Get Folder Items” action to the “Set Folder Color” action.
6	Click on the “Folder Color” drop-down menu and select the color you want to apply to the folders.
7	Click on the “Run” button to execute the workflow.

Editing Folder Colors with Third-Party Apps

If the built-in options don’t suffice, consider using third-party apps to enhance your color customization experience. Here’s a list of popular apps that offer extended color options and additional features:

Rainbow Folders

Change folder colors from a wide palette of vibrant options, including shades, gradients, and patterns.
Create custom color swatches and apply them across multiple folders for a cohesive aesthetic.
Assign folders with different colors to match their content or category, making visual identification a breeze.
Organize folders visually using the color-coding system, streamlining your workflow and enhancing productivity.

Folder Tamer

Customize folder icons with a vast library of pre-designed icons and images, or import your own.
Enhance folder appearance with background images, giving them a personal touch or conveying specific themes.
Apply custom colors to folder backgrounds and create unique color combinations that stand out.
The seamless drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to apply icons, images, and colors, saving you time and effort.

Yummy Colors

Choose from a wide range of solid colors, including bright hues and pastel shades, to color-code your folders.
Set transparency levels to create a subtle effect or emphasize folder contents.
Create and save custom color presets for easy access and consistency in your color scheme.
The user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make color customization a breeze, empowering you to personalize your folders in seconds.

Applying Color Labels to Improve Folder Visibility

Windows users have enjoyed the ability to color-code their folders for years, and now Mac users can join in on the fun. Color labels are a great way to organize your folders and make them easier to find. You can use them to group files by project, type, or any other criteria that makes sense to you.

To apply a color label to a folder, simply right-click on the folder and select “Get Info.” In the “General” tab, you will see a color wheel. Click on the color you want to use and then click “Apply.” You can also add a custom color by clicking on the “Other” button.

Once you have applied a color label to a folder, you can easily find it in the Finder by using the “Filter by Color” option. To do this, click on the “View” menu and then select “Show View Options.” In the “Filter” tab, you can select the color you want to filter by.

Here is a table summarizing the steps involved in applying color labels to folders on a Mac:

Step	Action
1	Right-click on the folder and select “Get Info.”
2	In the “General” tab, click on the color wheel.
3	Select the color you want to use and then click “Apply.”
4	Click on the “View” menu and then select “Show View Options.”
5	In the “Filter” tab, select the color you want to filter by.

Assigning Color Tags for Easy Folder Identification

To assign a color tag to a folder, right-click on the folder and select “Get Info.” In the “General” tab, you will see a color label drop-down menu. Click on the menu and select the desired color. You can also choose “Custom” to create your own color. Once you have selected a color, click on the “Close” button.

Here is a table of the available color tags:

Color	Hex Code
Red	#FF0000
Orange	#FFA500
Yellow	#FFFF00
Green	#00FF00
Blue	#0000FF
Indigo	#4B0082
Violet	#8B00FF

You can also use the following keyboard shortcuts to assign color tags to folders:

Command + 1: Red
Command + 2: Orange
Command + 3: Yellow
Command + 4: Green
Command + 5: Blue
Command + 6: Indigo
Command + 7: Violet

Color tags can be used to quickly identify folders and organize your files. For example, you could use red for urgent folders, green for completed folders, and blue for folders that you need to work on.

Using Color Coding for Project Management

Color coding can be a powerful tool for project management. By assigning different colors to different projects, you can quickly and easily identify which project a task belongs to, track the progress of each project, and identify any potential roadblocks.

There are many different ways to use color coding for project management. Some common methods include:

Color	Meaning
Red	Urgent
Yellow	Important
Green	In progress
Blue	Complete

You can also use color coding to track the status of tasks within a project. For example, you could use:

Color	Meaning
Red	Not started
Yellow	In progress
Green	Complete
Blue	On hold

By using color coding, you can quickly and easily identify the status of each task and project, which can help you stay organized and on track.

Personalizing Your Desktop with Color-Coded Folders

Choosing Your Colors

Open a Finder window and select the folder you want to change the color of. Click on the “File” menu and select “Get Info.” In the “General” tab, you will see a drop-down menu labeled “Color.” Click on the menu and select the color you want to use.

Creating a Custom Color

If you don’t see the color you want in the drop-down menu, you can create a custom color by clicking on the “Other” button. This will open the Color Picker, where you can choose a color from the color wheel or enter a specific color code.

Applying a Tag

Instead of using a color, you can also apply a tag to a folder. Tags are a way to categorize folders and make them easier to find. To apply a tag, open a Finder window and select the folder you want to tag. Click on the “File” menu and select “Get Info.” In the “Tags” tab, you will see a list of tags. Select the tag you want to apply from the list or create a new tag by typing it into the field at the bottom of the list.

