Create a folder or subfolder in Outlook
Applies To
Outlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook on the web Outlook.com New Outlook for WindowsFolders provide a way to organize email messages, calendars, contacts, and tasks in Outlook.
Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?
Note: If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select Classic Outlook and follow those steps instead.
Create a top-level folder in new Outlook
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In the folder pane on the left, right-click your email address, or hover over it and select More options > Create new folder.
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Enter a name for the new folder, then press Enter.
Create a subfolder in new Outlook
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Select the folder where you want to create a subfolder.
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Right-click the folder, or hover over it and select More options > Create new subfolder.
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Enter a name for the new folder, then press Enter.
To add a folder to the folder pane, do the following:
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In the left pane of Mail, Contacts, Tasks, or Calendar, right-click where you want to add the folder, and then click New Folder.
Note: When in Calendar, the New Folder command is replaced with New Calendar.
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In the Name box, enter a name for the folder, and press Enter.
Note: Outlook on the web is the web version of Outlook for business users with a work or school account.
Create a top-level folder in Outlook on the web
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In the folder pane on the left, right-click on Folders, or hover over it and select More options > Create new folder.
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Enter a name for the new folder, then press Enter.
Create a subfolder in Outlook on the web
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Select the folder where you want to create a subfolder.
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Right-click the folder, or hover over it and select More options > Create new subfolder.
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Enter a name for the new folder, then press Enter.
Note: Outlook.com is the web version of Outlook for users signing in with a personal Microsoft account such as an Outlook.com or Hotmail.com account.
Create a top-level folder in Outlook.com
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In the folder pane, right-click on Folders and then select Create new folder.
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Enter a name for the new folder, then press Enter.
Create a subfolder in Outlook.com
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Select the folder where you want to create a subfolder.
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Right-click the folder, and select Create new subfolder.
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Enter a name for the new folder, then press Enter.