Create a folder in three steps

To create a new folder in Outlook, right-click on any existing folder in the left sidebar, select New Folder from the menu, type a name, and press Enter. The new folder appears immediately below the folder you right-clicked on. You can then move emails into it by dragging them from your inbox or other folders.

The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web version, but the concept is the same in all three. This guide covers the most common setup — Outlook on Windows — and notes where the other versions differ.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any folder in the left sidebar and select New Folder to create a folder in seconds.
  • New folders appear as subfolders under the folder you right-clicked on, so choose your starting location carefully.
  • You can rename a folder anytime by right-clicking it and selecting Rename Folder.
  • Folders you create in Outlook on the web sync automatically to Outlook on your computer if you use the same email account.

Create a folder in Outlook on Windows

Open Outlook and look at the left sidebar where your inbox, sent items, and other folders are listed. Right-click on the folder under which you want the new folder to appear. For most people, this is the inbox or a folder that already exists. A small menu will pop up.

Click New Folder from that menu. A text box will appear with the words "New Folder" highlighted. Type the name you want — for example, "Project Files" or "Client Emails" — and press Enter. The folder is created and ready to use immediately. You can now drag emails into it or move messages there by right-clicking an email and selecting Move.

Create a folder in Outlook on Mac

The process on Mac is nearly identical. In the left sidebar, right-click the folder where you want the new folder to sit. Select New Folder from the menu that appears. Type your folder name and press Return (not Enter). The folder is created and appears in the sidebar right away.

If you do not see a right-click menu, try holding Control and clicking instead. Some Mac trackpads require this gesture. Once the menu appears, the rest of the steps are the same as Windows.

Create a folder in Outlook on the web

Log into your Outlook account at outlook.com or outlook.office.com. In the left sidebar, find the folder where you want to add a new folder. Click the three dots (•••) that appear next to that folder name when you hover over it. A menu will open.

Select Create new folder from the menu. A dialog box will ask you to name the folder. Type your folder name and click Create. The new folder appears in the sidebar under the folder you selected. Any folders you create on the web version will show up in Outlook on your computer within a few minutes if you are signed in with the same email account.

Organize folders into groups

Once you have created a few folders, you can organize them by creating subfolders. A subfolder is simply a folder inside another folder. To create a subfolder, right-click the folder you want to put it inside and select New Folder. The new folder will sit one level deeper in the hierarchy.

For example, you might create a folder called "Clients" and then create subfolders inside it called "Client A", "Client B", and "Client C". This keeps your inbox organized without creating too many top-level folders. You can collapse or expand any folder by clicking the arrow next to its name in the sidebar.

Rename or delete a folder you created

If you want to change a folder's name after creating it, right-click the folder and select Rename Folder. Type the new name and press Enter. The change takes effect immediately.

To delete a folder, right-click it and select Delete Folder. Outlook will ask you to confirm. Be aware that deleting a folder also deletes all emails inside it — they go to your Deleted Items folder, where you can recover them for a limited time. If you are not sure you want to delete it, you can move the emails out first by dragging them to another folder.

Troubleshooting: folder does not appear

If you create a folder and it does not show up in the sidebar, try closing and reopening Outlook. Sometimes the display does not refresh immediately. If you are using Outlook on the web and created the folder there, wait a few minutes for it to sync to your computer version.

If the folder still does not appear, check that you right-clicked on the correct parent folder. New folders always appear as subfolders under the folder you right-clicked on. If you right-clicked on "Inbox", the new folder will be inside the inbox, not at the top level of the sidebar. To create a top-level folder, right-click on your email account name or the "Inbox" label itself, depending on your Outlook version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a folder at the very top level of my sidebar?

This depends on your Outlook version and email account type. In most cases, you can only create folders inside existing folders like Inbox or Sent Items. Some accounts allow top-level folders, but they are rare. If you want folders to appear near the top, create them inside your Inbox and they will be easy to find.

What happens to emails if I move a folder to a different location?

All emails inside the folder move with it. The emails themselves are not affected — they just change location in your folder structure. You can move a folder by dragging it to a new parent folder in the sidebar.

Can I create a folder with the same name in two different locations?

Yes. You can have a folder called "Archive" inside your Inbox and another folder called "Archive" inside your Sent Items. Outlook treats them as separate folders because they are in different locations. This can be confusing, so it is usually better to give folders unique names.

Do folders I create sync across all my devices?

If you use the same email account on multiple devices, folders you create will sync automatically within a few minutes. This works on Windows, Mac, and the web version. If you use different email accounts on different devices, folders will not sync between them.

Can I undo a folder deletion?

If you deleted a folder by mistake, check your Deleted Items folder. The folder and all its emails should be there. Right-click the folder and select Move, then choose where you want to restore it. You have a limited time to recover deleted items — usually 30 days — before they are permanently removed.