General Create New Library in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create a new library for your account in Windows 11.

Windows 7 introduced libraries, which provide users with a single, coherent view of their files even when those files are stored in different locations. Libraries can be configured and organized by a user and a library can contain folders that are found on the user's computer and also folders that have been shared over a network. Libraries present a simpler view of the underlying storage system because, to the user, the files and folders in a library are displayed in one single view location, no matter where they are actually physically stored.

In File Explorer, users interact with libraries in ways similar to how they would interact with other folders. Libraries are built upon the legacy known folders (such as Camera Roll, Documents, Music, Pictures, Saved Pictures, and Videos), and these known folders are automatically included in the default libraries and set as the default save location.

References:

Your libraries are located in the hidden %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries folder.

1 Open Libraries in File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Right click on an empty area in Libraries, click/tap on New, and click/tap on Library. (see screenshots below)


3 Type a name you want for this new library. (see screenshots below)


4 You can now perform the following actions you want: (see screenshot below)

• Add (include) locations to the library.
• Set save location.
• Set public save location.
• Optimize this library for a template.
• Change Attributes like Show in navigation pane.
• Change library icon.

1 Right click or press and hold on the folder you want to include in a new library, and click/tap on Show more options. (see screenshot below)


2 Click/tap on Include in library, and click/tap on Create new library. (see screenshot below)

If you do not have the Include in library context menu item available, then the folder is in an unsupported location to be included in a library.

3 Open Libraries in File Explorer (Win+E).

4 You can rename the new library if wanted. (see screenshot below)

The name of the new library will be the same as the folder included in step 2 by default.

5 You can now perform the following actions you want: (see screenshot below)

• Add (include) locations to the library.
• Set save location.
• Set public save location.
• Optimize this library for a template.
• Change Attributes like Show in navigation pane.
• Change library icon.

That's it,
Shawn Brink