diff --git a/.eslintignore b/.eslintignore
index 22f33b046..f6f4ba55d 100644
--- a/.eslintignore
+++ b/.eslintignore
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@ packages/app-desktop/gui/EncryptionConfigScreen/EncryptionConfigScreen.js.map
 packages/app-desktop/gui/ErrorBoundary.d.ts
 packages/app-desktop/gui/ErrorBoundary.js
 packages/app-desktop/gui/ErrorBoundary.js.map
+packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.d.ts
+packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.js
+packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.js.map
 packages/app-desktop/gui/KeymapConfig/KeymapConfigScreen.d.ts
 packages/app-desktop/gui/KeymapConfig/KeymapConfigScreen.js
 packages/app-desktop/gui/KeymapConfig/KeymapConfigScreen.js.map
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3f8358219..e63cef53b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ packages/app-desktop/gui/EncryptionConfigScreen/EncryptionConfigScreen.js.map
 packages/app-desktop/gui/ErrorBoundary.d.ts
 packages/app-desktop/gui/ErrorBoundary.js
 packages/app-desktop/gui/ErrorBoundary.js.map
+packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.d.ts
+packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.js
+packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.js.map
 packages/app-desktop/gui/KeymapConfig/KeymapConfigScreen.d.ts
 packages/app-desktop/gui/KeymapConfig/KeymapConfigScreen.js
 packages/app-desktop/gui/KeymapConfig/KeymapConfigScreen.js.map
diff --git a/packages/app-desktop/bridge.ts b/packages/app-desktop/bridge.ts
index 48634e0f7..ddd972007 100644
--- a/packages/app-desktop/bridge.ts
+++ b/packages/app-desktop/bridge.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@ interface LastSelectedPath {
 	directory: string;
 }
 
+interface OpenDialogOptions {
+	properties?: string[];
+	defaultPath?: string;
+	createDirectory?: boolean;
+	filters?: any[];
+}
+
 export class Bridge {
 
 	private electronWrapper_: ElectronAppWrapper;
@@ -155,14 +162,14 @@ export class Bridge {
 		return filePath;
 	}
 
-	async showOpenDialog(options: any = null) {
+	async showOpenDialog(options: OpenDialogOptions = null) {
 		const { dialog } = require('electron');
 		if (!options) options = {};
 		let fileType = 'file';
 		if (options.properties && options.properties.includes('openDirectory')) fileType = 'directory';
 		if (!('defaultPath' in options) && (this.lastSelectedPaths_ as any)[fileType]) options.defaultPath = (this.lastSelectedPaths_ as any)[fileType];
 		if (!('createDirectory' in options)) options.createDirectory = true;
-		const { filePaths } = await dialog.showOpenDialog(this.window(), options);
+		const { filePaths } = await dialog.showOpenDialog(this.window(), options as any);
 		if (filePaths && filePaths.length) {
 			(this.lastSelectedPaths_ as any)[fileType] = dirname(filePaths[0]);
 		}
diff --git a/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/Dialog.tsx b/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/Dialog.tsx
index cb73c1921..9852be10f 100644
--- a/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/Dialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/Dialog.tsx
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ import StyledInput from '../style/StyledInput';
 import { IconSelector, ChangeEvent } from './IconSelector';
 import useAsyncEffect, { AsyncEffectEvent } from '@joplin/lib/hooks/useAsyncEffect';
 import Folder from '@joplin/lib/models/Folder';
-import { FolderEntity, FolderIcon } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
+import { FolderEntity, FolderIcon, FolderIconType } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
 import Button from '../Button/Button';
 import bridge from '../../services/bridge';
+import shim from '@joplin/lib/shim';
+import FolderIconBox from '../FolderIconBox';
 
 interface Props {
 	themeId: number;
@@ -93,6 +95,27 @@ export default function(props: Props) {
 		setFolderIcon(null);
 	}, []);
 
