Create a folder in a SharePoint list

Creating folders in a SharePoint list is a good way to group and manage your content, such as grouping inventory items or employees by department. You can add folders to most types of SharePoint lists.

Folder creation in a list is turned off by default. The SharePoint list owner or a user with design permissions can enable whether new folders can be created. If you have at least owner or designer permissions, you can go to List settings > Advanced settings > Folders, click Yes and then click OK.

Updated on January 25, 2017 thanks to customer feedback.

Note: These steps are for unmodified versions of SharePoint. If your administrator or company has customized your app, you may not see these options.

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Create a folder in a SharePoint Online list

By default, you use the New Folder command to create a folder in SharePoint Online lists. The create folder command however may not be enabled unless the list owner or administrator did so.

1. Go to the SharePoint site containing the list where you want to add the folder.

2. Click the name of the list on the Quick Launch bar, or click Settings , and click Site contents, and then click the title of the list you want to add folders to.

   Note: Does your screen look different than this and you're using SharePoint Online? Your administrator may have SharePoint Classic experience set on the document library. If so, see Creating a folder in a SharePoint Classic experience list.

   Note:  Designers can modify the appearance and navigation of a site significantly. If you cannot locate an option, such as a command, button, or link, contact your administrator.

3. In the top toolbar, click the + New button, and then select Folder from the drop down.

   

   Note:  If the + New folder command is not visible, you can turn it back on with at least owner or designer permissions. Click Settings , click List settings, and then click Advanced settings. In the Folders section, click Yes for Make "New Folder" command available.

   Note: To change the folder name later on, click the ellipses ... , and then click Edit. Change the folder name, and click Save.

4. In the Folder dialog box, type a folder name in the box, and then click Create.

   

   You can optionally invite people to share the folder.

   For more info, see Edit and manage permissions for a SharePoint list or library for more info.

You might consider using SharePoint  views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large list, a combination of views and folders might work best. To create views, see Create a custom list view in SharePoint Online.

Create a folder in a SharePoint Classic experience list

To create a folder in SharePoint Classic experience, follow these steps

Note:  If the New Folder command is not available, you can turn it back on if you have at least owner or designer permissions. On the Library tab of the ribbon, click Library Settings, and then click Advanced settings. In the Folder section, make sure that the Yes option is selected for Make "New Folder" command available.

1. Navigate to the SharePoint site containing the list where you want to add the folder.

2. Click the name of the list on the Quick Launch bar, or click Settings , and click Site contents, and then click the title of the list you want to add folders to.

   Note:  Designers can modify the appearance and navigation of a site significantly. If you cannot locate an option, such as a command, button, or link, contact your administrator.

3. In the Ribbon, click the Items tab, and then in the New group, click New Folder.

   

   Note:  If the New Folder command is not available, you can turn it back on if you have at least owner or designer permissions. On the List tab of the ribbon, click List Settings, and then click Advanced settings. In the Folder section, make sure that the Yes option is selected for Make "New Folder" command available.

   Note: To change the folder name later on, click the ellipses ... , click the ellipses ... in the dialog box, and then click Rename. Change the folder name in the Name box and then click Save.

4. In the Create a new folder dialog box, type a folder name in the Name box, and then click Create.

   

Create a folder in SharePoint Server 2016 or SharePoint Server 2013 list

A SharePoint list owner or a user with design permissions can determine whether the New Folder command is displayed by changing the advanced settings.

1. Go to the SharePoint site containing the list where you want to add the folder.

2. Click the name of the list on the Quick Launch bar, or click Settings , and click Site contents, and then click the title of the list you want to add folders to.

   Note:  Designers can modify the appearance and navigation of a site significantly. If you cannot locate an option, such as a command, button, or link, contact your administrator.

3. In the Ribbon, click the Files tab, and then in the New group, click New Folder.

   

   Note:  If the New Folder command is not available, you can turn it back on if you have at least owner or designer permissions. On the List tab of the ribbon, click List Settings, and then click Advanced settings. In the Folder section, make sure that the Yes option is selected for Make "New Folder" command available.

4. In the New Folder dialog box, type a folder name in the Name box.

   

   In SharePoint Server 2016 you can optionally invite people to share the folder.

5. Click Create or Save when you're done.

Notes: 

• To change the folder name later on, click the ellipses ... , click the ellipses ... in the dialog box, and then click Rename. Change the folder name in the Name box.

• To quickly go to the next level up in the folder hierarchy, in the Ribbon, click the List tab and then click Navigate Up.

You might consider using SharePoint views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large list, a combination of views and folders might work best. To learn how to create views, see Create, change, or delete a view of a list or library.

Create a folder in a SharePoint 2010 list

By default, the New Folder command does not appear in lists. A SharePoint list owner or a user with design permissions for the list can determine whether the New Folder command is displayed by changing the advanced list settings.

1. Navigate to the SharePoint site containing the list for which you want to add the folder.

2. Click the name of the list on the Quick Launch bar, or click Site Actions, click View All Site Content, and then under the appropriate list section, click the name of the library.

   Note:  Designers can modify the appearance and navigation of a site significantly. If you cannot locate an option, such as a command, button, or link, contact your administrator.

3. In the Ribbon, under the List Tools section, click the Items tab, and then in the New group, click New Folder.

   Note: If you have at least owner or designer permissions, you can turn on folders for a list. Click List in the ribbon > List Settings > Advanced settings. Under Make "New Folder" command available?, click Yes. To do this, you need to have at least owner or designer permissions.

4. In the New Folder dialog box, type a folder name in the Name box, and then click OK.

You might consider using SharePoint  views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large list, a combination of views and folders might work best. To learn how to create SharePoint views, see Create, modify, or delete a view.

Create a folder in a SharePoint Server 2007 list

By default, the New Folder menu does not appear in SharePoint lists unless it is enabled by the list owner. This is enabled by changing the advanced list settings.

1. If the SharePoint list is not already open, click its name on the Quick Launch bar.

2. On the New menu , click New Folder.

3. Follow the steps to name and click OK.

You might consider using SharePoint  views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large list, a combination of views and folders might work best. To learn how to create SharePoint views, see Create or change a view.

Which version of SharePoint are you using?

If you're not sure which version of SharePoint you have, see Which version of SharePoint am I using?.

Other topics on folders and files

Move or copy a folder, file, or link in a document library

Upload files to a library

Create a folder in a SharePoint document library

Delete a folder from a SharePoint list

Delete a file, folder, or link from a SharePoint document library

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