The Ol' Icon Switch-A-Roo
I’m having trouble seeing the Dock icons for the latest Office for Mac applications. I thought the Office 2004 for Mac icons were darker and easier to see in my Dock. Is there a way to alter the Office 2008 for Mac icons, or can I substitute one for the other?
Yes! In the screenshot you sent us, we noticed you had Office 2008’s icons in your Dock next to Office 2004’s icons. You can reassign Office 2004’s icons to your Office 2008 applications, but then you should probably drag the Office 2004 apps out of your Dock, so you don’t get confused!
![]()
The person writing in wanted to substitute the darker Office 2004 icons (on the right) for the too-light Office 2008 icons (on the left).
First, right-click (or Control-click) the Dock icon for Word 2008 (on the left in your screenshot), and choose Show In Finder. This will launch a new Finder window with the Word 2008 application selected. Press Command-I to open the Get Info window for that application. Now do the same thing to open the Get Info window for Word 2004.
Each app’s icon is at the top-left of the Get Info window. All you need to do is click the Word 2004 icon to select it (it’ll be highlighted blue when you do), and then press Command-C to copy that icon. Now over in the Get Info window for Word 2008, click that app’s icon to select it, and press Command-V to paste in the icon you copied (Word 2004) instead. Close the Get Info windows.

You can swap icons by copying-and-pasting the icon at the top-left of the Get Info windows.
The icon in your Dock won’t change instantly--you have to kick the app out of your Dock and then re-add it for the icon to be updated. Right-click the Word 2008 app’s Dock icon and select Show In Finder again, so you can remember where the application is stored--it should be showing its new icon in this window. Then drag the Word 2008 out of your Dock and watch it disappear with its little poof. In the Finder window that you just opened, drag Word 2008 sporting its new icon back into the Dock. Now you can repeat the process for your Excel and PowerPoint icons too.
the_iBall
April 20, 2011 at 9:02am
Is it possible to change it back to the original icon, after changing it. THANKS!
-the_iBall
ibi12
April 23, 2010 at 9:22am
If you are looking for a special gift, then China wholesale websites are the first place you should start your hunt. send internet fax
CS27KIRSTEN
February 20, 2010 at 2:54pm
A lot of different people get know some keys of persuasive term paper writing, but it does not mean they would compose superior quality essay papers, nevertheless a essay writing service can help to compose the college essay of high quality and improve writing ability of students.
darkvince
February 12, 2010 at 3:35am
Each app’s icon is at the top-left of the Get Info window. All you need to do is click the Word 2004 icon to select it (it’ll be highlighted blue when you do), and then press Command-C to copy that icon
eteleon
lonepalm
November 18, 2009 at 6:04am
I agree that the MS Office 2004 icons are far superior to the office 2008 icons. However, I have already updated and don not have a copy of MS Office 2004 installed on my mac. Does anyone know of a download location where we can download the MS Office 2004 icons ?
CowboyOnAMac
November 16, 2009 at 3:44pm
Something I've found is that (and Office is no exception) if you update the application, the icon reverts to the standard icon again
I do a more thorough replacement by opening the package of the application and replacing the old icon with the new icon in the application itself.
That way a Microsoft update won't revert you the way that simply copying a new icon in the info panel can do.
bman1209
November 16, 2009 at 1:21pm
I would like to know if you can create your own logo to replace with the 'springing @ logo' for having websites in your dock. Brandon
Log in to Mac|Life directly or log in using Facebook
Forgot your username or password?
Click here for help.



















