Skip to main content
Tech Radar Tech Radar TechRadar The source for Tech Buying Advice
Subscribe
RSS
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
Technology Magazines
(opens in new tab)
Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View Deal (opens in new tab)
  • News
  • Best
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • How To
  • Versus
  • Deals
  • More
    • Appliances
    • Audiovisual
    • Cameras
    • Car Tech
    • Computing
    • Downloads
    • Entertainment
    • Fitness
    • Laptops
    • Phones
    • Smart Home
    • Tablets
    • TVs
    • Wearables
    • About Us
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Samsung Galaxy S23
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
  • Wordle today
  • Best phones
  • Best VPN

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. How-to
  3. Computing

How to color-code files and folders in Windows 10

By Cat Ellis
published 20 June 2017

Use custom colors and icons to get organized

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Introduction

Introduction

Finding your way around Windows Explorer can be a tricky business. Folders give you a tiny preview of the files within, but a tiny sliver of a document is rarely enough to tell you whether it's the one you need.

Keeping your files arranged in a logical system of folders will help, as will using a consistent method for naming them, but you could easily spend hours arranging them and end up with a vast, unwieldy system that takes forever to browse through.

It would be much easier if you could label everything with a colour, as you can on a Mac. That’s where Folder Marker Free (opens in new tab) and FileMarker.NET Free (opens in new tab) come in. These programs let you assign colours to files and folders, and add extra symbols to indicate importance or progress. Here's how to get started.

  • Want to make the switch to macOS? These are the best Mac tips
Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
1. Do a little housework

1. Do a little housework

Before you start color-coding, it’s worth taking a little time to tidy things up by deleting any files that you no longer need, including bits left over by software you’ve uninstalled. Also make sure your files are in the right folders (photos in Pictures, songs in Music and text files in Documents, for example).

Once any rubbish is removed, make a backup of your Documents folder on an external hard drive, or a cloud storage service like DropBox (opens in new tab).

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
2. Get Folder Marker Free

2. Get Folder Marker Free

Once everything is organised and backed up, download Folder Marker Free (opens in new tab) (make sure you select the version on the right-hand side of the page) and run the installer.

When the program launches for the first time, click the Colors tab to see the different hues available for your folders. There are 12 options in the free version of the software, not including Windows' default manila colour.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
3. Color your folders

3. Color your folders

Click the small green '...' icon and choose a folder to colour, then click 'OK'. Pick a colour and click 'Apply', then open Windows Explorer to see the change.

You'll notice that coloured folders don't give you a preview of their contents like standard Windows folders do. That's because they're effectively replacing the dynamic 'live' icons with static images. Its a shame, but is the only drawback of Folder Marker.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
4. Use special icons

4. Use special icons

Folder Marker also gives you a selection of status icons to use. These include high priority, private, high importance, and half-done work. To use these, select a folder as you did in step three, then click the 'Main' tab and choose an icon. Click 'Apply', then check the results in Windows Explorer.

You'll find a huge variety of other options if you click the 'User icons' tab, but these are all Windows system icons aren't really intended for folders. It's best not to use them, to avoid confusion.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
5. Use the context menu

5. Use the context menu

Right-click a folder in Windows Explorer and you'll see a new option in the context menu: 'Mark Folder'. This doesn't give you as many colour and icon options as the main Folder Marker interface, but it's faster, and a convenient way to update status icons when you've finished a piece of work.

Selecting 'More icons' reveals the full interface, and 'Restore default' undoes any changes you've made.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
6. Mark your files

6. Mark your files

Once you're happy with your folders, it's time to move onto files. Download FileMarker.NET (opens in new tab), again being careful to select the free version on the right-hand side. Run the installer and let the program launch once it's finished.

FileMarker.NET is very similar to Folder Marker, so click the green '...' button, select a file, click and colour and click 'Apply'.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
7. Add status icons

7. Add status icons

FileMarker.NET doesn't work with images (which makes sense, since their icons already show exactly what they are), but it's brilliant for text documents, spreadsheets, databases and presentations, which otherwise look identical.

Open Windows Explorer to see how your re-coloured file looks. You can also apply status symbols to files to indicate progress and priority - even if you've re-coloured the file icon.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
8. Make your own system

8. Make your own system

You now have all the tools you need to get your files and folders organised in a way that suits you. You want your photos from last year? Easy - they're all in purple folders, sorted by location. How about the presentation that's due tomorrow? It's in your red work folder, marked as important.

You'll never be stuck hunting through Windows Explorer again.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Cat Ellis
Cat Ellis
Social Links Navigation

Cat is the editor of TechRadar's sister site Advnture. She’s a UK Athletics qualified run leader, and in her spare time enjoys nothing more than lacing up her shoes and hitting the roads and trails (the muddier, the better)

See more Software how-to
  1. Chained Echoes Keyart
    1
    Final Fantasy 16 may already have been outdone by a new 16-bit RPG
  2. 2
    One of the worst parts of Microsoft Teams is getting a welcome makeover
  3. 3
    I’ve reviewed laptops for decades; and this $499 Core i7 2-in-1 laptop is perfect for freelancers
  4. 4
    Nikon Z8: What to expect
  5. 5
    Intel’s 31TB SSD sees huge price drop at Walmart but it won’t fit your PC
  1. Chained Echoes Keyart
    1
    Final Fantasy 16 may already have been outdone by a new 16-bit RPG
  2. 2
    Netflix is testing the loyalty of younger generations - and it won’t win
  3. 3
    What is Bluetooth LE Audio? The next-gen wireless connection explained
  4. 4
    I've finally found a way to get the crispiest air fryer potato wedges
  5. 5
    LG A3 OLED TV: everything we know about the mysterious cheaper model

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Contact Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Web notifications (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.