The Easiest Way to Create New Folders in Windows Using Shortcuts

Those of us who come from the days of typewriters rather than keyboards know all about shortcut keys. This was/is a method of speeding up your work routine and is still very prevalent today. For those of you who are not shortcut key users, don’t worry. There is always another way to do everything in Windows.

Leave it to Microsoft to change some of the shortcut keys from one operating system to another. This must be one of the ways that they are always «improving» and therefore selling a new, upgraded version of their software. But let’s get back on task.

Shortcut Key Notes

• Whenever shortcut keys are listed, with a plus sign ( + ) in the string, such as Ctrl+C, this indicates that the Ctrl key is held while the letter C is pressed.
• When a shortcut key is listed with commas separating the string, such as Alt+F, W, F, the Alt key is held while the letter F is pressed, but then both these keys are released while the W and F keys are pressed one after the other.
• You can use either upper or lower case letters in these shortcut key combinations. Uppercase letters are just shown in this article for clarity.

Windows XP Shortcut Keys to Create a New Folder

The keyboard shortcut key combination is this: Alt+F, W, F. Translated that means:

• Hold down the Alt key while pressing the letter F.
• Let go of both the Alt key and letter F and then press the letter W followed by the letter F in quick succession.

Keyboard and Mouse Combination

The mouse and keyboard shortcut key combination is: Right-click, W, F. Translated that means:

• Right-click in the window and then press the letter W followed by the letter F in quick succession.

Shortcut Keys to Create a New Folder for Windows 7, 8, and 10

This shortcut key combination is more obvious and much easier to remember:
Ctrl+Shift+N

How to Create a New Folder in Windows 10

Do your files and documents need better organization? Group related files into distinct folders on your laptop or desktop and you’ll always easily find what you need. You can also change the icon size to make it more visually pleasing. Here are a few ways to quickly create a new folder in Windows 10, and after you master this, learn how to password protect a folder in Windows 10.

Method 1: Create a New Folder with a Keyboard Shortcut

The fastest way to create a new folder in Windows is with the CTRL+Shift+N shortcut.

1. Navigate to the location where you want to create the folder. You can create a new folder at any location on your hard drive or within another folder (creating a subfolder) in File Explorer. You can also create a new folder on your desktop with this method.

2. Hold down the Ctrl, Shift, and N keys at the same time. Windows will immediately create the new folder with the not-very-imaginative suggested folder name of «New folder.»

3. Enter your desired folder name. It takes just seconds to create a new folder this way, but be sure to immediately begin typing your folder name when the folder first appears, because if you click on the folder or click away from File Explorer, the folder name will be «New folder» and you’ll have to rename it.

Method 2: Create a New Folder by Right-Clicking

If you don’t remember the keyboard shortcut or you prefer using the mouse:

1. Navigate to the location where you want to create the folder.

2. Right-click on a blank space in the folder location. Take care with this: If you right-click on an existing item in the folder, you’ll get the wrong menu.

3. Select New then Folder from the contextual menu. Windows will create the new folder at your current location.

4. Enter your desired folder name to replace «New folder» and hit Enter.

You can create folders on the Desktop using this method too. Right-click on a blank space on the Desktop, then go to New > Folder.

Method 3: Create a New Folder from the Ribbon Menu

Another simple way to create a new folder is to use the New folder button in the File Explorer menu.

Just navigate to the place you want the folder and click or tap «New folder» in the Home tab

In addition to the methods above, you can create a new folder in Windows 10 by using the Command Prompt (navigate to the location you want your folder in and type mkdir foldername, replacing «foldername» with your folder name). These three methods, however, are the simplest and quickest ways to create a new folder, so you can get right to organizing your files.

Managing Files and Folders in Windows 7

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book 

• Use the Explorer Window
• Change the Explorer Window View
• Open and View the Computer
• Work with Libraries
• Navigate Between Folders
• View the Folders List
• Customize the Navigation Pane
• Organize Files by Headings
• Search for Files and Folders
• Perform an Instant Search
• Add Properties and Tags to Files
• Create and Rename Files and Folders
• Copy and Move Files and Folders
• Delete and Restore Files and Folders
• Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder
• Change Folder Options
• Change File and Folder List Views
• Customize Personal Folders
• Share Folders or Files with Others
• Compress Files and Folders
• Manage Files Using a CD or DVD

Introduction

File management is organizing and keeping track of files and folders, helping you stay organized, so information is easily located. A folder is a container for storing programs and files, similar to a folder in a file cabinet. As with a file cabinet, working with poorly managed files is like looking for a needle in a haystack—it is frustrating and time-consuming to search through irrelevant, misnamed, and out-of-date files to find the one you want. Windows allows you to organize folders and files in a file hierarchy, imitating the way you store paper documents in real folders. Just as a file cabinet contains several folders, each containing related documents with dividers grouping related folders together, so the Windows file hierarchy allows you to organize your files in folders, and then place folders in other folders. Windows 7 comes with four libraries: Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos. Libraries ( New! ) are special folders that catalog folders and files in a central location. A library includes and displays folders that are stored in different locations on your computer, Homegroup, or network.

Using the file management tools, you can save files in folders with appropriate names for easy identification, quickly and easily create new folders so you can reorganize information and delete files and folders that you no longer need. You can also search for a file when you cannot remember where you stored it, create shortcuts to files and folders for quick and easy access, and even compress files and folders to save space.