+	const onBrowseClick = useCallback(async () => {
+		const filePaths = await bridge().showOpenDialog();
+		if (filePaths.length !== 1) return;
+		const filePath = filePaths[0];
+
+		try {
+			const dataUrl = await shim.imageToDataUrl(filePath, 256);
+			setFolderIcon(icon => {
+				return {
+					...icon,
+					emoji: '',
+					name: '',
+					type: FolderIconType.DataUrl,
+					dataUrl,
+				};
+			});
+		} catch (error) {
+			await bridge().showErrorMessageBox(error.message);
+		}
+	}, []);
+
 	function renderForm() {
 		return (
 			<div>
@@ -105,11 +128,14 @@ export default function(props: Props) {
 					<div className="form-input-group">
 						<label>{_('Icon')}</label>
 						<div className="icon-selector-row">
+							{ folderIcon && <div className="foldericon"><FolderIconBox folderIcon={folderIcon} /></div> }
 							<IconSelector
+								title={_('Select emoji...')}
 								icon={folderIcon}
 								onChange={onFolderIconChange}
 							/>
-							<Button ml={1} title={_('Clear')} onClick={onClearClick}/>
+							<Button ml={1} title={_('Select file...')} onClick={onBrowseClick}/>
+							{ folderIcon && <Button ml={1} title={_('Clear')} onClick={onClearClick}/> }
 						</div>
 					</div>
 				</div>
diff --git a/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/IconSelector.tsx b/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/IconSelector.tsx
index 8c2979a20..756df1677 100644
--- a/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/IconSelector.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/IconSelector.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
 import useAsyncEffect, { AsyncEffectEvent } from '@joplin/lib/hooks/useAsyncEffect';
 import { loadScript } from '../utils/loadScript';
 import Button from '../Button/Button';
-import { FolderIcon } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
+import { FolderIcon, FolderIconType } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
 import bridge from '../../services/bridge';
 
 export interface ChangeEvent {
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ type ChangeHandler = (event: ChangeEvent)=> void;
 interface Props {
 	onChange: ChangeHandler;
 	icon: FolderIcon | null;
+	title: string;
 }
 
 export const IconSelector = (props: Props) => {
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ export const IconSelector = (props: Props) => {
 		});
 
 		const onEmoji = (selection: FolderIcon) => {
-			props.onChange({ value: selection });
+			props.onChange({ value: { ...selection, type: FolderIconType.Emoji } });
 		};
 
 		p.on('emoji', onEmoji);
@@ -78,16 +79,25 @@ export const IconSelector = (props: Props) => {
 		picker.togglePicker(buttonRef.current);
 	}, [picker]);
 
-	const buttonText = props.icon ? props.icon.emoji : '...';
+	// const buttonText = props.icon ? props.icon.emoji : '...';
 
 	return (
 		<Button
 			disabled={!picker}
 			ref={buttonRef}
 			onClick={onClick}
-			title={buttonText}
-			isSquare={true}
-			fontSize={20}
+			title={props.title}
 		/>
 	);
+
+	// return (
+	// 	<Button
+	// 		disabled={!picker}
+	// 		ref={buttonRef}
+	// 		onClick={onClick}
+	// 		title={buttonText}
+	// 		isSquare={true}
+	// 		fontSize={20}
+	// 	/>
+	// );
 };
diff --git a/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/style.scss b/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/style.scss
index 9af2574a3..538ad3673 100644
--- a/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/style.scss
+++ b/packages/app-desktop/gui/EditFolderDialog/style.scss
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 .icon-selector-row {
 	display: flex;
 	flex-direction: row;
+	align-items: center;
+}
+
+.icon-selector-row > .foldericon {
+	margin-right: 5px;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.tsx b/packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1cc2ee0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-desktop/gui/FolderIconBox.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { FolderIcon, FolderIconType } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
+
+interface Props {
+	folderIcon: FolderIcon;
+}
+
+export default function(props: Props) {
+	const folderIcon = props.folderIcon;
+
+	if (folderIcon.type === FolderIconType.Emoji) {
+		return <span style={{ fontSize: 20 }}>{folderIcon.emoji}</span>;
+	} else if (folderIcon.type === FolderIconType.DataUrl) {
+		return <img style={{ width: 20, height: 20 }} src={folderIcon.dataUrl} />;
+	} else {
+		throw new Error(`Unsupported folder icon type: ${folderIcon.type}`);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/packages/app-desktop/gui/Sidebar/Sidebar.tsx b/packages/app-desktop/gui/Sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
index 0233be4b4..3c9df3202 100644
--- a/packages/app-desktop/gui/Sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-desktop/gui/Sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ import Folder from '@joplin/lib/models/Folder';
 import Note from '@joplin/lib/models/Note';
 import Tag from '@joplin/lib/models/Tag';
 import Logger from '@joplin/lib/Logger';
-import { FolderEntity } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
+import { FolderEntity, FolderIcon } from '@joplin/lib/services/database/types';
 import stateToWhenClauseContext from '../../services/commands/stateToWhenClauseContext';
 import { store } from '@joplin/lib/reducer';
 import PerFolderSortOrderService from '../../services/sortOrder/PerFolderSortOrderService';
 import { getFolderCallbackUrl, getTagCallbackUrl } from '@joplin/lib/callbackUrlUtils';
+import FolderIconBox from '../FolderIconBox';
 const { connect } = require('react-redux');
 const shared = require('@joplin/lib/components/shared/side-menu-shared.js');
 const { themeStyle } = require('@joplin/lib/theme');
@@ -77,6 +78,12 @@ function ExpandLink(props: any) {
 	);
 }
 
