Create Folders on a Galaxy S9: Home Screen and Files

You can create folders on a Samsung Galaxy S9 in two places: on the Home screen to group app icons, or in the My Files app to organize documents, photos, and other stored files. The steps differ slightly, so choose the method that matches what you want to organize.

Choose the kind of folder you need

A Home screen folder is a container for app shortcuts. For example, you might group Maps, Calendar, and other planning apps together. It does not move or combine the apps themselves, and it does not organize photos or downloads.

A folder in My Files is a real storage folder. It can hold compatible files, such as documents or images, and is useful for keeping downloaded material together. Creating a folder in My Files will not create a matching folder on the Home screen.

Create an app folder on the Home screen

1. Go to the Home screen where you want the folder. If the app is in the Apps screen, open that screen and locate it first.
2. Touch and hold an app icon, then drag it directly on top of another app icon.
3. When the folder opens or appears, release the icon. The two app shortcuts should now be grouped in a folder.
4. Tap the folder to open it. Tap its name or the name field, if shown, to give it a useful label such as “Travel” or “Utilities.”
5. To add another app, drag its icon into the open folder or onto the folder icon, depending on the screen layout.

On some Galaxy S9 software versions or Home screen layouts, the exact animation and folder controls can vary. If dragging one icon onto another does not work, try touching and holding an icon until the Home screen enters edit mode, then drag it onto the other app. You can also check that you are not trying to drop an icon onto a widget or an empty part of the screen.

Create a folder in My Files

1. Open the Samsung folder, if present, and tap My Files. You can also find My Files in the Apps screen or search for it.
2. Choose a storage location, such as Internal storage or an available SD card. Select the location where you want the new folder to live.
3. Open the destination folder, if you want the new folder nested inside another folder.
4. Tap the three-dot menu, usually in the upper-right corner, and choose Create folder. Menu wording or placement may differ by software version.
5. Enter a folder name and tap Create or OK.

For example, you could create Internal storage/Work/Receipts by opening Internal storage, creating or opening Work, and then creating Receipts inside it. Keep names clear and avoid punctuation that the system rejects. A folder name describes the files; it does not change their format or automatically back them up.

Move files into a folder

After creating a My Files folder, you can move existing items into it. Open the current location, touch and hold a file to select it, and select additional files if needed. Use Move from the menu or toolbar, browse to the destination folder, and confirm the move. Some versions display a Move here button after you select the destination.

Use Copy instead if you want to keep the original in its current location. Moving and copying are different: a move relocates the item, while a copy creates another instance and uses additional storage. If you cannot find a file afterward, check the destination folder and use My Files search before repeating the operation, which could create duplicates.

Files downloaded by a browser or messaging app may initially be stored in that app’s own download location or in the general Downloads folder. Moving a file in My Files changes its location on the phone; it may not update a shortcut or a record inside the app that originally handled it.

Rename, rearrange, or remove a folder

For a Home screen folder, tap it and use its name field to rename it. To rearrange apps, open the folder and drag icons to the desired order or position. Depending on the launcher settings, dragging an app out of the folder may return it to the Home screen. Removing an app icon from a folder is not the same as uninstalling the app.

For a My Files folder, touch and hold it, then choose Rename or Delete from the available actions. Check the contents before deleting: deleting a folder that contains files may also delete those files. If you only want to remove the empty folder, open it first and confirm that it contains nothing you need.

Common problems and useful distinctions

• Icons will not form a folder: Make sure you are dragging one app shortcut onto another, not onto a widget. Try a different Home screen page or check whether the Home screen is locked against layout changes.
• “Create folder” is missing: In My Files, open a writable storage location rather than a read-only view, such as a search-results screen or a cloud listing. Then check the three-dot menu again.
• The new folder is not visible: Confirm the location where it was created. Internal storage, an SD card, and app-specific folders are separate locations.
• You expected a Home screen folder to contain photos: Home screen folders group app shortcuts only. Use My Files to organize stored files, or use a photo app’s album feature for photo collections.
• You cannot move a particular item: Some app-managed files or protected locations restrict moving. Use the app’s own export or save function when available, rather than trying to alter protected system folders.

Folder organization does not by itself free storage. A folder changes where files are grouped, but the files still occupy space. To recover storage, review files you no longer need and remove them only after checking that they are not important.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a folder on my Galaxy S9 Home screen?
Drag one app icon onto another app icon and release it. Tap the new folder to rename it or add more app shortcuts.

How do I create a folder for photos or documents?
Open My Files, choose Internal storage or an SD card, open the destination location, and use the menu’s Create folder option. Then move or copy files into it.

Can I create folders in the Apps screen?
App organization depends on the launcher layout and software configuration. If dragging app icons together in the Apps screen is unavailable, create the folder on a Home screen page instead.

Does deleting a folder uninstall its apps?
Deleting or removing a Home screen folder generally removes the grouping, not the installed apps. A folder in My Files is different: deleting it can delete the files inside, so inspect it first.

Can I put a folder inside another folder?
Yes, in My Files you can create a folder while viewing another folder. Home screen folders, by contrast, are for app shortcuts and do not work as general file-storage folders.

Why can’t I find the folder I just made?
Check whether you created it on the Home screen, in Internal storage, or on an SD card. Those are separate places, and a folder created in one will not appear automatically in the others.

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