Open Finder from the Dock and go to the spot where the folder should sit (the desktop counts). Choose File, New Folder, or press Shift-Command-N, then type a name and press Return. Already picked out the files that belong together? Control-click one of them and choose New Folder with Selection instead.
The quick route to a new Finder folder
- Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
- Go to the place you want the folder, or click the desktop.
- Choose File, then New Folder, or press Shift-Command-N.
- Type a name for the folder.
- Press Return.
Location comes first for a reason. Finder makes the new folder wherever you're looking when you run the command, so get to the right window before you reach for the menu. Apple's guide to organising files with folders covers the details.
Empty folder or ready-filled folder
New Folder hands you an empty container that you fill afterwards. New Folder with Selection flips the order: you choose the files first, and the folder arrives with them already inside.
- Select the items you want grouped.
- Control-click one of them.
- Choose New Folder with Selection.
- Enter a name and press Return.
Folder shortcuts and where each one lives
| Action | Where it lives | Result |
|---|---|---|
| New Folder | File menu, or Shift-Command-N | Empty folder here |
| New Folder with Selection | Control-click a selected item | Folder holding the selection |
| Duplicate | File menu, or Command-D | Copy beside the original |
| Option during a drag | Keyboard | Copy in, original kept |
| Option and Command during a drag | Keyboard | Alias, not a copy |
| Merge | Option-drag onto a same-named folder | Contents combined |
Moving files in, or copying them
Dragging puts an item in the folder. For a batch, select the lot and drag any one of them; everything selected goes in together.
Modifier keys change what ends up inside. Holding Option keeps the original where it is and puts a copy in the folder, handy for anything you also need in its old place. Pressing Option and Command together tells Finder to make an alias rather than a second copy.
Want a second version sitting next to the first, perhaps before you start editing a document? Select it and choose File, Duplicate, or press Command-D, and the copy appears in the same folder.
Merging two folders that share a name
Finder can fold one same-named folder into another. Hold Option, drag one of them to the location that holds its namesake, then click Merge. That button only shows when one of the pair contains items the other lacks. If both hold exactly the same things, there's nothing to combine, so you won't be offered it.
When New Folder is greyed out
If New Folder is dimmed, you can't create a folder in the current location; choose a different location.
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Once things are organised, tidy what's left over. Here's how to unzip files on a Mac so downloads can go straight into their new home, and how to free up storage on your Mac if folders are filling the drive.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a keyboard shortcut for a new folder?
Shift-Command-N, pressed while Finder is showing the place you want it.
Can I make a folder straight on the desktop?
Yes. Click the desktop first, then use File, New Folder.
Does dragging a file into a folder copy it?
Hold Option during the drag if you want the original left in place and a copy added.
Why didn't Merge appear when I dropped a folder?
The two folders held the same items, so there was nothing to combine.
Can I duplicate a whole folder?
Yes. Select it and press Command-D; the copy sits alongside the original.
