How to Create a New Folder on Your Computer

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Creating a new folder on your computer is a basic and essential task that helps you keep your files organized. Whether you're working with documents, photos, videos, or any other type of data, organizing them into folders makes them easier to manage, find, and use. In this comprehensive guide, we'll learn how to create new folders on different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. We'll provide step-by-step instructions and examples to make sure you have a clear understanding of the process. Let's get started!

Create a new folder on Windows

Windows is one of the most popular operating systems, and creating a folder in Windows is very easy. Let's look at the steps:

Using File Explorer

File Explorer is a file management application that comes with Windows. Here are the steps to create a new folder using File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer. You can do this by clicking the File Explorer icon in the taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Go to the location where you want to create the new folder. This can be in your Documents, Desktop, or another folder.
3. Once you reach the desired location, right-click on an empty space in the File Explorer window.
4. A context menu will appear. Move your mouse to the "New" option.
5. A submenu will appear. Click the "Folder" option in the submenu.
6. A new folder will be created with the default name "New Folder" highlighted.
7. Immediately type the name you want to give the new folder and press Enter.

You have successfully created a new folder in Windows using File Explorer.

Using the Command Prompt

If you prefer using the Command Prompt, you can also create the folder via command-line instructions. This is done as follows:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt.
3. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the folder using the cd command. For example, if you want to create the folder in the Documents directory, you would type: cd Documents and press Enter.
4. Once you are in the desired directory, type the following command to create a new folder: mkdir NewFolderName. Replace "NewFolderName" with the name you want to give your folder.
5. Press Enter. The new folder will be created at the specified location.

Creating folders using the Command Prompt is especially useful when you need to automate tasks or quickly create multiple folders.

Creating a new folder on macOS

macOS is the operating system used by Apple's Mac computers. Here are the steps to create a new folder on macOS:

Using the Finder

Finder is a file management application that comes with macOS. Follow these steps to create a new folder:

1. Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. Go to the location where you want to create the new folder. This can be in your Documents, Desktop, or another folder.
3. Once you reach the desired location, right-click on an empty space in the Finder window or use the Control + click combination.
4. A context menu will appear. Select the "New Folder" option.
5. A new folder will be created with the default name "Untitled Folder" highlighted.
6. Immediately type the name you want to give the new folder and press Return.

You have successfully created a new folder in macOS using Finder.

Using the Terminal

Terminal is the command-line interface for macOS. Here's how to create a folder using Terminal:

1. Open Terminal. You can do this by searching for "Terminal" in Spotlight or by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the folder by using the cd command. For example, if you want to create the folder in the Documents directory, you would type: cd Documents and press Return.
3. Once you are in the desired directory, type the following command to create a new folder: mkdir NewFolderName. Replace "NewFolderName" with the name you want to give your folder.
4. Press Return. The new folder will be created in the specified location.

Creating folders using the Terminal is a quick and powerful method, especially for advanced users who like to use command-line tools.

Creating New Folder on Linux

Linux is a widely used open-source operating system. The process of creating a folder may differ slightly depending on the desktop environment you are using (e.g. GNOME, KDE, etc.), but the basic steps are the same. Here are the steps to create a new folder on Linux:

Using the File Manager

Most Linux distributions come with a graphical file manager. Here's how to create a new folder using the file manager:

1. Open the file manager: The name of the file manager may vary depending on the desktop environment (for example, Nautilus for GNOME, Dolphin for KDE).
2. Go to the location where you want to create the new folder. This can be in your home directory, desktop, or any other folder.
3. Once you reach the desired location, right-click on the empty space in the file manager window.
4. A context menu will appear. Select the "New Folder" or "Create New Folder" option.
5. A new folder will be created with the default name highlighted.
6. Immediately type the name you want to give the new folder and press Enter.

You have successfully created a new folder on Linux using the file manager.

Using the Terminal

Just like macOS, Linux also offers a powerful command-line interface. Here's how to create a folder using the terminal:

1. Open the Terminal. You can do this by searching for "Terminal" in your Applications menu or by using a keyboard shortcut such as Ctrl+Alt+T.
2. Navigate to the directory where you want to create the folder using the cd command. For example, if you want to create the folder in the Documents directory, you would type: cd Documents and press Enter.
3. Once you are in the desired directory, type the following command to create a new folder: mkdir NewFolderName. Replace "NewFolderName" with the name you want to give your folder.
4. Press Enter. The new folder will be created at the specified location.

Using the terminal to create folders on Linux is a quick and efficient way, especially for users who are comfortable with command-line operations.

Conclusion

Creating a new folder on your computer, whether in Windows, macOS, or Linux, is an essential skill that helps you organize your files efficiently. By following the detailed steps in this guide, you can easily create folders using both the graphical interface and command-line tools. Organizing your files into folders not only makes your work more manageable but also improves your productivity by making it easier to find and access your data.

Always remember to give your folders meaningful names to reflect the content they store. This practice will ensure that you can easily find and retrieve your files in the future. With these tools and techniques, you'll be well on your way to keeping your digital workspace neat and organized.

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