how to change the icon image for an external drive?

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Level 1

130 points

how to change the icon image for an external drive?

Sequoia 15.3.1. I know how to change the icon image for a file or folder. You select it, do Get Info, click on the small icon image at top left, and paste a new image into it. But that doesn't seem to work with an external drive image. My external drives have always had the image of an orange slab. That works for me. But somehow, in reformatting one or two, they have taken on the icon image of my internal disk. That's inappropriate. I'd like to change them back, but I can't figure out how to do it. Suggestions?

iMac 24″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Mar 10, 2025 6:06 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 10, 2025 7:12 AM in response to Dannymac22

Dannymac22 wrote:

Well, another way of asking the question is what determines the icon image when you reformat a drive. Why did it just pick up the icon image of my internal drive and clone that onto my external disk?

Is there some way, in Disk Utility, to specify the icon image you want it to have?

Not that I have ever seen...

I just use the default images that appear...no custom icons.

my external is formatted GUID/apfs and shows the silver slab, I look at in DU and it shows orange.

If it is an issue for you —

submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 2

Mar 10, 2025 6:28 AM in response to Dannymac22

Dannymac22 wrote:

Sequoia 15.3.1. I know how to change the icon image for a file or folder. You select it, do Get Info, click on the small icon image at top left, and paste a new image into it. But that doesn't seem to work with an external drive image. My external drives have always had the image of an orange slab. That works for me. But somehow, in reformatting one or two, they have taken on the icon image of my internal disk.

That's inappropriate. I'd like to change them back, but I can't figure out how to do it. Suggestions?

I do recall some issues here...I would not beat your head against the wall.

You have the correct work flow. if it no longer works in macOS 15.3.1

To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

you can try A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support to sort anomalies

Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.

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Answer 3

Dannymac22 Author

Level 1

130 points

Mar 10, 2025 6:33 AM in response to leroydouglas

Well, another way of asking the question is what determines the icon image when you reformat a drive. Why did it just pick up the icon image of my internal drive and clone that onto my external disk? Is there some way, in Disk Utility, to specify the icon image you want it to have?

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Answer 4

Dannymac22 Author

Level 1

130 points

Mar 10, 2025 6:45 AM in response to dialabrain

Yes. that orange slab is how I WANT my external drives to appear. Always used to appear that way, before I reformatted. But I have a custom icon for my internal hard drive, and somehow that icon has been plastered on my external drive. My external drive is formatted APFS.

I should say that, rather oddly, in Disk Utility, these external drives show up properly with the orange slab icon. It's when they appear on the desktop that they have the icon image of my internal hard disk.

Oh, and my other external drive, also formatted (before Sequoia) APFS, properly has the orange slab icon. It would seem that this is a Sequoia decision to plaster my internal disk icon on external disks when they are formatted.

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

130,717 points

Mar 10, 2025 6:34 AM in response to Dannymac22

Here's what I see, the orange My Book drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended.

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Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

130,717 points

Mar 10, 2025 6:47 AM in response to Dannymac22

Well, I wish I could help but, the ExFAT formatted drive is silver, not orange. So it seems formatting has an affect. I don't use a custom icon for the internal.

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Answer 7

Dannymac22 Author

Level 1

130 points

Mar 10, 2025 7:19 AM in response to leroydouglas

As I said, in Disk Utility, this external disk is displayed with the orange slab icon. But on the desktop, it appears with my internal hard disk icon.

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Answer 8

Mar 10, 2025 7:31 AM in response to Dannymac22

Dannymac22 wrote:

As I said, in Disk Utility, this external disk is displayed with the orange slab icon. But on the desktop, it appears with my internal hard disk icon.

Ok...