Create folder icons for KDE and GNOME

Choose a Linux folder style

KDE and GNOME use different folder shapes and shading. Pick the one that matches the icon theme on your desktop so the custom icon does not stand out for the wrong reason. If your theme uses another shape, upload one of its normal folder images as the base instead.

Upload your own base folder

Select Upload base icon in the Folder Style panel to use a PNG, WebP, SVG, or JPEG from another icon theme. The image is read locally by your browser and is not sent to an account or remote image workspace.

Use a square source with a clear or plain background. Leave the base art at its full size and let the editor fit it into the 512×512 work area. If the source comes from an icon theme, keep its license and source note with your copy.

Build and export the Linux folder icon

1. Select Linux, then choose KDE Breeze or GNOME Adwaita. Upload a base if neither one matches your theme.
2. Adjust hue and brightness. Compare the result with a normal folder from the same theme before you add a mark.
3. Add one built-in symbol, paste an SVG, or drag a PNG onto the preview. Use a clear shape that still reads in a compact file list.
4. Add a short text tag only when a symbol cannot name the folder well. Project codes and years tend to work better than full names.
5. Download a transparent PNG at 128, 256, or 512 pixels. Keep the 512×512 file as the source for later changes.

Choose a file size

A 256×256 PNG is a good first file for one folder. Use 512×512 when your file manager shows large previews or when you want a reusable source. A 128×128 copy saves space, but small text and thin lines can lose detail. Test one folder before you create a large set.

Apply the icon through your Linux desktop

The apply step depends on the desktop, file manager, and icon theme. Some file managers let you open folder properties and click the current icon. Others store a path in folder metadata or expect files inside a theme folder. FolderIcon.App only makes the PNG; it does not edit those system settings.

If you add the file to an icon theme, use the theme's naming and size rules. A direct icon set on one folder may not travel with that folder to another machine. Keep the PNG and source base in a normal backed-up folder so you can assign them again.

If the custom icon does not appear

• Confirm that the file manager supports custom icons for the folder type you selected.
• Check that the PNG still exists and that your user can read it.
• Sign out or restart the file manager if it still shows a cached icon.
• Test with a local folder before trying a network mount or managed path.

Desktop compatibility: the method for assigning a custom folder image varies across distributions, file managers, and icon themes. Keep the 512×512 PNG as your reusable source.