How to Create a Folder in SharePoint (Step-by-Step)

Creating a folder in SharePoint only takes a few clicks once you know where to look. Whether you’re working in a document library on the web, a synced library on your PC or Mac, or a Teams channel, the steps are nearly the same every time. This guide walks you through each method and what to do if the folder option doesn’t show up.

Quick steps

1. Open your SharePoint site and go to the document library where you want the folder.
2. Select New from the command bar.
3. Choose Folder from the dropdown menu.
4. Type a name for the folder and select Create.

Before you start

A few things are worth checking before you try to add a folder in SharePoint:

• You need at least Edit permission on the document library or site. If you only have read access, you won’t see the option to create folders.
• Some organizations turn off folder creation in specific libraries to keep content organized by metadata instead. If the option is missing everywhere, your admin may have disabled it for that library.
• Folder names can’t include certain characters (such as \ / : * ? " < > |), and very long folder and file paths can cause sync or access errors later on, especially when the library is connected to Microsoft Teams or OneDrive.

Create a folder in SharePoint on the web

This method works in any modern SharePoint document library accessed through a browser, whether it’s a team site, communication site, or a library linked to a Microsoft Teams channel.

1. Sign in to your organization’s SharePoint site (usually something like yourcompany.sharepoint.com).
2. Open the site and click into the Documents library, or whichever library you want to use.
3. Click New on the command bar near the top of the page.
4. From the menu that appears, select Folder.
5. In the dialog box, type a name for your new folder.
6. Select Create to finish.

Your new folder will appear in the library’s file list. You can open it right away and start uploading or creating files inside it, or drag and drop files into it from your computer.

Create a folder inside an existing folder

If you want a subfolder rather than a top-level one, the process is the same, just one level deeper.

1. Open the parent folder where you want the subfolder to live.
2. Select New from the command bar.
3. Choose Folder and give it a name.
4. Select Create.

Keep in mind that nesting too many folders inside each other can create long file paths. This can cause problems when files are synced to a computer or accessed through Teams, so it’s a good idea to keep your folder structure reasonably flat.

Create a SharePoint folder from a synced library (Windows or Mac)

If you’ve synced a SharePoint document library to your computer using the OneDrive sync app, you can create folders directly from File Explorer or Finder, just like you would with any other folder on your computer.

1. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
2. Go to the synced SharePoint library, which usually appears under your organization’s name in the sidebar.
3. Right-click in an empty area of the folder window.
4. Select New and then Folder (Windows), or choose New Folder from the File menu or right-click menu (Mac).
5. Type a name for the folder and press Enter or Return.

The folder will sync up to SharePoint automatically as long as your device has an internet connection and OneDrive sync is running normally.

Create a folder from Microsoft Teams

Every channel in Microsoft Teams is connected to a folder in a SharePoint document library, so adding a folder from Teams also adds it to SharePoint.

1. Open Microsoft Teams and go to the team and channel where you want the folder.
2. Select the Files tab at the top of the channel.
3. Click New.
4. Choose Folder from the list.
5. Enter a name and select Create.

If you want to check or manage the folder directly in SharePoint later, you can select Open in SharePoint from the Files tab in that same channel.

If it doesn’t work

The New button doesn’t show a Folder option

This usually means folder creation has been turned off for that library, or the library is set up to use a different content type. Check with your SharePoint admin to confirm whether folders are allowed, or try creating the folder in a different library to see if the option appears there.

You get a permissions error

You need Edit permission on the library to create folders. If you only have View access, ask the site owner or your IT admin to upgrade your permission level, or ask them to create the folder for you.

The folder doesn’t sync to your computer

Check that OneDrive sync is running and connected to your account. Look for sync errors in the OneDrive activity center, and make sure the folder path isn’t too long, since very long combined paths can block syncing. Restarting the sync app or re-adding the library to sync often clears up smaller issues.

You can’t rename or move the folder afterward

If a folder won’t rename or move, another user may have it open, or there could be a sync conflict. Close any files inside it, wait for sync to finish, and try again. Persistent issues are sometimes linked to long file paths, which is more common in Teams-connected libraries with long team or channel names.

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone create a folder in SharePoint?

Only people with Edit permission or higher on the document library can create folders. Members with view-only access won’t see the option.

Is there a limit to how many folders I can create?

SharePoint doesn’t impose a small, fixed limit on the number of folders in a library, but very deep folder structures can lead to long file paths that cause sync or access problems, particularly in Teams-connected sites.

Can I create a folder from my phone?

Yes, the SharePoint mobile app lets you create folders from within a document library using a similar New or plus button, though the exact layout can vary slightly by app version and device.

Does creating a folder in Teams also create it in SharePoint?

Yes. Each Teams channel is linked to a folder in a SharePoint document library, so any folder you add through the Teams Files tab also shows up when you open that library in SharePoint.

Why do some folders show a restricted or broken path warning?

This typically happens when folder and file names combine to create a path that’s too long for syncing or certain apps to handle. Shortening folder names, or renaming the parent team or site, can help resolve it.

Related guides

• Rename Team Name In Teams To Shorten OneDrive Path Lengths
• How To Perform a Data Subject Access Request in Office 365
• Cant backup server event id 8230 in logs

Sources

• SharePoint documentation (Microsoft Learn)
• Teams and SharePoint integration (Microsoft Learn)