Yesterday I highlighted macOS Tahoe’s aggressive behavior of putting nonconforming app icons inside an ugly gray box of shame. The change seems to affect the Mac user experience more than it impacts the app developer. It makes the actual icon 20% smaller and 80% harder to recognize.
A great thing about the Mac, though, is the ability to customize app icons. This can be a temporary solution. You just need to track down an app icon that works. Here’s how to swap out app icons on macOS Tahoe and avoid the gray box effect.
One of the simplest ways to replace an app’s default macOS icon is by downloading an alternative and applying it manually, but this can get tedious because you will lose the change every time the app updates.
Sites like macOSicons.com offer a huge library of community-made icons that match Apple’s new squircle standard, and it’s my current go-to for replacements. It’s been great for Chrome and Pixelmator Pro, two apps previously in squircle jail that I keep on my Dock.
Other repositories, such as IconArchive and DeviantArt, can also be useful.
Traditional method
- Download your replacement icon in .icns format (Apple’s native icon format) or .png.
- Open Finder, select the app, and press Command+I to open the Info panel.
- Drag the new icon file onto the small icon thumbnail in the top left of the Info panel, or copy and paste it there.
- Quit and reopen the app to see the updated icon.
Persistence method using Replacicon
- Download and install Replacicon on your Mac.
- Drag your replacement icon into Replacicon and assign it to the app.
- Replacicon will automatically reapply your icon after updates, so no extra steps are needed.
Another persistence tool worth exploring is Pictogram. You’ll just need to help its app icon escape for squircle jail too.
The traditional method still works for many apps but does not appear to support Apple’s new clear icon mode or dynamic adjustments for light and dark mode. It is possible those could be addressed using Apple’s free Icon Composer app, but that is a more advanced route better suited for designers.
In the meantime, custom icons can be a quick way to restore personality and clarity to your Mac. Whether you swap just a few or overhaul your entire Dock, these tools make it easy to bridge the gap until developers update their icons for macOS Tahoe’s new style.
If you really like your custom setup, consider making a backup of your icons so you can easily reapply them if needed.
What about you? Share your favorite custom app icons or icon sources in the comments below.
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