Create a folder in a document library

Creating folder in a SharePoint document library gives you an efficient way to group and manage your content, such as grouping reports by fiscal year or department. You can add folders to most types of SharePoint libraries. When you add a folder to a library, open the library itself and follow these steps. Don't start from an edit page or edit Web part mode.

Updated on January 24, 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 SharePoint Online

You use + New command to select Folder from a drop down to create a folder in SharePoint document libraries. A library owner or a user with design permissions can set whether the Folder command is enabled or not.

To get to SharePoint from your mobile device, see Use a mobile device to work with SharePoint Online sites.

1. Go to the SharePoint site and open the SharePoint document library where you want to create a new folder.

2. On the menu bar, click + New and then click Folder.

   

   If you don't have folders as an option on the + New menu, they may be turned off. See Turn folders on in SharePoint Online

   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 Create a folder in a SharePoint Classic experience library below.

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

   

   Note: To change the folder name later on, click the ellipses ... , and then click Rename. Change the folder name in the Rename dialog, and then click Save. For more info, see Rename a file, folder, or link in a document library.

   When done, you should see your new folder in the document library and can start adding files or creating subfolders within it. To add a new file, see Create a new file in a document library. To upload existing files, see Upload a folder or files to a document library.

   

4. If you don't see your new folder in the library, refresh your browser.

Depending on your situation, you might consider using views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large library , a combination of views and folders might work best. For more info on views, see Video: Create and edit public views of a list or library.

Turn folders on in SharePoint Online

Folders are on by default, but if they're off, and you have permissions, follow these steps:

1. Open the library where you want to start adding folders.

2. Click Settings and then click Library Settings.

   

3. Click Advanced settings.

4. In the Folder section, make sure that the Yes option is selected for Make "New Folder" command available.

5. Click OK and navigate back to your library.

Create a folder in a SharePoint Classic experience library

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

2. Click the title of the library on the Quick Launch bar to open it, or click Settings , and click Site contents, and then click the title of the library 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 Files, and then in the New group, click New Folder.

   

   Note:  If the New Folder command is not available, you can turn it back on with the proper 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.

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

   

   You can optionally invite people to share the folder.

   

   For more info, see Share files or folders in Office 365.

Depending on your situation, you might consider using views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large library , a combination of views and folders might work best. For more info on views, see Video: Create and edit public views of a list or library.

Create a folder in SharePoint Server 2016 or SharePoint Server 2013

By default the New Folder command is turned on in SharePoint document libraries. A library owner or a user with design permissions can set whether the New Folder command is enabled or not.

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

2. Click the title of the library on the Quick Launch bar to open it, or click Settings , and click Site contents, and then click the title of the library 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.

   

   Notes:  If the New Folder command is not available, you can turn it back on with the proper 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.

   • Click OK.

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

   You can optionally invite people to share the folder.

   

   For more info, see Share documents or folders in SharePoint Server

5. Click Create 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.

  If you don't see Rename, click Edit Properties, and change the Name field. Click Save when done.

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

Depending on your situation, you might consider using views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large library, a combination of views and folders might work best. For more info on views, see Video: Create and edit public views of a list or library.

Create a folder in SharePoint Server 2010

By default, the New Folder command appears in SharePoint document libraries. A library owner or a user with design permissions for the library can set whether the New Folder command is enabled or not.

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

2. Click the name of the library on the Quick Launch bar to open it, or click Site Actions, click View All Site Content, and then in the appropriate libraries 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, in the Library Tools section, click the Documents tab, and then in the New group, click New Folder.

   

   Note:  The person who created your library may have specified that folders cannot be created in the library. If this is the case, the New Folder command is not available.

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

   

   Note: To change the folder name later on, click the down arrow on the line with the folder, and then click Edit Properties. Change the folder name in the Name box.

Depending on your situation, you might consider using views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large library , a combination of views and folders might work best. For more info, see Create, modify, or delete a view.

Create a folder in SharePoint Server 2007

By default, the New Folder menu appears in SharePoint libraries. A library owner can determine whether the New Folder menu is enabled or not.

1. If the SharePoint document library isn't already open, click its name on the Quick Launch bar to open it.

2. On the New menu , and then click New Folder.

3. Type in a folder name, and click OK.

Depending on your situation, you might consider using views instead of folders, because they enable content to be filtered, grouped, and sorted in multiple ways. If you have a large library , a combination of views and folders might work best. For more info, 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

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

Create a folder in a SharePoint list

Delete a folder from a SharePoint list

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