Home Forums Mac Software Mac Operating Systems Folders - DEFAULT Images

Over the years I have played with the FOLDERS and changed the cover images to other icon photos, etc.

I realized that I can change back to the default image using GET INFO and "command-x" . . . but this is only as a one-folder-at-a-time process. Alternatively, I could create a new standard folder and drag the contents from the "old" folder into the new. Then delete the empty old folder. Either method is tedious and time consuming, to say the least.

Is there a way to revert ALL the folders back to the Apple originals at the same time - without, of course, deleting or discarding any of the folders' contents?

Delete the "icns" resources from the file. it will display them if they are shown, otherwise it will look in the LaunchServices database for mama and pull the icon from her. (or use a default Finder icon)

A long time ago I knew how to do that. I used a related technique to change Finder aliases into symbolic links, because a piece of software I used was written for unix and didn't know how to use a mac alias.

oh wait... you said "folders"... folders can't have resources. Their icons are stored as hidden files and are much easier to find and eradicate.

in terminal CD to the folder that contains the folders you want to clear, and type this

find . | grep $'/Icon\r'

that will display all the hidden icon files, there

if you are satisfied with the list, paste this longer form into the same window:

find . | grep $'/Icon\r' | while read f ; do rm "$f" ; done

That will remove all of the icon files previously listed. You may have to restart Finder.

The usual warnings go with this. Terminal can do a lot of damage in a short space of time. Use at your own risk. Buyer beware. Shake before using. Use only in a well-ventilated area. etc

If you run this from the wrong folder you may find quite a few other things have lost their icons as well. It will clear everything it listed in the first command. Don't run this on your home folder unless you really mean it. Don't even think about running it in Applications.

" . . . in terminal CD to the folder . . . "


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Thanks for the quick response!

How is this done? When I opened Terminal, I got my name and a little grey "curser" box to type into.

So . . . I made a DUPLICATE of a random Documents folder and dragged it into the little grey box - just in case that was the wrong thing to do, I didn't want to mess up or lose the original folder in the process. And, Bingo! The humungous list of folders that I had redecorated appeared. My, I was a busy boy. Seriously, several hundred.

Entered the last command you gave, hit return, and "Voila!" All folder images changed back to Apple blue in less than 10 seconds. Couldn't have been easier. (Once you know how, that is). Thanks. Didn't have to relaunch Finder, but I did anyway.

FYI : The Applications appear unscathed in any way. Whew. Some of my custom folders had Aliases made from them with the custom image. Those Aliases retained the custom image even though the original folder returned to blue - which is fine. I can always delete an Alias and make another one from the new (old) blue folder. The colour labels/tags also remained intact.


P.S. And, yes, I did do a Time Machine backup before I touched Terminal.


Just another thought: Say, for example, I found a single ICNS folder image I liked and wanted to change all the Apple blue folders to that image at one time. Is that possible? As simple as what I just did?

the easiest way to Change Directory in terminal on the mac is:

1. open a terminal window by running the Terminal app in your Utilities folder.
2. type "cd " (without the quotes, and take note of the space after the 'd', it's required) but DO NOT hit return yet
3. back in finder, drag and drop the folder you want to go to into the terminal window. anywhere is fine, it doesn't have to be by your command. just drop it. terminal should type in the path for you.
4. select the finder window again if needed, and press Return to run the command. in most cases, the path will show up as a part of the prompt, replacing "~", which is unix for "home folder".

now you are CD'd to that folder, and any terminal command you run ought to know where you were when you ran it.

(SOME terminal programs are meant to run automatically in the folder the PROGRAM is located in, not where you happen to be CD'd to. but the author should inform you of this)