COLOR FOLDER--Can't copy to clipboard from Get info

I have tried this, and I concur that the COPY operation is not working, for some reason.

The PASTE operation does work, however.

So a workaround is to get the image of the icon somewhere else, like in Preview, or Pixelmator, copy it and then paste into the Get Info of the target folder or document. That works. Copy from the Get Info window does not, even though the Edit menu highlights. This is confirmed if you do Edit->Show Clipboard immediately after: the clipboard is empty.

Copying (⌘+C) and Pasting (⌘+V) are working for me.

So give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

Barney-15E wrote:

When you copy from the image well, you copy the icns file, not the image.

True - in principle - but it is not working for the OP and for me. I select the icon in the Get Info window, press Command-C, the Edit menu highlights but the clipboard is empty, as seen with Edit->Show Clipboard.

You might be able to copy the Preview image, but I'm not sure.

Shalom wrote:

I updated to Monterey 12.6.9 and everything now works as it should: it copies the folder icon from a source get info window and can be pasted into a target get info window!

That is interesting. I tried in Ventura, and it did not work; in Big Sur it worked fine.

In the OS that we cannot name, it works again :-)

FWIW, I had no problem copying the icon in Get Info then using new image in Preview. It may depend on the source folder used. I used the Apple Chess folder in Documents as a test.

When you copy from the image well, you copy the icns file, not the image.

You might be able to copy the Preview image, but I'm not sure.