Google Drive folders hold your Docs in one place, and you create them the same way you would on your computer

A folder in Google Drive is a container that keeps your documents organized. You create one by opening Google Drive, clicking the "New" button, selecting "Folder", naming it, and then moving your Docs into it. The folder lives in your Drive and appears on the left sidebar so you can find it quickly. You can create as many folders as you need, nest them inside each other, and share entire folders with other people at once.

The process takes about 30 seconds and requires nothing but a Google account. Once the folder exists, you can drag Docs into it, create new Docs directly inside it, or move Docs between folders later.

Key Takeaways

  • Click "New" in Google Drive, then "Folder", type a name, and click "Create" to make a folder in seconds.
  • You can drag existing Docs into a folder, or create a new Doc inside a folder by right-clicking the folder and selecting "New" > "Google Docs".
  • Folders can hold other folders inside them, so you can organize by project, date, or topic however makes sense for your work.
  • Sharing a folder shares all the Docs inside it with the same people, so you do not have to share each Doc one at a time.

Creating a new folder in Google Drive

Open Google Drive in your web browser and log in with your Google account. On the left side of the screen, you will see a blue button labeled "New". Click it.

A menu will drop down with several options. Click "Folder". A dialog box will appear asking you to name the folder. Type whatever name makes sense — "Work Projects", "2024 Taxes", "Client Files", or anything else. Click the "Create" button. The folder now exists in your Drive and appears in your file list.

Moving Docs into an existing folder

You can move a Doc that already exists into a folder in two ways. The first is to drag it: find the Doc in your Drive, click and hold it, drag it over the folder name, and release. The Doc moves into that folder immediately.

The second way is to right-click the Doc, select "Move to", and then click the folder you want it in. This method works better if you cannot see both the Doc and the folder on your screen at the same time. Either way, the Doc is now inside the folder and no longer appears in your main Drive list.

Creating a Doc directly inside a folder

You can also create a new Doc without leaving the folder. Right-click the folder name and a menu will appear. Click "New", then select the type of document you want — "Google Docs", "Google Sheets", "Google Slides", or another option. A new blank document opens, and it is automatically saved inside that folder.

This is faster than creating a Doc in your main Drive and then moving it. The Doc appears in the folder immediately, and you can start typing right away.

Organizing folders inside folders

Folders can contain other folders, which lets you create a structure that matches how you think about your work. For example, you might have a "Client Work" folder that contains separate folders for each client, and inside each client folder, folders for different projects or years.

To create a folder inside another folder, open the parent folder by clicking it, then click "New" > "Folder" just as you would in your main Drive. The new folder appears inside the parent folder. You can go as many levels deep as you need, though most people find two or three levels is enough to stay organized without getting lost.

Sharing a folder with other people

When you share a folder, everyone you share it with can see and access all the Docs inside it, without you having to share each Doc separately. Right-click the folder, select "Share", and a dialog box opens. Type the email address of the person you want to share with, choose whether they can view, comment, or edit, and click "Share".

The person receives a notification and can now see the folder and all its contents in their own Drive. If you add new Docs to the folder later, they automatically see those too. If you want to stop sharing, right-click the folder again, click "Share", and remove the person's access.

Finding and renaming folders

Folders appear in your Drive's file list and also in the left sidebar under "My Drive". You can search for a folder by name using the search box at the top of Google Drive — type the folder name and it will appear in the results. Click it to open it.

To rename a folder, right-click it and select "Rename". Type the new name and press Enter. The folder name updates everywhere it appears. You can also change the color of a folder to make it stand out — right-click it, select "Change color", and pick a color from the menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move a folder into another folder?

Yes. Right-click the folder you want to move, select "Move to", and click the destination folder. You can also drag a folder into another folder the same way you would drag a Doc.

What happens to the Docs if I delete a folder?

The Docs inside the folder are deleted too and move to your Trash. You have 30 days to restore them by opening Trash, right-clicking the Doc, and selecting "Restore". After 30 days, they are permanently deleted.

Can I see a folder on my phone or tablet?

Yes. The Google Drive app for Android and iOS shows your folders the same way the web version does. You can open folders, create Docs inside them, and move Docs between folders using the app.

Do I need to move a Doc into a folder, or can I leave it in my main Drive?

You do not have to use folders at all. Docs can stay in your main Drive list, and you can still find them by searching or scrolling. Folders are optional and useful mainly if you have many Docs and want to keep them organized by project or topic.