The fastest way to make a new folder

Press Command + Shift + N on your keyboard. A new folder appears on your desktop or in the Finder window you have open, with the name field ready for you to type. Type the name you want and press Enter. That is the complete process.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work, your Mac may have a different setting. Try the menu instead: open Finder, click File at the top of the screen, then select New Folder. The result is identical. Both methods create an empty folder ready to hold files or other folders.

Key Takeaways

  • Command + Shift + N creates a new folder instantly, with the name field ready for typing.
  • You can make folders on your desktop, inside other folders, or anywhere Finder shows you files.
  • Folder names can include letters, numbers, and most symbols, but forward slashes and colons will cause errors.
  • A new folder starts empty and can hold files, other folders, or both.
  • You can rename a folder at any time by selecting it and pressing Enter, or by right-clicking and choosing Rename.

Creating folders in different locations

The keyboard shortcut works wherever you are in Finder. If you want a folder on your desktop, click the desktop first, then press Command + Shift + N. If you want a folder inside your Documents folder, open Documents in Finder, then press the shortcut. The new folder appears in that location.

You can also right-click (or Control-click) in any empty space inside a Finder window and select New Folder from the menu that appears. This does the same thing as the keyboard shortcut and is useful if you prefer clicking to keyboard commands. The location where you right-click determines where the new folder is created.

If you are viewing your Mac's hard drive in Finder and want to create a folder there, navigate to the location first. You cannot create folders in system areas like Applications or Library without special permission, but you can create them anywhere in your home folder, on your desktop, or in external drives you have connected.

Naming your folder correctly

When the new folder appears, the name field is already selected and ready for typing. Type whatever name you want and press Enter. The folder is created with that name. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores, and periods without problems.

Avoid using forward slashes (/) or colons (:) in folder names — macOS treats these as special characters and will not allow them. If you try to type one, your Mac will either ignore it or show an error. Periods at the end of a name are also best avoided, though macOS allows them. Keep folder names short enough to read easily in Finder, especially if you plan to nest folders inside other folders.

Renaming a folder after creation

If you make a mistake or want to change the name later, click the folder once to select it, then press Enter. The name field becomes editable. Type the new name and press Enter again. You can also right-click the folder and select Rename from the menu.

Another way is to click the folder, wait a moment, then click the name text below the icon. This puts the name into edit mode without needing the menu or keyboard shortcut. Renaming works the same way whether the folder is empty or contains files.

Organizing folders inside folders

Once you create a folder, you can put other folders inside it. Open the folder by double-clicking it, then use Command + Shift + N to create a new folder inside. This lets you build a folder structure that matches how you organize your work or files.

You can nest folders as deep as you want — a folder inside a folder inside a folder, and so on. However, very deep nesting can make files harder to find later. Most people find that three or four levels deep is enough for organizing most projects. You can always move folders around later if your structure needs to change.

Moving and copying folders

After you create a folder, you can move it by dragging it to a new location in Finder. Click and hold the folder, then drag it to another folder or to your desktop. You can also cut and paste: right-click the folder, select Cut, navigate to where you want it, right-click again, and select Paste.

To copy a folder instead of moving it, right-click and select Copy, then right-click in the destination and select Paste. This leaves the original folder where it is and creates a duplicate in the new location. The copy includes everything that was inside the original folder, so you get an exact replica with all its contents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a folder with no name?

No. macOS requires every folder to have a name. If you press Enter without typing anything, the folder is created with the default name "untitled folder" or a number. You can rename it immediately after creation.

What happens if I create a folder with the same name as one that already exists?

macOS allows multiple folders with the same name in the same location. However, this makes them hard to tell apart. Your Mac adds a number or other marker to distinguish them, but it is clearer to give each folder a unique name.

Can I undo creating a folder?

Yes. Press Command + Z immediately after creating the folder, and it disappears. If you have already done other things, undo may not work. You can also delete the folder by right-clicking it and selecting Move to Trash, then empty the Trash.

Is there a limit to how many folders I can create?

There is no practical limit. You can create thousands of folders on your Mac. The only limit is your storage space — each folder takes a tiny amount of space, but if your drive is full, you cannot create new folders until you delete something.

Why does Command + Shift + N not work on my Mac?

Some older Macs or those with custom keyboard settings may have this shortcut disabled or mapped to something else. Use the menu method instead: open Finder, click File, then select New Folder. You can also try right-clicking in an empty space and selecting New Folder from the context menu.