How to create a folder in the Android application menu: 5 working methods

The application menu on Android can quickly turn into chaos if you don't keep order. This is especially true for users who install dozens of games, utilities and social networks. Creating folders is an easy way to organize your desktop and speed up access to the apps you need. But not everyone knows that folders can be created not only on the main screen, but also directly in application menu (app drawer).

In this article we will analyze all the current methods of grouping applications - from standard functions of pure Android to features of proprietary shells Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI and Oppo ColorOS. You'll learn how to create a folder in 30 seconds, which launchers support this feature by default, and what to do if the option suddenly disappeared after a system update. And also - how to automate sorting using third-party utilities without risking the stability of the phone.

Why folders in the application menu are more convenient than on the desktop

Many users are accustomed to creating folders directly on main screen, but this approach has disadvantages:

• 📱 Desktop clutter —folders take up space that could be given to widgets or beautiful wallpapers.
• 🔍 Complicated search —if there are a lot of applications, you have to scroll through several screens to find the right folder.
• 🔄 Limited flexibility — you cannot create subfolders (a folder within a folder) on the desktop.

The application menu (App Drawer) solves these problems:

• 📁 All folders in one place — no need to switch between screens.
• 🔎 Quick search —most launchers allow you to search for applications even inside folders.
• 🔄 Nested structure —some shells (for example, MIUI) support multi-level folders.
• 🎨 Minimalistic design —the desktop remains clean, and all applications are organized.

In addition, folders in the application menu are synchronized with cloud services (for example, Samsung Cloud or Google Drive), which simplifies the transfer of settings to a new phone. And if you use alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Action Launcher), you will get even more customization options - from changing folder icons to automatic sorting by category.

Method 1: Standard method for pure Android (Pixel, Motorola, Nokia)

If your smartphone runs on stock Android (for example, Google Pixel, Motorola Moto G or Nokia), then you can create a folder in the application menu in a few steps. These devices use a standard launcher Google Launcher (formerly Pixel Launcher), which supports grouping applications, but with some limitations.

Open the application menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen)

Make sure you have enough applications for grouping (minimum 2)

Check the Android version (starting from Android 10 the function works stably)-->

Step-by-step guide:

1. Open application menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen or by clicking on the "All applications" icon).
2. Find the first application that you want to add to the folder and press and hold its icon for 1-2 seconds.
3. Without releasing your finger, drag the icon to the second application. You will see a highlight around the second icon.
4. Release your finger - the system will automatically create a folder with these two applications.
5. Tap on the folder name (by default - "Untitled") to rename it (for example, "Social networks" or "Games").

Done! You can now add other apps to the folder by dragging them inside. To delete a folder, simply drag all applications from it back to the menu - the folder will disappear automatically.

⚠️ Attention: In some versions Google Launcher folders in the application menu may disappear after a system update. If this happens, try resetting the launcher settings in Settings → Applications → Google → Storage → Clear data.

Action	Clean Android (Pixel Launcher)	Samsung One UI	Xiaomi MIUI
Creating a folder	Drag an icon to another	Long press → "Create folder"	Click "Edit" → select applications
Subfolders	No	No	Yes (only in MIUI 12+)
Auto sorting	No	Yes (alphabetically)	Yes (by category)
Synchronization with the cloud	Via Google Account	Via Samsung Cloud	Via Mi Account

Method 2: Creating folders in Samsung One UI (Galaxy S, A, Note)

Smartphones Samsung Galaxy use a proprietary shell One UIwhich offers more options for organizing applications than pure Android. Here, folders in the application menu are created a little differently, but automatic sorting and backup are supported.

How to create a folder in One UI:

1. Open application menu ("Applications" button in the dock panel or swipe up).
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Edit.
3. Select the applications you want to group (check the boxes next to them).
4. Click Create Folder at the bottom of the screen.
5. Enter a name for the folder (for example, "Work" or "Fitness") and click Done.

B One UI folders are displayed as separate tabs in the application menu. To add a new application to an existing folder, just hold down its icon and drag it to the desired group. There is also a function automatic sorting - if you enable it in the launcher settings, the system itself will distribute applications into categories (for example, "Games", "Social networks", "Tools").

⚠️ Attention: On some models Samsung Galaxy (for example, series J or A20) the folder creation feature in the application menu may be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings → Applications → Select default launcher and make sure that is selected One UI Home.

Method 3: Features Xiaomi MIUI (Redmi, Poco, Mi)

Shell MIUI ot Xiaomi is known for its flexibility, and folder creation here is implemented differently than in other systems. In the latest versions (MIUI 13/14), the developers have added the ability subfolders, which makes organizing applications even more convenient.

Instructions for MIUI:

1. Open application menu (swipe up or click on the "All apps" icon).
2. Click on the icon Edit (pencil in the upper right corner).
3. Select the applications you want to group (check the boxes).
4. Click Folder in the bottom menu.
5. Set the folder name and click Done.

In MIUI folders are displayed as separate items in the application menu, but they can be expanded by swiping down. A special feature of this shell is support Multi-level folders (starting from MIUI 12). To create a folder within a folder:

1. Open the desired folder.
2. Click Edit → Create subfolder folder.
3. Add applications and save changes.

Also in MIUI there is a function "Categories"that automatically sorts applications by type (for example, "Communication", "Multimedia", "Tools"). To enable it, go to Settings → Home screen → Application categories.

How to return the standard view of the application menu in MIUI?

