---
title: Create a managed folder
type: how-to
section: drive
summary: Choose Create managed folder, give it a name, add an optional description and category, and Drive opens the new folder. New folders start private.
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-create-workspace-dialog.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-workspace-kinds.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/content-platform/content-platform-workspaces-panel.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/app/i18n/locales/en/content-platform.json
verified:
  at: 2026-09-04
  env: code
  by: content-lane-drive
ttl_days: 45
related: [drive/invite-people-to-a-managed-folder, drive/managed-folder-settings, drive/delete-a-managed-folder]
---

A managed folder is the shared container in Drive: it holds files, members, sites, activity and snapshots. Choose **Create managed folder**, type a name, and choose **Create managed folder** in the dialog. Drive opens the folder straight away.

## Create it

1. Open **All managed folders** and choose **Create managed folder** at the top right. The same dialog opens from **New managed folder** in the rail's **New** menu, and from the small plus next to the **Managed folders** heading.
2. Type a name into **Managed folder name**. The example in the field reads **e.g. FY26 strategy launch**.
3. Add a **Description (optional)**. The field asks **What is this managed folder for?**
4. Choose a **Managed folder category** if one fits. The help text under the control says **Used to organize and filter managed folders. It does not change permissions or workflows.**
5. Choose **Create managed folder**. The button reads **Creating…** while the folder is being made, then Drive opens it.

The name is the only required field. The submit button stays disabled until you type one.

## Categories

The picker offers **Research**, **Course / teaching**, **Thesis / dissertation**, **Student project**, **Administration & operations**, **Events**, **Alumni & community**, **Compliance** and **Public web / outreach**, or **No category**.

The field also accepts your own wording: type a value and choose the row that offers to use what you typed. A folder with no category is listed as **Uncategorized**.

Category is a label for finding and filtering folders. It grants nothing and starts no workflow.

## What you get

A new managed folder is **Private**: you are the only person who can see it until you share it. It has no files, no members and no snapshots. Its tabs are **Overview**, **Sites**, **Members**, **Activity** and **Snapshots**.

You can rename the folder and change its category later. The description is fixed at creation and shown read-only on **Overview** afterwards.

## If it did not work

- If the button will not activate, the name is empty after trimming spaces.
- **Current account id is unavailable. Refresh your session before creating a managed folder.** means your session lost its Account. Reload the page and try again.
- **Failed to create managed folder.** points at the service rather than your input. Creating a folder needs write access to managed folders in your Account; ask an Account administrator if it keeps failing.
- To share the new folder, see [Invite people to a managed folder](/help/drive/invite-people-to-a-managed-folder).