What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
To give a disk or storage volume a custom icon on your Mac, copy an image, open the drive’s Get Info window in Finder, select the small icon at the top, and paste. To restore the default, select that same small icon and choose Edit > Cut.
Choose and copy an image
Apple’s instructions use Preview to copy an image: open the image in Preview, then choose Edit > Copy. You can also copy an icon from another item. If your drive maker supplied an icon file, Western Digital’s guide says to open and copy that file before applying it to the drive.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Apple’s guide to changing file and folder icons covers the image-copy method. Western Digital’s instructions for G-DRIVE and G-Technology products confirm the same Get Info process for its drives.
Apply the icon to a disk or volume
-
In Finder, select the mounted drive or volume you want to customize. You can select it in a Finder window or on the desktop.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Seagate 2TB Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (STGX2000400) | Everyday HDD storage. Plug-and-play backup. Windows & macOS. Adobe CC trial included. 1-Year Warranty- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
-
Choose File > Get Info, or press Command-I.
-
In the Info window, click the small icon at the upper-left, beside the item’s name.
-
Choose Edit > Paste, or press Command-V.
Be careful to select the small icon at the top, not the larger image beneath Preview. Apple notes that Paste may be unavailable if the larger preview image is selected.
Rank #2
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 6TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
- Plug-and-play expandability
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Restore the original icon
Select the disk or volume, open File > Get Info, and click the small icon at the upper-left of the Info window. Then choose Edit > Cut. Apple documents this method for restoring the original appearance of files and folders.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Separate icon artwork from desktop layout
If you want to change how large desktop icons look or how they are arranged, use Finder’s Show View Options. Those controls adjust icon size, grid spacing, and text size; they do not replace the artwork for an individual disk.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Troubleshoot an icon that does not appear to change
Paste is unavailable
Click the small icon next to the item’s name at the top of the Info window. If the larger image beneath Preview is selected, Apple says the Paste command may not be available.
The desktop still shows the old icon
Check the icon in the Get Info window first. A September 16, 2025 Macworld report said that on macOS Tahoe the desktop display sometimes updated only after a restart in its observations. Restarting, or ejecting and reconnecting the drive, may help refresh the display, but neither is established as a universal requirement or fix.
Rank #4
- USB-C and USB 3.1 compatible.Specific uses: Business, personal
- Innovative style with refined metal cover
- Password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- Formatted for Mac
The custom icon does not persist
Whether a custom icon persists is not established for every combination of filesystem, volume permissions, macOS version, and device. If the icon returns to its default, you may need to apply it again; the available guidance does not support a guarantee that every drive retains a custom icon in all circumstances.
For Apple’s full file-and-folder instructions, see Customise the look of folders and files on Mac. Apple describes desktop layout adjustments separately in Change icon, grid, text size, and more for files on the Mac desktop.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
