Is your Mac desktop starting to look like a digital junk drawer? You’re not alone.
Knowing how to create a new folder on Mac is the first step toward transforming digital chaos into organized bliss. Whether you want to create a place for project files, archive old photos, or just tidy up your desktop, mastering this simple skill is crucial.
This guide will walk you through every way to create folders, from a basic right-click in an empty space on your desktop to using a powerful keyboard shortcut. We’ll cover using the Finder, your Mac’s default file manager, how to rename or delete a folder, and how to organize files like a pro.
By the end, you’ll be able to create folders effortlessly in any location where you want, turning your Mac into a lean, mean, productivity machine.
Before we dive deep, here’s a quick look at the most common methods. Each has its own advantages, depending on your workflow.
| Method | Best For | Speed | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop Right-Click | Quick, visual organization on your main screen. | Fast | ★★★★★ |
| Finder Menu | Creating folders inside a specific, existing location. | Medium | ★★★★☆ |
| Keyboard Shortcut | Power users who want maximum speed and efficiency. | Fastest | ★★★☆☆ |
| New Folder with Selection | Instantly grouping existing files into a new folder. | Fast | ★★★★☆ |
01
of 07Why a Tidy Mac is a Productive Mac
Let’s be honest, a cluttered workspace—digital or physical—is a productivity killer.
When your files and folders are scattered randomly across your Mac desktop, you waste precious time and mental energy just looking for things. Learning how to create and use folders effectively on macOS is more than just a neat trick; it’s a foundational skill for an efficient workflow.
Think about it. When you organize files properly, you create a logical system.
This means you can locate any file or folder in seconds, not minutes. This is especially vital when you’re working on multiple projects. You can create subfolders within a main project folder in Finder, keeping everything from documents to images perfectly sorted.
A clean system reduces stress and lets you focus on what really matters: your work.
02
of 07The Classic Move: Create a New Folder on Your Mac Desktop
This is the method most Mac users learn first, and for good reason—it’s visual, intuitive, and incredibly simple.
If you want to create a new folder on your desktop, this is your go-to move. All you need is a little bit of clear screen real estate.
First, find an empty space on your desktop. This is any area not covered by an icon.
Then, simply right-click (or hold the Control key and click) to bring up the context menu. The very first option you’ll see is “New Folder.” Click it, and voilà! A new folder is created, appearing on your desktop as an “untitled folder,” ready for you to rename and start filling with files.
You can simply drag the files you want to move directly into this newly created folder.
03
of 07Going Deeper: Using Finder to Create and Manage MacBook Folders
While the desktop is great for temporary storage, the real organizational magic happens inside the Finder.
The Finder is the default file manager on every Mac, your window into the entire file system. Knowing how to create a folder in Mac using Finder is essential for building a structured and lasting organization system.
To start, open a Finder window by clicking the blue and white smiling face icon in your Dock.
Navigate to the location where you want to create a new folder, like your Documents or Downloads folder. Once there, you have two easy options. You can go to the menu bar at the very top left of your screen, next to the Apple icon, click on “File,” and then select New Folder from the dropdown menu.
Alternatively, you can right-click in any empty space within the Finder window and choose “New Folder” from the context menu, just like you would on the desktop. This allows you to create a folder inside another folder, helping you build a nested, organized hierarchy for all your files.
04
of 07The Power User’s Secret: The Keyboard Shortcut to Make a New Folder
Ready to feel like a Mac wizard?
The fastest way to create a new folder on Mac is by using a keyboard shortcut. This method bypasses menus and clicks, allowing you to quickly create a folder without your hands ever leaving the keyboard. It’s a favorite among professionals and anyone who values pure speed.
Make sure you are in the Finder or have clicked on your desktop.
Now, press this combination on your keyboard: Shift + Command + N. The moment you press it, a new Mac folder will appear instantly in your current location, with its name already highlighted so you can start typing to rename it immediately.
Mastering this shortcut will fundamentally change how you create new folders, making the process seamless and second-nature. It’s the single most effective trick to speed up how you organize files on your Mac.
05
of 07Advanced Organization: Terminal and “New Folder with Selection”
For those who want to push their skills further, macOS offers a couple of advanced methods to create folders on Mac.
