How to Create a New Notes Folder on an iPhone 14

To create a new folder in Notes on an iPhone 14, open the Notes app and go to the Folders list. Tap the New Folder button (a folder with a plus sign) in the bottom-left corner, type a name, and tap Done. If you have more than one account, such as iCloud and Gmail, choose where the folder should go first.

Applies to: iPhone 14 and other iPhones with iOS 17 or later. Checked against Apple Support on October 10, 2026.

Create a folder

1. Open Notes.
2. If a note or folder is open, tap the back arrow until you see the Folders list.
3. Tap the New Folder button in the bottom-left corner.
4. If asked, pick the account, such as iCloud or On My iPhone.
5. Type a name and tap Done.

Folders in iCloud sync to your other Apple devices. Folders under On My iPhone stay only on this iPhone.

Create a folder inside another folder

In the Folders list, touch and hold the folder you want to move, then drag it onto another folder. It becomes a subfolder, and you can tap the arrow next to the parent folder to show or hide it. To move it back out, drag it to the top of the list.

Move notes into a folder

• One note: In the list of notes, swipe left on a note, tap the folder icon, and choose the destination folder.
• Several notes: Open a folder, tap the More button (three dots), tap Select Notes, select the notes, then tap Move and choose a folder.
• From inside a note: Tap the More button, then Move Note.

Make a Smart Folder

A Smart Folder gathers notes automatically based on rules, such as a tag or the date they were created. The notes stay in their own folders too.

1. In the Folders list, tap the New Folder button.
2. Tap Make into Smart Folder.
3. Choose filters, such as Tags, Date Created, Checklists, or Attachments.
4. Tap Done, name the folder, and tap Done again.

To tag a note, type a word with a hashtag in front of it, such as #work, anywhere in the note.

Change how a folder looks

Open a folder and tap the More button (three dots). Choose View as Gallery to see thumbnails instead of a list, or use the sort options to order notes by date edited, date created, or title. You can also turn on Group by Date to split notes into Today, Previous 7 Days, and so on.

Rename, share, or delete a folder

• Rename: Touch and hold the folder and tap Rename.
• Share: Touch and hold an iCloud folder and tap Share Folder to invite others to see or edit every note in it.
• Delete: Swipe left on the folder and tap the trash icon. The notes inside move to Recently Deleted, where you can recover them for up to 30 days.

Video: creating a Notes folder

Ideas for organizing your notes

• Keep a few broad folders, such as Home, Work, and Shopping, rather than many small ones.
• Pin important notes to the top: swipe right on a note and tap the pin.
• Use tags for things that cut across folders, such as #recipes or #travel.
• Use the search bar at the top of the Folders list to find any note, even inside folders.

If you can’t create a folder

• The New Folder button isn’t there: You’re inside a folder or note. Go back to the main Folders list.
• You can’t choose On My iPhone: Turn on “On My iPhone” Account in the Notes settings (Settings > Notes, or Settings > Apps > Notes).
• The folder doesn’t appear on your Mac or iPad: Make sure it’s in the iCloud section and that Notes is turned on for iCloud on both devices.
• You can’t make a subfolder: Subfolders and Smart Folders only work in iCloud or On My iPhone, not in accounts like Gmail.

Frequently asked questions

Can I lock a whole folder?

No. You can lock individual notes: open a note, tap the More button, and tap Lock.

How many folders can I have?

Apple doesn’t set a practical limit, but too many folders make notes harder to find. Smart Folders and tags help keep the list short.

Do folders work the same on iPad and Mac?

Yes. iCloud folders appear on all your Apple devices, and you can create them in the Notes app on each one.

Related: how to set up a new iPhone 15 and how to turn off background app refresh on iPhone 14.