Kosta88 Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Here is a curveball: How to change the icon of the Downloads folder in the Sidebar from the ordinary folder to the Arrow folder, like it is when Downloads is under my username? What I did is removed the Downloads folder from under my Username and made a symbolic link to my 2nd HDD, because I don't want to fill up my SSD with all that goes in there. When I drag the Downloads that is originally under my Username folder into my Sidebar, Favorites, then I get an Arrow looking folder. A default. But when I drag the symbolic one, then I get an ordinary looking folder. I would like to change it to arrow again. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniac10 Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 What if you enable the download icon from Finder's preferences? Finder Menu->Preferences->SideBar If you're using a different download folder and the original still exists then I would suggest you to delete (or rename just in case) the original one and replace it with a symlink to the new folder. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904030 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosta88 Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 What if you enable the download icon from Finder's preferences? Finder Menu->Preferences->SideBar Nop, same thing If you're using a different download folder and the original still exists then I would suggest you to delete (or rename just in case) the original one and replace it with a symlink to the new folder. That's exactly what I'm doing. The original one doesn't exist any more, it has been removed completely. But I can create it as a new folder to test. However, when I do a symlink, which is how now they are connected, the symlink creates a "Downloads" link in the User folder. I could probably put it somewhere else, but what would be the use of the symlink then? The whole idea is not have to change settings in all the programs. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904032 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniac10 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 The thing is, Finder will only show custom icons for selected folders only, so if you want to see the arrow icon in the sidebar you will have to trick Finder into thinking it's the original folder. You programs won't notice the difference because the "real" downloads folder is still there (wherever that is). Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904384 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbo178 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Hi, I moved my home folder to another disk, so the folders retain their original symbols. To do this you have to go into System Preferences-Users-unlock and right-click on your username advanced then choose the new location of the home Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904405 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosta88 Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 The thing is, Finder will only show custom icons for selected folders only, so if you want to see the arrow icon in the sidebar you will have to trick Finder into thinking it's the original folder. You programs won't notice the difference because the "real" downloads folder is still there (wherever that is). Indeed, well, how to do that? Symbolic link is not the final solution, as it works well as a link per se, but not fooling Finder into thinking it's the real one. Hi, I moved my home folder to another disk, so the folders retain their original symbols. To do this you have to go into System Preferences-Users-unlock and right-click on your username advanced then choose the new location of the home You just cost me losing some of my system settings, and ALMOST losing all of them!! When I moved the folder, it just created a new folder for my username there, and not ported ANY settings. It even asked me if I wanted to set up the system with the icloud… jeez. Thankfully, moving back to original folder, I got back all my settings! Not the best advice, mate… thanks anyway for the try. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904438 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniac10 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Just tried my idea but sadly it doesn't work everywhere. It looks like the original Downloads folder have to be in your user's root folder cause the moment you move it out if there, the icon is gone. As an alternative you may try what carbo178 suggested but remember that it will move your entire user, with caches and preferences. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904450 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosta88 Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 Just tried my idea but sadly it doesn't work everywhere. It looks like the original Downloads folder have to be in your user's root folder cause the moment you move it out if there, the icon is gone. As an alternative you may try what carbo178 suggested but remember that it will move your entire user, with caches and preferences. Didn't you read my reply to him?? Read above... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904452 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbo178 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Indeed, well, how to do that? Symbolic link is not the final solution, as it works well as a link per se, but not fooling Finder into thinking it's the real one. You just cost me losing some of my system settings, and ALMOST losing all of them!! When I moved the folder, it just created a new folder for my username there, and not ported ANY settings. It even asked me if I wanted to set up the system with the icloud… jeez. Thankfully, moving back to original folder, I got back all my settings! Not the best advice, mate… thanks anyway for the try. This is normal, but simply set your preferences again and launch applications, or transfer from the Home-Library application settings ... is not a thing so long, but mostly it is definitive (if you have a problem on the system disk, you have all the documents and application settings saved on the other disk) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904469 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosta88 Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 Um thanks, but I am definitely not going to be doing that… - my whole sidebar settings are gone - startup items - dock icons - custom folder settings (yeah, those are lost for good for some reason) - desktop background, calibration settings... Way too much I would go setting up my user again around this. Rather live without the arrow icon, lol. It's just a minor annoyance, nothing I would break my system around. And if I have a problem on the system disk, well… isn't that what the Time Machine is for? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904470 Share on other sites More sharing options...
k3nny Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 You can also simply copy & paste your home folder to the new location which will keep all of your custom settings and whatever else you have customized. 1 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904473 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosta88 Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 You can also simply copy & paste your home folder to the new location which will keep all of your custom settings and whatever else you have customized. Well, if that would work, sure… not keen to "trying" out, as I had one scare enough today… Let's just forget the moving the folder thing. If this is solvable by NOT moving, I'd be happy to hear for the solution. However not really believing there is, since I read some pages on this, like apple changed to monochromatic and doesn't want to allow people to change thing... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1904474 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbo178 Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Should not move your home folder in an external hard drive, it makes sense, however, if it is a second internal drive, because if you remove the disc that contains the home, then you can not enter the system. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1907591 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosta88 Posted April 16, 2013 Author Share Posted April 16, 2013 In my latest installation, I moved the personal folder to my 2nd HDD, and that worked a treat. Thanks to the idea above. Never going to remove that disk, it's a part of the OSX installation, and always backing it up with the Time Machine. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/287662-downloads-folder-icon-in-sidebar-favorites/#findComment-1907635 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts