How To Create A New Folder In Files On Iphone

Make a new folder in Files for iOS

The Files app for iPhone and iPad provides access to iCloud Drive and every file or folder contained within it, whether for individual apps or things you have uploaded yourself to iCloud Drive. If you want to better organize your files in the iOS Files app, you can easily create new folders in Files app.

The Files app on iOS behaves the same on iPhone and iPad, but it may look slightly different to accommodate the different screen sizes. For the demonstration screenshots here, we're using an iPad, but the behavior to create a new folder in Files app is the same for an iPhone too.

How to Make a New Folder in iOS Files on iPhone or iPad

Open the "Files" app in iOS
From the Locations section, choose "iCloud Drive" *
Once in iCloud Drive, navigate to where you want to create your new folder (it can be in the iCloud Drive directory, or a sub directory)
Click the little folder icon with a (+) plus button on it to create a new folder

Make a new folder in Files for iOS

Give the new folder a name, then click the "Done" button in the corner

Name and create the new folder in iOS Files app

Repeat to create additional new folders if desired

New folder created in Files app for iOS

You can create as many new folders as you want this way.

You may find this particularly useful if you want to create a folder for particular files, pictures, or data, and if it's accessed frequently, then you can add the folder to the Favorites list in iOS Files app for quicker access.

* You can only create new folders in the "iCloud Drive" section of Files app. Curiously, you can not create new folders directly to the "On My iPad" or "On My iPhone" location of Files app, nor can you drag and drop a new folder or file into the On My Device location of Files app. Instead, only apps in iOS can save files to those directories or create new folders in those local directories. That may change in a future version of iOS or a new version of Files app, however, who knows.

Creating New Folders in Files App for iOS with a Keystroke

For iOS users who sync a Bluetooth keyboard to iPad, or who use a Smart Keyboard on iPad Pro, you can create new folders in Files app with a simple keystroke too.

The command key shortcut for making new folders in Files app for iOS is: Command+Shift+N

If that new folder keystroke looks familiar, it's probably because the same keystroke will create a new folder in the Finder of Mac OS too.

Remember, the Files app only exists in iOS 11 or later, so if you don't have the Files app it is because you are on an older version of system software. Previously, the Files app was called iCloud Drive, but now the Files app contains both iCloud Drive access and local file access to local items created by apps installed on the iPhone or iPad.