DeepBlueSky Blog

If you've ever wished MS Windows Explorer had a shortcut for Create New Folder then look no further. I have found the perfect solution.

I'm often left wondering why Microsoft didn't include a "Create New Folder" shortcut in the toolbar buttons in Windows Explorer. Many a time I've been forced to wait whilst I right click, wait for the menu to load and then locate the appropriate icon. If you have to create multiple folders it can quickly become tedious.

Today I became so fed up with this state of affairs that I had to hunt down a Windows Explorer add on which would fix this problem. May I present bxNewFolder courtesy of our friends at BAXBEX. It sets F12 to be the shortcut for creating a new folder and if you're lucky enough to still have Windows XP you even get a icon added to the toolbar of Windows Explorer.

However, if you don't wish to download any software you can still use Windows' built in HotKeys. Simply go in to Windows Explorer, hold the ALT key and then hit F followed by W. This should open the file menu and navigate you into the "New" menu where Create New Folder should be selected automatically. Easy, but I still prefer F12! 

Posted years ago by David Smith

David is a web designer and a front end developer for DeepBlueSky Digital. He's reponsible for designing nice things and then making sure they don't break in Internet Explorer. Currently he's mostly interested in javascript and HTML5. You can follow Dave on Twitter as @get_dave or @deepbluetweets.

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2 Comments on this post

  1. A said “Improved version of this for Vista” years ago
    Gravatar for A

    Actually XP already has its own "Make a new folder" button too, to create a new folder in Windows Explorer, while it's located in XP Webview Panel/Common Task Pane, see screenshot: http://img243.imageshack.us/i/standardxpnewfolderbutt.jpg/ (and just like Windows 7 RTM Explorer now), but yeah some people would love it's on the explorer toolbar as well as Open/Save dialog box .

    Since Baxbex new folder offered only old Windows 98 style icon (not matching with new XP visual style), just download free add on new folder button in XP Explorer Toolbar (my created-skinned/reshacked bxnewfolder with Vista style icon etc) + hotkey and floating dialog box, fully functional and working as well:

    Screenshots: http://img263.imageshack.us/i/newfolderbuttoninxpexpl.jpg/ and http://img263.imageshack.us/i/cleanerusefuldialogboxa.jpg/

    Download: http://www.4shared.com/file/140689147/273f676f/New_Folder_Button_in_Explorer_Toolbar.html

  2. Geraint said “'new folder shortcut'” years ago
    Gravatar for Geraint

    I know I've mentioned this a few times, and hate to repeat myself, but - AutoHotKey!

    Very powerful, helps solve hundreds of workflow problems (not just one) and helps recreate missing features in your environment.

    Not only will you be able to set up a shortcut key ([F12] if you like) to create a new folder, but you can disable it if a particular program is focused (to save interfering with other shortcut keys).

    To give you an idea of the versatility, you could add a switch (like hold [SHIFT]+[F12]) to automatically create sub-folders & files, or name the folder in a date format of your choice, the day of the week, the hex colour beneath the cursor at that moment (if you really want that), or the most discussed tag looked up on twitter, or whatever.

    It's honestly well worth a look - I think if you persevere for 5 mins and you will never look back.

    find AHK here: http://www.autohotkey.com/

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