General Create New Library in Windows 11


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New_Library_banner.png

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.



Contents

  • Option One: Create New Library using New context menu
  • Option Two: Create New Library using "Include in library" context menu




Option One

Set Default Save Location for a Library


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)

Create_new_library_from_New_context_menu-1.png

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

Create_new_library_from_New_context_menu-2.png

4 You can now perform the following actions you want: (see screenshot below)
Create_new_library_from_New_context_menu-3.png





Option Two

Create New Library using "Include in library" context menu


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)

Create_new_library_from_Include-in-library-context_menu-1.png

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.


Create_new_library_from_Include-in-library-context_menu-2.png

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.


Create_new_library_from_Include-in-library-context_menu-3.png

5 You can now perform the following actions you want: (see screenshot below)
Create_new_library_from_Include-in-library-context_menu-4.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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How do you modify the Folder Template of a Library folder?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire TC-1760
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-12400
    Motherboard
    Acer Aspire TC-1760
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 730
How do you modify the Folder Template of a Library folder?
Hello, and welcome. :-)

You can use option two below to do so.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Thanks. But I'd like to modify the column headings of each Library folder template type and then apply the template to the folders in those Libraries..
Should I go to the "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries" folder and modify the columns of the folders in that location?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire TC-1760
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-12400
    Motherboard
    Acer Aspire TC-1760
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 730
Thanks. But I'd like to modify the column headings of each Library folder template type and then apply the template to the folders in those Libraries..
Should I go to the "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries" folder and modify the columns of the folders in that location?

You can modify the columns from within any folder in a library to have it applied to all folders in the library.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

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