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How to Make Folders on iPhone & Organize Your Files and Apps

By Author Turner Tomlinson

Posted on Last updated:

Smartphones are used for several tasks like sending emails, streaming media, or checking bank statements. Each function typically requires a separate app. After a while, you can have so many apps and files that your iPhone becomes unorganized. Thankfully, Folders are an easy way to manage your device.

You can create Folders in the Files app, Home Screen, and other locations on your iPhone. Click the More button and select New Folder to create one in the Files app. You manage apps by clicking and holding an app, dragging it onto another, and creating a Folder on the Home Screen.

Don’t panic if your Home Screen or Files app is getting out of hand. Organizing files and apps on the iPhone is a straightforward process, and we cover everything you need to know in the article below. Read on for more information.

Can You Make Your Own Folders on iPhone?

Folders inside of the Files App on an iPhone 14 Pro

Yes, it’s entirely possible to create personal folders on an iPhone. However, if you have several downloaded apps, you may have to scroll through multiple screens before finding what you’re looking for.

Scrolling through various screens can be increasingly frustrating, especially if you only use some of your apps on rare occasions.

You can use folders to organize, sort, and manage apps on your iPhone. Creating personal folders is straightforward and takes a few moments, but it can save you massive amounts of time in the future. So let’s break down the process a bit further.

How Do You Create File Folders on Your iPhone?

Creating a folder on your iPhone is simple and convenient. You can also change the name, tags, and other aspects of folders. In addition, apple iOS allows you to create app folders on the home screen, providing further organization options.

Create Folders in the Files App

  1. Open the Files App
  2. Launch a location or existing Folder on your iPhone.
  3. Use your fingers to drag down the center of the screen.
  4. Click the More button and select New Folder.

Note: If you can’t access the New Folder option, you don’t have the option to open a new folder in that area of your iPhone.

Rename, Duplicate and Make Additional Changes

Apple provides additional options when it comes to Folders. For example, you can click and hold a document or Folder and select one of the following options: Copy, Duplicate, Move, Delete, Rename, or Compress.

  • Copy: Copying a Folder allows you to copy the entire Folder to your clipboard and paste it somewhere else.
  • Duplicate: Duplicating a Folder allows you to make an exact copy of the entire Folder in the same location.
  • Move: Moving a Folder allows you to change the location of the Folder.
  • Delete: Deleting a Folder removes the entire Folder. You can typically restore deleted Folders and files from the Recently Deleted section of iCloud, which stay in that area of iCloud for 30 days.
  • Rename: Selecting Rename allows you to change the name of the Folder.
  • Compress: Compressing a Folder will create a ZIP file of your selected documents. The ZIP file should save to the same Folder.

Note: You may not have access to all the listed options on specific documents. For instance, you may not have the option to remove or relocate app libraries.

Tag a Document or Folder

  1. Click and hold the file or Folder.
  1. Click Tags and select the number of Tags you want.
  1. Click Done to finish.
  1. To locate tagged files or Folders, click Browse and select a file or Folder underneath Tags/
  1. Tap the item again to remove the tag.

Favorite a Folder

  1. Click and hold down the Folder and click Favorite.
  1. You can find Favorites by clicking Browse.

How to Create App Folders on Your iPhone Home Screen

As mentioned earlier, you can create app Folders on your iPhone home screen for better organization and accessibility. Here’s how.

  1. Click and hold your iPhone Home Screen wallpaper until the apps rattle around.
  1. Drag an app onto a different app to create a new Folder.
  1. Now, you can move other apps into the Folder. In addition, iOS allows multiple pages of apps in the same Folder.
  1. Click and hold the Folder and click Rename to change the name of the Folder.
  1. After you’re finished, click Done and click the Home Screen wallpaper twice.

To delete a Folder, click a Folder to open it and move all the apps out of it. The Folder will automatically delete if it doesn’t have any apps inside.

Note: Home Screen organization does not affect the organization of your App Library.