If you do not like grouping by categories, you can disable it. Go to Settings → Home screen → Application menu style and select the "List" option instead of "Categories".

Method 4: Alternative launchers (Nova, Apex, Action Launcher)

If your smartphone does not support creating folders in the application menu out of the box (for example, on some devices Huawei or Realme), you can install third-party launcher. The most popular options are Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher and Action Launcher. They not only allow you to create folders in App Drawer, but also offer advanced appearance settings.

How to create a folder in Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play and make it the default launcher.
2. Open the applications menu (swipe up).
3. Click on the three dots (⋮) → Edit.
4. Select the applications you want to group and click Create folder.
5. Set a name and icon for the folder (you can select from the gallery or download additional icon packs).

Advantages Nova Launcher:

• 🎨 Customization of folder icons — you can install your own images or use themes from Icon Packs.
• 📂 Nested folders —support for unlimited nesting level.
• 🔄 Backup —folder settings can be saved and restored on another device.
• 🔍 Advanced search — you can even search for applications inside subfolders.

In Action Launcher there is a unique function "Quickpage" - this is a separate panel with folders, which opens by swiping from the right edge of the screen. This way you can quickly access frequently. used groups of applications without going to the main menu.

⚠️ Attention: Some launchers (for example, POCO Launcher or Huawei EMUI) may limit the functionality of folders in the application menu. Before installation, check the reviews in Google Play - they often write about such restrictions.

Method 5: Automatic sorting using third-party utilities

If you are too lazy to manually distribute applications into folders, you can use specialized utilities. They analyze installed apps and automatically group them into categories (social networks, games, tools, etc.). this:

• 📁 App Organizer — creates folders based on frequency of use and categories from Google Play.
• 🤖 Smart Launcher 6 —automatically sorts default applications (for example, “Work,” “Leisure,” “System”).
• 🔧 FolderSync —synchronizes folders between devices via the cloud.

How to set up automatic sorting in Smart Launcher 6:

1. Install Smart Launcher 6 from Google Play.
2. When you first start, select the style Simple or Categories.
3. Go to Settings → Organize applications.
4. Enable the option Automatic sorting.
5. Select categories that interest you (for example, "Social networks", "Photos video").

The advantage of this approach is folders are updated automatically when new ones are installed applications. For example, if you install a new game, it will immediately go to the "Games" folder. Minus - some utilities may require additional permissions (for example, access to the list of applications), which is not always safe.

Common problems and their solutions

Sometimes creating folders in the application menu can be difficult. Here are the most common problems and solutions. their solutions:

Problem	Possible cause	Solution
No "Create folder" option	Outdated version of Android or shell	Update the system or install an alternative launcher
Folders disappear after reboot	Launcher cache failure	Clear the cache in Settings → Applications → [Your launcher] → Memory → Clear cache
You cannot rename the folder	Shell limitation (for example, EMUI)	Use a third-party launcher (for example, Nova)
Applications are not saved in the folder	Conflict with the battery optimizer	Add the launcher to exceptions in Settings → Battery → Battery optimization
No subfolders	The shell does not support the function	Install MIUI 12+ or an alternative launcher

If none of the methods helped, check if the folder function is disabled in the launcher settings. For example, in some versions. EMUI (Huawei) folders in the application menu are blocked at the system level. In this case, there are only two options:

1. Use folders on desktop (not in the application menu).
2. Install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), if your device supports bootloader unlocking.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (especially budget models Realme, Infinix or Tecno) manufacturers are removing the folder function in the application menu to simplify the interface. In this case, an alternative launcher is the only solution.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to create a folder? in the application menu on Android 13?

Yes, but the method depends on the shell. In pure Android 13 (for example, on Google Pixel 7), folders are created by dragging icons on top of each other. There is a separate editing mode. If the function does not work, update the launcher or install a third-party one (for example, One UI 5.0 (Samsung) and MIUI 14 (Xiaomi) there is a separate editing mode for this. If the function does not work, update the launcher or install a third-party one (for example, Nova Launcher).

Why did all the folders in the application menu disappear after the update?

This is a typical problem when switching to a new version of the shell (for example, from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13). Try:

1. Reboot your device.
2. Clear the launcher cache in the application settings.
3. Restore the folders from the backup (if it is in Mi Cloud or Google Drive).

If all else fails, you will have to create the folders again.

Is it possible to create folders in the application menu on Huawei (EMUI)?

In most versions EMUI (for example, Huawei P30 or Mate 20) you cannot create folders in the application menu - this shell limitation. Alternatives:

• Use folders on the desktop.
• Install a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher).
• Activate the "Simple Screen" mode in the launcher settings - it groups applications into categories automatically.

How to transfer folders from one Android smartphone to another?

The transfer methods depend on the shell:

• Samsung: Use Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch to backup settings launcher.
• Xiaomi: Enable synchronization with Mi Account in the launcher settings.
• Clean Android: Export settings via Nova Launcher (function Backup in the settings).
• Universal method: Take screenshots of folders and restore them manually on a new device.

Is there a limit on the number of folders or applications in one folder?

Limitations depend on the shell and version of Android:

• Pure Android: Up to 16 applications in one folder, subfolders are not supported.
• One UI (Samsung): Up to 30 applications in a folder, but may slow down opening.
• MIUI (Xiaomi): Up to 20 applications per folder, subfolders are supported (up to 3 levels).
• Nova Launcher: There are no restrictions, but folders that are too large may lag.

If a folder is slow, split it into several smaller ones.