Setting a Background Image

You can also set a background image for a folder. This can be a great way to personalize your desktop and make your folders more visually appealing. To set a background image, open a Finder window and select the folder you want to change the background image of. Click on the “File” menu and select “Get Info.” In the “General” tab, you will see a button labeled “Background Image.” Click on the button and select the image you want to use.

Resetting the Color

If you decide you don’t like the color or background image you have chosen, you can easily reset it to the default. To do this, open a Finder window and select the folder you want to reset. Click on the “File” menu and select “Get Info.” In the “General” tab, you will see a button labeled “Reset Colors.” Click on the button and the folder’s color and background image will be reset to the default.

Using Color Coding to Organize Your Files

Color coding your folders is a great way to organize your files and make them easier to find. For example, you could use different colors for different types of files, such as work files, personal files, and school files. You could also use different colors for different projects or clients.

Tips for Using Color Coding

Here are a few tips for using color coding effectively:

Tip	Description
Use a consistent color scheme.	This will make it easier to find the files you are looking for.
Avoid using too many colors.	Too many colors can be confusing and make it difficult to find the files you are looking for.
Use colors that are easy to distinguish.	This will help you to quickly identify the files you are looking for.

Optimizing Folder Organization with Colored Labels

Adding color-coded labels to folders on your Mac can significantly improve your file management and organization. Here’s a comprehensive guide to customizing folder colors and enhancing your productivity:

1. Select Folder:

Start by selecting the folder you want to customize in the Finder.

2. Customize Label Options:

Right-click on the folder and choose “Get Info” from the menu.

3. Access Label Settings:

In the “Get Info” window, click on the “Name & Extension” tab.

4. Choose Color:

Click on the colored label below the folder’s name and select a color from the default options or use the Custom Color panel for more choices.

5. Custom Color Panel:

To create your own color, use the sliders in the Custom Color panel to adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness. You can also input hexadecimal values for specific colors.

6. Color Swatches:

For quick access to frequently used colors, create color swatches by clicking the “+” button in the Custom Color panel.

7. Set Default Label Color:

In the “View Options” tab of the “Get Info” window, select a color to become the default for all new folders you create.

8. Sort by Color:

To organize folders by color, go to the Finder menu bar and select “View” > “Sort By” > “Label Color.”

9. Create Custom Color Palettes:

For efficient color management, create custom color palettes by dragging and dropping labels from the “Labels” sidebar in the Finder onto the desktop. These palettes can be easily applied to multiple folders for consistent color coding across projects or categories.

Label Color	Purpose
Red	Urgent tasks, important documents
Orange	Work-related files
Yellow	Projects in progress
Green	Personal files, completed projects
Blue	Research materials, notes

Enhancing Workflow with Custom Folder Colors

1. Customizing Folder Colors

Tailor your Mac’s file management experience by customizing folder colors. Right-click any folder and select “Get Info.” Navigate to the “Label” tab and choose a color from the color picker.

2. Using Color Presets

macOS offers a range of preset colors for convenience. Simply select “Custom” from the color picker and choose from the available presets to instantly apply a color to your folder.

3. Creating Custom Colors

To create unique colors, select “Custom” from the color picker and adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness sliders. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect shade.

4. Copying Folder Colors

Easily copy the color from one folder to another. Right-click the source folder, select “Copy Color,” and right-click the destination folder to “Paste Color.”

5. Grouping Folders by Color

Organize your files effectively by grouping related folders with similar colors. This visual cue helps you quickly identify and access files belonging to a particular category.

6. Assigning Colors to File Types

Associate specific folder colors with certain file types. For example, assign blue to PDF documents, green to images, and red to presentations. This simplifies file identification.

7. Using Colored Folders for Collaboration

When working with others on shared folders, color-coding can facilitate coordination. Assign different colors to represent project phases, task ownership, or team members.

8. Enhancing Accessibility

For users with color vision deficiency, custom folder colors can enhance accessibility. Choose colors that are easily distinguishable to improve visibility and navigation.

9. Maintaining Consistency

Establish a consistent color scheme across your folders for a visually coherent and organized workspace. This helps maintain a sense of order and professionalism.

10. Troubleshooting Color Changes

If you encounter difficulties changing folder colors, check the following potential issues:

Issue	Solution
Folder is locked	Unlock the folder before attempting to change its color.
Custom color is unavailable	Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to create custom colors.
Color changes do not persist	Restart your Mac or log out and back in to refresh the color settings.

How to Change Folder Color on Mac

You can modify the appearance of your Mac’s Finder by altering the colors of your folders. This adds a touch of customization and helps you visually organize your files and documents. Here’s how to change folder color on Mac:

1. Right-click (or Control-click) on the folder you want to change the color of.
2. Select “Get Info” from the menu.
3. Click the colored square next to the folder name in the Get Info window.
4. Choose a color from the palette or select “Custom” to create your own color.
5. Click “Apply” to save the changes.