Make a new folder on your Mac

Why it happens

New folders are made in Finder, the app that shows your files and your desktop. The folder appears in whichever place is in front when you make it. That's why you click the desktop or the right window first.

How to fix it

1. Click an empty part of the desktop, or open a Finder window and go to the place where you want the folder, such as Documents.

2. Choose File > New Folder in the menu bar, or press Shift-Command-N.

   Finder›File›New Folder

3. A folder called untitled folder appears with its name highlighted. Type the name you want and press Return.

4. Another way: Control-click an empty space on the desktop or in the window and choose New Folder.

5. To tidy files you've already got, select them first, then press Control-Command-N, or Control-click one and choose New Folder with Selection. They move into a new folder together, and you can type its name.

Still not fixed?

1. Named it wrong? Click the folder once, press Return, type the new name and press Return again.

2. Can't see the new folder? It may be sorted somewhere else in the window. Choose View > as List and click the Name heading to sort by name.

   Finder›View›as List

3. If New Folder is greyed out, you're in a place you can't change, like a shared folder, a disc or a drive formatted for another kind of computer. Make the folder in Documents or on the desktop instead.

4. If you can't make a folder anywhere, even on the desktop, restart your Mac and try again. If it still won't work, contact Apple Support, as your account's permissions may need fixing.