A folder can hold different types of files, such as text, spreadsheets, and presentations. The Documents folder is the main location in Windows 7 where you store your files. However, there are some special folders, such as Pictures and Music, designed with specialized features to store specific types of files.

Windows file folder shortcut

Duplicate Explorer Window via F ile, N ew Window

Close Windows Explorer

Alt + D , then Tab (forward) or Alt + Tab (backwards)

Set baseline to Address Bar. Then navigate between (1) Address Bar, (2) Ribbon (3) Left Navigation Pane, (4) Folder Content Pane (Main Content Window), and (5) Sort Bar of Content Pane if present.

Refresh Explorer Window

Toggle Full Screen

2. Address Bar — Basics

Jump/ focus A d dress Bar with content selected

Alt + D , then Ctrl + C

Copy current path

Alt + D , then c:\(directory name>

With help of dropdown and Enter , select sub-directories. Note that the backslash is required for items in sub-directory to be visible.

Alt + D , then Alt + Down Arrow

Show previous locations

Jump one level up

Alt + D , press and hold Alt then press Left Arrow , Right Arrow

Change focus from Address Bar to Folder Content (goes to previous/ next location and then changes focus to Folder Content; only works if a previous item is available)

3. Address Bar — Add Custom Locations

You may want to add a custom location to the Explorer Addressbar. Assume you have your favorite applications in your u:\apps drive. Do the following.
1. Open System Properties via Win + Pause/Break key.
2. Select ‘Advanced System Settings (4th option on the left)
3. In the ‘Advanced’ Tab (3rd Tab on the Top), select ‘Environemnt Variables’ at the bottom
4. Select ‘New’. Set Variable name to e.g. ‘apps’, variable value e.g. ‘u:\apps’.
5. Click ‘ok’
6. Test in File Explorer via %apps%
To add a custom location to the Address Bar such as %apps%, do the following.

4. Left Navigation Pane Shortctus

Alt + D , then 2x Tab

Jump/ focus Navigation Pane

Arrow Up / Arrow Down

One item up/ down

Page Up / Page Down

One page up/ down

Go to first itme/ last item

Ctrl + Arrow Up / Arrow Down

Scroll directory tree up/ down without changing focus

Arrow Left / Right Arrow on tree parent

Open/ close directory tree

Shift + Arrow Left

Change to parent element in tree when in sub-element

5. Folder Content (Main Pane) — Navigate Files/ Folders

Alt + D , then 3x Tab

Jump/ focus Folder Content Pane

Alt + H , then S A

Select all items via H ome, S elect A ll. Also shorthand for changing focus to Folder Content

Arrow Up / Arrow Down

One item up/ down

Page Up / Page Down

One page up/ down

Go to first itme/ last item

Ctrl + Arrow Up / Arrow Down

Scroll directory tree up/ down without changing focus

Shift + Arrow Up / Arrow Down

Select multiple (adjacent) items

Press and hold Ctrl , Arow Keys , and press Space on multiple items

Select multiple (non-adjacent) items

Alt + Arrow Left / Arrow Right

Go to previous/ next location

Up one level. There is no down one level, but you may use Alt+left to go to previous location

How to create folders using keyboard shortcuts in Windows?

Nifty PC tricks: How to create new folders, using shortcut keys

For some of us who work mostly with computers, it’s not fun to move and click the mouse at all times. Shortcut keys are a way to speed up your work routine and get better organized in your PC tasks.

The great news is if you’re keen on creating a new folder, all it takes is a few keyboard buttons. Here’s a quick guide on how to create new folders, using shortcut keys.

What are shortcut keys to create new folders in Windows 10?

Normally, we right-click in order to create a new folder. On Desktop, you can create a new folder by right-clicking on an empty area, choosing New, and choosing Folder. But Windows 10, as well as 8 and 7, lets you create folders with a keyboard shortcut. Simply press Ctrl + Shift + N and you can see the new folder automatically created on your Desktop and ready for file storage or renaming.

This shortcut works on File Explorer just as well. Simply open the File Explorer (or location where you want a new folder created), press Ctrl + Shift + N, and the new folder crops up in no time.

How about if you want to create a folder in the File Explorer and you want to create it on your desktop at the same time? It’s simple: press Windows key + D. You’ll find that all folders or programs will be minimized and Desktop is the only one open. Follow the earlier steps we showed you and that’s it.

While this shortcut works in Windows 8 and 7, it won’t do so on Windows XP. If you’re a Windows XP user and you seek to create a new folder on Desktop via keyboard shortcuts, hold the Alt + F keys, and then release them before quickly pressing the W key, followed by F.

A few notes about shortcut keys

Have azlook at a few more shortcut key notes:

• Whenever a shortcut key is listed with a plus sign (+) in the string, such as Ctrl + S, this means that the Ctrl key is held while the letter S is pressed.
• Whenever it’s listed with commas separating the string, such as Alt + F, W, F, note that while the Alt key is held, you press the letter F. Both keys are afterwards released while the W and F keys are pressed one after another.
• Either upper or lower case letters in these shortcut key combinations can work. Uppercase letters are often used as examples for clarity.

If you don’t want to use keyboard shortcuts on your computer anymore, you can turn off hotkeys or disable all the keyboard shortcuts on your PC through the Windows Registry.

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That’s it – hope these shortcut keys work for your convenience!