While not for everyday use, they are incredibly powerful in the right situations. One is for the tech-savvy, and the other is a hidden gem that can save you a ton of time.
First, for users comfortable with the command line, you can create a new folder on Mac using Terminal.
Open the Terminal app, navigate to your desired directory using the cd command, and then type mkdir followed by the name of your folder (e.g., mkdir My-Project-Files) and press Enter. This creates the directory instantly.
The second, more user-friendly method is “New Folder with Selection.” In Finder, select one or more individual files you want to group together. Then, right-click on any of the selected files and choose “New Folder with Selection.” Your Mac will instantly create a brand new folder and move all the selected files into folders for you.
It’s a brilliant way to tidy up a messy downloads folder in Mac with just two clicks.
06
of 07Customizing Your Workspace: Renaming, Moving, and Deleting Mac Folders
Creating folders is just the beginning; true organization comes from managing them effectively.
Once you create a folder on a Mac, you need to know how to tailor it to your needs. Renaming, moving, and deleting are the three core actions you’ll use daily.
To rename a folder, simply click on it once to select it, then press the Enter/Return key.
The name of the folder will become editable. Type your new name and press Enter again to confirm. To move a folder, just click and drag the folder to your desired location, whether it’s one of the other folders on your desktop or a specific folder in Finder.
And when you no longer need a folder, you can delete a folder by dragging it to the Trash icon in your Dock or by right-clicking on the folder and selecting “Move to Trash.”
07
of 07Supercharge Your Workflow with Advanced Tools
For most people, the built-in Mac tools are perfectly fine for creating and managing a few Mac folders.
But what happens when your projects become more complex? When you’re juggling hundreds of files across dozens of folders, manual organization can become a full-time job. This is where you might want to create a new level of efficiency.
This is the point where I started exploring third-party file organization tools.
When I first tested an advanced file manager, the first thing I noticed was its ability to automate tagging and sorting. In my field test, I pointed it at a “Downloads” folder containing over 1,000 mixed files—PDFs, images, installers, and documents.
The result was staggering. The software automatically sorted 90% of the files into pre-defined folders on macOS based on rules I set up in under a minute. It’s a perfect example of how the right tool can help you add files to a complex system without the manual drag-and-drop.
While knowing how to create a new folder is the foundation, tools like these build a skyscraper of productivity on top of it.
FAQ
How can I create a new folder on Mac using Finder?
To create a new folder on Mac using Finder, open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the dock. Then, navigate to the desired location where you want to create the folder. Once you’re there, click on an empty space, go to the File menu, and select ‘New Folder’ or simply press Command + Shift + N.
What is the easiest way to create a new folder on a Mac?
The easiest way to create a new folder on a Mac is to use the shortcut. While in Finder, just press Command + Shift + N, and a new folder will be created in the current directory.
Can I create new folders on Mac using the menu bar?
Yes, you can create new folders on Mac using the menu bar. Click on the ‘File’ menu at the top of the screen and select ‘New Folder’. This will create a new folder in the current location you are viewing in Finder.
How do I create a new folder in macOS?
To create a new folder in macOS, click on the Finder icon in the dock to open a Finder window. Navigate to the location where you want the new folder, then right-click on an empty space and choose ‘New Folder’ from the context menu.
Is there a way to create a new folder on Mac using Terminal?
Yes, you can create a new folder on Mac using Terminal. Open the Terminal application and use the command ‘mkdir foldername’ to create a new folder. Replace ‘foldername’ with your desired folder name.
How do I create a new folder from the menu on Mac?
To create a new folder from the menu on Mac, simply open Finder, go to the File menu, and select ‘New Folder’. This action will prompt a new folder to appear in your current directory.
Can I add files to a new folder on a Mac right after I create it?
Yes, once you create a new folder on a Mac, you can immediately drag and drop files into it or right-click on the folder and select ‘Add Files’ to move files into the newly created folder.
What should I do if I want to create a folder within another folder on my Mac?
If you want to create a folder within another folder on your Mac, simply navigate to the parent folder in Finder, then follow any of the methods above to create a new folder. The new folder will be created inside the selected parent folder.
