How to Organize Your Computer

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 9, 2021

If you have many pictures, documents, music and other digital files, you know that they can become unorganized. Follow the steps below to create a well organized, powerful computer organization system. These instructions are for Windows users, but the instructions can apply on other operating systems also, in the abstract.

Steps

1
Make folders. If you have pictures, you need a pictures folder. Class-work requires a folder and sub-categories. Family Photos requires the sub categories: Family trips, or Family Occasions. If you also use this computer for work, make a work folder. Make folders for anything you need.
2
Organize with icons. Right-click the folder and go to Properties. Under the Customize Tab, Under Change Icon You will be able to change the normal folder icon to a personalized one. If you are doing something with pictures, it may be a good idea to change the icon to a camera, and so on and so forth.

Advertisement
3
Personalize the computer. More personalizing helps you remember things and organize. Explore things and right click everywhere. The Control Panel Is the best place to begin.
4
Don't place your icons on the side. Place them Left-to-Right, starting with the top and making your way down. This may seem unusual, but is much easier to see and is more neat and make sure they are in a good size to read them, medium is the best.
5
Make sure you have memory and back-up folders outside the network in case of data loss.
6
Remove unneeded files from your desktop.

Community Q&A

Question

What are the steps to sort data?

Community Answer

Categorize it, make folders that clearly state what files are contained inside. Also, name your files well, don't use names like "MyDoc1.pdf" or something like that, make sure it says what that file contains - like "MyResume.pdf."
Question

How do I make a new file folder and how put several files in one?

Emily Sinclair

Community Answer

To make a folder go to your desktop, right click, go down to new, then click on the folder. To add other folders, open the folder and at the to, it should say new folder.
Question

Is it more important to not have things on my desktop?

Community Answer

Not really. It may add a couple of seconds to displaying the home screen upon booting, but other than that, it's fine. The number of items can increase the amount of time you spend looking for what you need, but if you're familiar with the locations of things, then keep whatever's handy on the desktop.

Warnings

Do not delete files you might possibly need.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 16 Not Helpful 2
Do not delete files out of the Program files folder, C:\WINDOWS folder or Documents and Settings folder.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 15 Not Helpful 2
Do not delete registry keys or important system files!

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 17 Not Helpful 3
If the computer is shared, do not delete files that other people own.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 13 Not Helpful 3
Folders named Temp or Temporary can be dangerous for organization. They usually end up being a "catch-all" for files that really should be organized or deleted. If you use a temp folder, make sure you take the time to sort through it at least once per week.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0