How to Create a Folder in Google Drive (and Keep It Organised)

A Google Drive with no folders is like a desk with everything thrown in one drawer. It works until you need something in a hurry. Folders are the simplest fix, and they take seconds to set up. Here's how to create them on any device, how to build a structure that stays tidy, and a couple of Drive quirks around moving files that catch people out.

Create a folder on your computer

1. Go to drive.google.com.
2. On the left, click New.
3. Click Folder (in newer layouts it may say New folder).
4. Type a clear name.
5. Click Create.

The folder appears in whichever location you were viewing. If you want it inside an existing folder, open that folder first, then click New.

Create a folder on your phone

1. Open the Google Drive app.
2. Go to the location where you want the folder, such as My Drive or inside another folder.
3. Tap the plus button at the bottom right.
4. Tap Folder, type a name and tap Create.

Create a folder by uploading one

If the folder already exists on your computer, you don't need to rebuild it. In Drive, click New, then Folder upload, and pick it. Drive copies the folder and everything inside, keeping your subfolders as they were. It's the quickest way to move a whole project into the cloud.

Build a structure that stays tidy

Google is refreshingly honest that there's no correct way to organise Drive, but it does offer some sensible suggestions. Here's how I'd turn them into a system for a small business.

Google's tip	How to use it
Folders inside folders	One top-level folder per area (Clients, Marketing, Finance admin), with project folders inside
A naming convention	Short, meaningful names, with dates written year first so they sort in order
Colour code folders	One colour per area, so you spot Clients from across the screen
Star important files	Star the handful you open every day so they're one click away
Add descriptions	Note what belongs in a folder so the team files things consistently

Google's own example shows a folder for each project, such as Project_1, Project_2 and Project_3, with smaller folders inside for different topics. Start simple and adjust as you go. A structure you'll stick to beats a perfect one you abandon in a week.

Moving files into your new folder

Drag files from the main view onto a folder in the left panel, or right-click a file, choose Organize, then Move, and pick the folder. Google notes that if you organise a lot of files at once, it can take a little time for the changes to show, so don't panic if the folder looks empty for a moment.

The moving catch nobody mentions

Here's the quirk: Google says you need permission to move a file from where it is to where you want it. If you don't have that permission, for example with a file someone else owns, Drive doesn't move it. It creates a shortcut in your folder instead. So you may think you've moved a file when you've really added a link to it. That's fine for finding things, but the original still sits in the owner's Drive.

Shortcuts: one file, several folders

Sometimes a file belongs in two places, such as a brand guide that's useful to both Marketing and a client project. Rather than making copies that drift apart, add a shortcut. Right-click the file, choose Organize, then Add shortcut, and pick the second folder. Google describes a shortcut as a link that references another file or folder, so there's still only one real file to keep up to date. You can't make a shortcut to another shortcut, though.

Sharing a whole folder

Once your folder is set up, you can share it with a colleague or client in one go, and anything you add later is shared too. That's far tidier than sharing files one by one. Before you share, think about who should own what: my guide to transferring ownership in Google Drive explains why it matters when people leave. And if your folders are getting crowded with old files, see how to free up space on Google Drive.

Folder colours and descriptions

Two small touches make a big difference once you've got more than a dozen folders. Right-click a folder, choose Organize and pick a folder colour, so your Clients folders are, say, green and Marketing is purple. Then add a short description in the Details panel saying what belongs inside. Google now supports rich text descriptions on files and folders, which is handy when a VA or new team member starts filing things for you.

My verdict

New, then Folder, name it, Create. Build a simple structure with one top-level folder per area of your business, date-first file names and a colour for each area. Remember that moving a file you don't own creates a shortcut instead, and use shortcuts on purpose when one file belongs in two places.

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a folder in Google Drive?

Go to drive.google.com, click New, choose Folder, type a name and click Create.

How do I make a folder inside another folder in Google Drive?

Open the parent folder first, then click New and choose Folder.

Can I create a Google Drive folder on my phone?

Yes. In the Drive app, tap the plus button, choose Folder, name it and tap Create.

Why did moving a file create a shortcut instead?

If you don't have permission to move the file, Google creates a shortcut in the destination folder instead.

Can I put the same file in two folders?

Yes, by adding a shortcut. Right-click the file, choose Organize, then Add shortcut, and pick the second folder.