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How do you create folders in Hotmail?

I've been working with hotmail for a long time and all my pals have my Hotmail address, so I am not interested in leaving for another web-based email service. I am, however, interested in learning how to organize my huge mailbox a bit better, and was hoping you could explain how to create and use a folder?


Dave's Answer:

If you can look beyond the advertising all over the page, Hotmail is a reasonably reliable web-based email solution, and certainly one that's been around since even before the dot-com boom of the late 1990s. It's ancient in Web terms!

The interface isn't the most sophisticated, but it's still serviceable. To create a new folder, look on the left side of your Hotmail account window and notice that under all the folder names is "Manage Folders":

Hotmail Manage Folders

Click on that, and you'll go to a screen with a nice overview of your existing mailboxes and folders, but it'll also include the all-important set of buttons on the top graphical element:

Hotmail Create New Folders

Click on "new" and you'll be asked for the name of your new folder:

Hotmail Create Folder

Type in the desired name, click "OK" and you've now got a folder set up in your Hotmail account. I created a test folder called "Test Folder", ingeniously enough.

It's pretty easy!

Now whenever you read a message and want to save it in the new folder, simply choose the message or messages, then click on "Put in Folder", which shows you a list of possible folders, including the new one you've created:

Hotmail Put Message in Folder

I hope that'll get you going with Hotmail folders. And stay tuned - rumor has it that the next generation of the Hotmail web interface is going to be quite an improvement!


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Reader Comments To Date: 12

Colin said, on March 19, 2008 12:41 PM:

when typing an email in hotmail the text wrap won't work

Rick said, on April 22, 2008 4:46 PM:

Over time, I have developed too many hotmail FOLDERS. How can I delete ENTIRE HM FOLDERS, in order to start condensing things, Rick

Robert Nicol said, on August 10, 2008 5:47 AM:

You would have to agree that making folders is a no-brainer. The thing I can't do however (and I hope I am not missing something obvious) is to make a folder WITHIN another folder, that is, arrange folders in a hierarchical manner. if you can't do that, the you will end up with a dozens of folders that you need to scroll through to find the right one.

Regards,

Robert

Clyde said, on November 13, 2008 6:53 PM:

Can not delete an older folder. Can add new but not delete old ones !!!

Zoe said, on January 4, 2009 5:10 PM:

How do I send a folder to one of my contacts?

Cheap Logo Design said, on July 9, 2009 7:42 AM:

Right now, I am using my hotmail account at msn live windows and i can not find "put in folder" option or button.

Actually I want to create a folder there. Please help me...

Thanks in advanced

Alex

Martin Smith said, on October 2, 2009 9:29 AM:

I'm a new hotmail user, and needed to create a new folder. I couldn't figure out how, so I googled " how to create a new folder in hotmail" it took me to your site........SWEET. ...Thanks Dave

Sandra Rud said, on January 4, 2010 12:47 PM:

Dave I have just went to Windows Live & none of my manage folders are in the new system I need help these are very inportant to me. What do I need to do? Thank You

Sandra Rud said, on January 4, 2010 12:56 PM:

I need to know how to move my manage folders fromhotmail.com to Windows Live

Ann Lardner said, on March 24, 2011 10:06 AM:

Hi, Can you copy an email from the inbox to a folder and also leave it in the inbox

Also, before I send the message I want to save it to the desktop, and click on it from the desktop and send it. How would I do this.

Ann Marie

charlie said, on November 8, 2012 6:24 AM:

Hi, Hotmail recently converted me to their new "Outlook" mail. Tried to delete an old folder yesterday. Big problem, there is no longer a "gear" icon in the folder section to manage your folders. Hence, you can no longer delete and obsolete folder. Crazy, but true!
Thanks' for any help!
Charlie

MJ WEIBLING said, on April 10, 2013 2:49 PM:

Hi, I bought a Lenovo and started a hotmail account. My hotmail page does not have folders on the left side like my old comcast account. Is there somewhere to set a folders icon that I have not figured out?
Thanking you in advance, MJ

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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