+const renderFolderIcon = (folderIcon: FolderIcon) => {
+	if (!folderIcon) return null;
+
+	return <div style={{ marginRight: 5, display: 'flex' }}><FolderIconBox folderIcon={folderIcon}/></div>;
+};
+
 function FolderItem(props: any) {
 	const { hasChildren, isExpanded, parentId, depth, selected, folderId, folderTitle, folderIcon, anchorRef, noteCount, onFolderDragStart_, onFolderDragOver_, onFolderDrop_, itemContextMenu, folderItem_click, onFolderToggleClick_, shareId } = props;
 
@@ -84,8 +91,6 @@ function FolderItem(props: any) {
 
 	const shareIcon = shareId && !parentId ? <StyledShareIcon className="fas fa-share-alt"></StyledShareIcon> : null;
 
-	const icon = folderIcon ? <span style={{ fontSize: 20, marginRight: 5 }}>{folderIcon.emoji}</span> : null;
-
 	return (
 		<StyledListItem depth={depth} selected={selected} className={`list-item-container list-item-depth-${depth} ${selected ? 'selected' : ''}`} onDragStart={onFolderDragStart_} onDragOver={onFolderDragOver_} onDrop={onFolderDrop_} draggable={true} data-folder-id={folderId}>
 			<ExpandLink themeId={props.themeId} hasChildren={hasChildren} folderId={folderId} onClick={onFolderToggleClick_} isExpanded={isExpanded}/>
@@ -105,7 +110,7 @@ function FolderItem(props: any) {
 				}}
 				onDoubleClick={onFolderToggleClick_}
 			>
-				{icon}<span className="title" style={{ lineHeight: 0 }}>{folderTitle}</span>
+				{renderFolderIcon(folderIcon)}<span className="title" style={{ lineHeight: 0 }}>{folderTitle}</span>
 				{shareIcon} {noteCountComp}
 			</StyledListItemAnchor>
 		</StyledListItem>
diff --git a/packages/app-mobile/components/side-menu-content.js b/packages/app-mobile/components/side-menu-content.js
index 155a71073..120a21cee 100644
--- a/packages/app-mobile/components/side-menu-content.js
+++ b/packages/app-mobile/components/side-menu-content.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 const React = require('react');
 const Component = React.Component;
-const { Easing, Animated, TouchableOpacity, Text, StyleSheet, ScrollView, View, Alert } = require('react-native');
+const { Easing, Animated, TouchableOpacity, Text, StyleSheet, ScrollView, View, Alert, Image } = require('react-native');
 const { connect } = require('react-redux');
 const Icon = require('react-native-vector-icons/Ionicons').default;
 const Folder = require('@joplin/lib/models/Folder').default;
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class SideMenuContentComponent extends Component {
 
 		styles.folderButton = Object.assign({}, styles.button);
 		styles.folderButton.paddingLeft = 0;
-		styles.folderButtonText = Object.assign({}, styles.buttonText);
+		styles.folderButtonText = Object.assign({}, styles.buttonText, { paddingLeft: 0 });
 		styles.folderButtonSelected = Object.assign({}, styles.folderButton);
 		styles.folderButtonSelected.backgroundColor = theme.selectedColor;
 		styles.folderIcon = Object.assign({}, theme.icon);
@@ -219,6 +219,18 @@ class SideMenuContentComponent extends Component {
 		if (actionDone === 'auth') this.props.dispatch({ type: 'SIDE_MENU_CLOSE' });
 	}
 
+	renderFolderIcon(theme, folderIcon) {
+		if (!folderIcon) return null;
+
+		if (folderIcon.type === 1) { // FolderIconType.Emoji
+			return <Text style={{ fontSize: theme.fontSize, marginRight: 4 }}>{folderIcon.emoji}</Text>;
+		} else if (folderIcon.type === 2) { // FolderIconType.DataUrl
+			return <Image style={{ width: 20, height: 20, marginRight: 4, resizeMode: 'contain' }} source={{ uri: folderIcon.dataUrl }}/>;
+		} else {
+			throw new Error(`Unsupported folder icon type: ${folderIcon.type}`);
+		}
+	}
+
 	renderFolderItem(folder, selected, hasChildren, depth) {
 		const theme = themeStyle(this.props.themeId);
 
