Outlook folders are the most straightforward way to sort your email — pull project threads, client conversations, or receipts out of your inbox and into labeled containers you can find later. The steps differ slightly depending on which version of Outlook you use. Here’s how to create folders, subfolders, and manage them in each one.

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1. Outlook on the Web (Microsoft 365 / Outlook.com)

Create a folder

1. Go to outlook.office.com and sign in.
2. In the left sidebar, right-click Folders.
3. Select Create new folder.
4. Type a name for the folder and press Enter.

The new folder appears in your folder list, sorted alphabetically by default.

Create a subfolder

1. Right-click the folder you want to nest under.
2. Select Create new subfolder.
3. Type a name and press Enter.

You can nest subfolders multiple levels deep, but keeping it to two or three levels makes folders easier to navigate.

Move emails into a folder

• Drag and drop: Select one or more emails in your inbox and drag them onto the target folder in the sidebar.
• Right-click: Right-click the email, select Move, and choose the destination folder. If you don’t see it, use the search box at the top of the folder list.
• Toolbar: Select the email, click Move to in the toolbar, and pick a folder.

Rename or delete a folder

• Rename: Right-click the folder and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter.
• Delete: Right-click the folder and select Delete. The folder and its contents move to Deleted Items.

You cannot rename or delete default system folders like Inbox, Sent Items, or Drafts.

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2. New Outlook Desktop App (Windows & Mac)

The new Outlook app shares the same underlying interface as Outlook on the web, so the steps are nearly identical.

Create a folder

1. Open the new Outlook desktop app.
2. In the folder pane on the left, right-click your email account name (or hover and click the three-dot menu).
3. Select Create new folder.
4. Type a name for the folder and press Enter.

Create a subfolder

1. Right-click the parent folder (or hover and click the three-dot menu).
2. Select Create new subfolder.
3. Type a name and press Enter.

Move emails into a folder

• Drag and drop emails from your message list onto the folder.
• Right-click an email → Move → choose the folder.
• Use Ctrl+Shift+V to open the Move dialog, search for a folder, and move the selected email.

Rename or delete a folder

• Right-click the folder and select Rename or Delete.
• Deleted folders go to Deleted Items and can be recovered from there.

Reorder folders

You can drag folders up or down in the sidebar to reorder them. To reset, go to View → Layout → Folder pane and select Order folders A to Z.

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3. Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook has a slightly different interface with a ribbon toolbar and its own folder dialog.

Create a folder

1. In the folder pane on the left, right-click the location where you want the folder (your email account name for a top-level folder, or an existing folder for a subfolder).
2. Select New Folder.
3. In the Create New Folder dialog, type a name.
4. Use the Select where to place the folder list to confirm or change the location.
5. Click OK.

Keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+E to open the Create New Folder dialog from anywhere in Outlook.

Create a subfolder

Follow the same steps above — just right-click the parent folder instead of the account name, or use the Select where to place the folder tree in the dialog to pick the parent.

Move emails into a folder

• Drag and drop: Select one or more messages and drag them to the folder.
• Move dialog: Select the email, press Ctrl+Shift+V, choose a folder, and click OK. You can also create a new folder from this dialog by clicking New.
• Ribbon: On the Home tab, click Move → Other Folder and select the destination.

Rename or delete a folder

• Rename: Right-click the folder and select Rename Folder, or click the folder once and press F2. Type the new name and press Enter.
• Delete: Right-click the folder and select Delete Folder. Confirm when prompted. The folder and all its contents move to Deleted Items.

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4. Outlook Mobile App (iOS & Android)

Outlook mobile added full folder management in mid-2025 (version 4.2524.0+). Earlier versions limited you to moving emails but not creating folders.

Create a folder

1. Open the Outlook app and tap the hamburger menu (☰) in the top left to open the sidebar.
2. Tap the Edit (pencil) icon at the bottom of the folder list.
3. Tap + Create Folder.
4. Enter a folder name, select a location (your account or inside an existing folder), and tap Save.

Create a subfolder

1. In the Edit view, tap the parent folder.
2. Tap Create Subfolder.
3. Name it and tap Save.

Move emails into a folder

1. Open the email or long-press it in the message list.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) or the Move icon (folder with arrow).
3. Select the destination folder.

You can also swipe an email and choose a Move to Folder swipe action under Settings → Mail → Swipe Options.

Rename, move, or delete a folder

1. Tap the Edit (pencil) icon in the sidebar.
2. Tap the folder you want to manage.
3. Choose Rename, Move, or Delete.

System folders (Inbox, Drafts, Sent, etc.) cannot be renamed, moved, or deleted.

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Quick Reference

Action	Outlook on the Web	New Outlook Desktop	Classic Outlook (Windows)	Outlook Mobile
Create folder	Right-click Folders → Create new folder	Right-click account → Create new folder	Right-click → New Folder (or Ctrl+Shift+E)	Edit icon → + Create Folder
Create subfolder	Right-click folder → Create new subfolder	Right-click folder → Create new subfolder	Right-click folder → New Folder	Tap folder → Create Subfolder
Move email	Drag & drop, or right-click → Move	Drag & drop, or Ctrl+Shift+V	Drag & drop, or Ctrl+Shift+V	Three-dot menu → Move
Rename folder	Right-click → Rename	Right-click → Rename	Right-click → Rename Folder (or F2)	Edit icon → tap folder → Rename
Delete folder	Right-click → Delete	Right-click → Delete	Right-click → Delete Folder	Edit icon → tap folder → Delete

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Folder Organization Tips That Actually Scale

A few principles that hold up across all versions of Outlook:

• Keep top-level folders broad. Use categories like “Clients,” “Projects,” “Finance,” and “Internal” rather than creating a folder for every person or thread. You can always add subfolders later.
• Use rules to auto-sort. In Outlook on the web or the new app, go to Settings → Mail → Rules to create rules that move incoming emails to specific folders based on sender, subject, or keywords. In classic Outlook, use Home → Rules → Create Rule.
• Limit subfolder depth. One or two levels of nesting is practical. Three or more and you spend more time navigating than finding.
• Pin frequently-used folders to Favorites. Right-click any folder and select Add to Favorites (or Show in Favorites on mobile) to pin it near the top of your sidebar.
• Archive instead of hoarding. If a folder’s emails are older than a year and you rarely reference them, move them to the Archive folder. This keeps your active folder list clean without deleting anything.
• Clean up periodically. Empty your Deleted Items and review folders you haven’t opened in months. Orphaned folders add clutter.

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More on Outlook: How to add a signature in Outlook · How to schedule an email in Outlook · How to share your Outlook calendar · How to set up recurring meetings · How to add a calendar to Outlook

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