Use folders to organize your work
When it comes to managing projects or documents, organization can make a big difference in how quickly and easily we find what we need. Confluence, a popular tool for team collaboration, has introduced a new feature—Folders—to help organize content more effectively. Let’s break down what folders are, how to use them, and why they’re different from other ways to group information.
What Are Folders in Confluence?
Think of folders in Confluence like the folders on your computer. They’re simple containers you can use to store related documents or content, without any additional information built in. This is different from Parent Pages, which act as containers too but come with a “Read Me” kind of introduction. Parent Pages give a bit more context about the contents, which can be helpful when context is important. Folders, on the other hand, are there just to hold things, keeping your workspace tidy and easy to navigate.
How to Create a Folder
Setting up folders in Confluence is straightforward. Here’s how:
- Go to the Confluence space where you want to add a folder.
- Hover over “Content” in the content tree, then click on the + symbol.
- Select Folder from the drop-down menu, and give it a name (without any sensitive information).
- If you’d like to nest one folder inside another, just hover over the folder title in the content tree, click the + again, and follow the same steps.
A quick tip: You can’t create folders using the global “Create” button—folders have to be created directly within the content tree to ensure they fit into the space’s structure.
How to Delete a Folder
If you decide a folder is no longer needed, removing it is easy:
- Hover over the folder title in the content tree.
- Select Delete from the “More options” menu.
- Confirm your choice by clicking Delete again.
One helpful feature is that when you delete a folder, its contents don’t disappear. Instead, any files, pages, or folders it held simply move up one level in the content tree. For example, if “Marketing” is a subfolder of “Project Artemis,” and “Marketing” has a document called “Artemis AI Launch Campaign,” deleting the “Marketing” folder will move “Artemis AI Launch Campaign” up, directly under “Project Artemis.”
Turning Folders On or Off
In Confluence, folders are available by default. But, if you want to turn them off (or turn them back on), only a space admin can do so:
- Go to the Confluence space’s Space settings.
- Select Features under “Manage space.”
- Use the toggle next to Folders under “Content” to turn them on or off.
It’s worth noting that this control is only available at the space level, meaning it applies to individual spaces rather than the whole Confluence site.
Why Use Folders?
Folders in Confluence give teams an extra layer of organization, making it easier to structure related work without added complexity. Whether it’s dividing up marketing campaigns, categorizing project documents, or separating design files, folders make it simple for teams to group content in a way that’s accessible and logical for everyone.
In short, folders are a great addition for teams looking to keep their Confluence spaces clean and efficient. Give them a try and see how they can help make organizing your workspace easier and more intuitive!