@@ -228,6 +240,7 @@ class SideMenuContentComponent extends Component {
 			height: 36,
 			alignItems: 'center',
 			paddingRight: theme.marginRight,
+			paddingLeft: 10,
 		};
 		if (selected) folderButtonStyle.backgroundColor = theme.selectedColor;
 		folderButtonStyle.paddingLeft = depth * 10 + theme.marginLeft;
@@ -253,7 +266,6 @@ class SideMenuContentComponent extends Component {
 		);
 
 		const folderIcon = Folder.unserializeIcon(folder.icon);
-		const icon = folderIcon ? `${folderIcon.emoji} ` : '';
 
 		return (
 			<View key={folder.id} style={{ flex: 1, flexDirection: 'row' }}>
@@ -267,8 +279,9 @@ class SideMenuContentComponent extends Component {
 					}}
 				>
 					<View style={folderButtonStyle}>
+						{this.renderFolderIcon(theme, folderIcon)}
 						<Text numberOfLines={1} style={this.styles().folderButtonText}>
-							{icon + Folder.displayTitle(folder)}
+							{Folder.displayTitle(folder)}
 						</Text>
 					</View>
 				</TouchableOpacity>
diff --git a/packages/lib/models/Folder.ts b/packages/lib/models/Folder.ts
index ab0744d8f..2a84316d7 100644
--- a/packages/lib/models/Folder.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/models/Folder.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { FolderEntity, FolderIcon, NoteEntity } from '../services/database/types';
+import { defaultFolderIcon, FolderEntity, FolderIcon, NoteEntity } from '../services/database/types';
 import BaseModel, { DeleteOptions } from '../BaseModel';
 import time from '../time';
 import { _ } from '../locale';
@@ -767,7 +767,11 @@ export default class Folder extends BaseItem {
 	}
 
 	public static unserializeIcon(icon: string): FolderIcon {
-		return icon ? JSON.parse(icon) : null;
+		if (!icon) return null;
+		return {
+			...defaultFolderIcon(),
+			...JSON.parse(icon),
+		};
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/packages/lib/services/database/types.ts b/packages/lib/services/database/types.ts
index 2e0ea7f93..fd46f0145 100644
--- a/packages/lib/services/database/types.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/services/database/types.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,26 @@ export interface BaseItemEntity {
   created_time?: number;
 }
 
+export enum FolderIconType {
+  Emoji = 1,
+  DataUrl = 2,
+}
+
 export interface FolderIcon {
+  type: FolderIconType;
 	emoji: string;
 	name: string;
+  dataUrl: string;
+}
+
+export const defaultFolderIcon = () => {
+  const icon:FolderIcon = {
+    type: FolderIconType.Emoji,
+    emoji: '',
+    name: '',
+    dataUrl: '',
+  };
+  return icon;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/packages/lib/shim-init-node.js b/packages/lib/shim-init-node.js
index 960982016..4cc1e255f 100644
--- a/packages/lib/shim-init-node.js
+++ b/packages/lib/shim-init-node.js
@@ -330,6 +330,23 @@ function shimInit(options = null) {
 		return Note.save(newNote);
 	};
 
+	shim.imageToDataUrl = async (filePath, maxSize) => {
+		if (shim.isElectron()) {
+			const nativeImage = require('electron').nativeImage;
+			const image = nativeImage.createFromPath(filePath);
+			if (!image) throw new Error(`Could not load image: ${filePath}`);
+
+			if (maxSize) {
+				const size = image.getSize();
+				if (size.width > maxSize || size.height > maxSize) throw new Error(`Image cannot be larger than ${maxSize}x${maxSize} pixels`);
+			}
+
+			return image.toDataURL();
+		} else {
+			throw new Error('Unsupported method');
+		}
+	},
+
 	shim.imageFromDataUrl = async function(imageDataUrl, filePath, options = null) {
 		if (options === null) options = {};
 
diff --git a/packages/lib/shim.ts b/packages/lib/shim.ts
index e65d732a7..a9495ad29 100644
--- a/packages/lib/shim.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/shim.ts
@@ -228,6 +228,10 @@ const shim = {
 		throw new Error('Not implemented');
 	},
 
+	imageToDataUrl: async (_filePath: string, _maxSize: number = 0): Promise<string> => {
+		throw new Error('Not implemented');
+	},
+
 	imageFromDataUrl: async (_imageDataUrl: string, _filePath: string, _options: any = null) => {
 		throw new Error('Not implemented');
 	},