If you’ve never used Google Docs or Google Drive before, it’s completely free to get started, and there’s an entire world of web-connected features you’ll be able to use, both online and offline. Contents
Your Google Docs dashboard can be optimized and organized by way of helpful filters, settings, and the classic PC tidy-up tool — digitized folders. Making a new folder in Google Docs is pretty simple, but we thought it best to create this step-by-step guide for reference. On top of detailed instructions, we’ll also answer some of your frequently asked questions about creating folders in Google Docs.
As you build up documents in Google Docs, keeping them well organized is key to staying productive Folders make it easy to categorize and find files later, avoiding a jumbled mess of documents
Luckily, Google Docs allows creating custom folders right within the Docs interface. You can make new folders, nest them, move files between them, and more.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to make a new folder in Google Docs on desktop and mobile
- Tips for structuring your Docs folders effectively
- How to move existing documents into folders
- Techniques for managing and organizing folders
- When it’s better to use Google Drive for folders instead
Read on to start organizing your Google Docs into tidy folders for improved efficiency and less clutter!
Creating New Folders in Google Docs
No need to leave Docs and open Drive just to make a new folder. You can quickly create folders and populate them with documents right from the Docs editing interface.
On Desktop:
- Open the document you want to folderize.
- Click “Move” next to the document title.
- In the menu, navigate to where you want the new folder.
- Click “New folder” in the bottom left.
- Name your folder and click the checkmark.
- Click “Move here” to move your doc to the new folder.
On Mobile:
- In the Docs app, open the document to folderize.
- Tap the 3-dot menu in the top right.
- Choose “Move” from the menu.
- Navigate to where you want the new folder.
- Tap the folder icon in the top right.
- Give the folder a name and tap “Create.”
- Select “Move” to file your doc in the new folder.
Now you know the steps for quickly making folders without leaving your Docs workflow!
Tips for Structuring Your Docs Folders
With your new found folder creation powers, how should you set up your document organization? Here are some tips:
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Separate by project or client for work documents.
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Use folders for categories like “Blog Posts”, “Recipes”, “Shopping Lists.”
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Make subfolders for further grouping like “2021 Blog Posts.”
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Keep folder names short but descriptive.
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Structure folders from broad categories to more specific.
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Limit folder nesting to 2 or 3 levels deep maximum.
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Delete unused folders to avoid clutter over time.
Take some time to think about what folder structures would work best for your needs. Consistent organization makes documents easy to scan and find later.
Moving Existing Documents into Folders
Once you’ve made some folders, it’s time to file your existing documents away for better organization.
On desktop and mobile, you can move docs with these steps:
- Select the document.
- Choose “Move” from the top toolbar or menu.
- Pick the destination folder in the left panel.
- Click “Move here” to confirm.
Bulk move is also handy for large re-organizations:
- Select multiple documents.
- Choose “Move” from the toolbar.
- Pick the destination folder on the left.
- Click “Move” to confirm.
Experiment with moving documents around until your folder structure makes the most sense.
Techniques for Managing Google Docs Folders
Here are some power user tips for mastering your document folders:
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Click “Recent” on desktop to quickly jump to commonly used folders.
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Use search to instantly find documents even in complex nested folders.
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Make folders at the root Drive level if you want them available across Docs, Sheets, Slides.
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Add colors to folders for quick visual organization.
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Review and restructure your folders occasionally as your needs change.
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Check the Drive recycle bin for deleted folders you may want to restore.
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Use “Select all” on desktop to quickly mass move lots of files between folders.
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Star key documents and folders for quick access in the Starred section.
Leverage these tips and tricks to get the most out of organizing in Docs.
When to Just Use Google Drive for Folders Instead
Google Drive is designed specifically for file management. So when is it better to just use Drive instead of Docs for folders?
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If you need folders to contain multiple file types like PDFs, images, etc.
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For sharing folders with other users and making them collaborate.
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When you want to create folders on the actual Drive “My Drive” root level.
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If you prefer Drive’s traditional file folder interface over Docs’ menus.
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To utilize Drive’s advanced search operators to find files.
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To restore deleted folders from Drive’s Recycle Bin if permanently removed in Docs.
Docs folders are handy for quick document organization. But power users may want to create and arrange main folders in Drive for maximum flexibility.
You no longer have to put up with a messy sea of unorganized Google documents. With the tips in this guide, you can now:
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Quickly create new folders right within Google Docs on both desktop and mobile.
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Structure your folders effectively to categorize projects, clients, and document types.
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Move existing Docs into well-organized folders for easier access.
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Use advanced folder management techniques as a Docs power user.
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Decide when Drive may be better for complex folder structures.
So dive in and start organizing your Google Docs into tidy folders tailored to your needs and productivity style! Document clutter begone.
How to access folders in Google Docs
Now that you’ve created a folder in Google Docs, how do you access it? Conveniently, you don’t need to switch back and forth between Google Drive and Docs to do so.
Step 1: Head to the main home page of Google Docs where it lists all your documents. Next to the Grid View and Sort Options menus, click Open File Picker.
Step 2: Google Docs will now list all the folders contained within your Google Drive account. The Documents file type will automatically be selected. Select a folder where you saved your document to by double-clicking it or selecting it once and using the Open option at the bottom.
Here, you’ll see any files you moved to the folder. Double-click the document of your choice to open it within Google Docs.
How to create a folder in Google Docs
Before we lay out the steps to do so, it’s important to highlight the fact that Google has decided to restrict folders exclusively to your Google Drive account. So when you do create a folder within Google Docs, remember its primary location will be situated within Drive instead of the former.
Alternatively, if youre signed into Google Drive, you can click the New icon at the the top-left corner of the screen, then click New Folder. You can also upload one by clicking Upload folder.
Step 1: Open a new document or open an existing one within Google Docs.
Step 2: Next to the document’s title setting, a small folder button will appear that’s titled Move when hovering over it. Click that icon.
Step 3: Now select the New Folder button at the bottom of the window.
Step 4: The title of Untitled Folder will automatically be entered and highlighted in the title field. Type an appropriate name for your folder.
Step 5: Click the blue-tick icon box next to the title field.
Step 6: Select the Move Here button.
How to Create a Folder on Google Docs
FAQ
How do I put an existing Google Doc into a folder?
How do I create a folder in Google Docs?
If you’re on an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, use the Google Docs app to create folders. To do so, first, launch the Google Docs app on your phone. In the app, tap the document which you want to move to the new folder. Or, to create a new document, select the “+” (plus) sign in the bottom-right corner.
How do I create a new folder on Google Drive?
In the move menu that opens, you’ll see your Google Drive’s folders. Here, navigate to the folder where you’d like to create a new folder. Then, at the bottom-left corner of this menu, click the “New Folder” option. At the top of the move menu, type a name for your new folder. Then, next to the name field, click the checkmark icon.
How do I create a new document on Google Drive?
1. From your Google Drive homepage, double-click to open a folder. 2. Click the plus sign icon in the top-left of the screen, and click “Google Docs” to create a new document. 3. Your new document will be automatically placed in the folder you created it in.
Do I need to open Google Drive to create a folder?
You actually don’t have to launch Google Drive! To create a new folder for your Google Docs documents, you don’t necessarily have to open Google Drive. You can make new folders from within Google Docs on the web and mobile and we’ll show you how. The folders that you create from within Docs are saved alongside your other folders in Google Drive .
