Automatically sort your files into the right folders with FolderFresh
Keeping files organised can quietly turn into a time sink. Downloads pile up, documents end up everywhere, and before long you are dragging files around instead of getting work done. FolderFresh is designed to take over that job for you by automatically sorting files into folders based on rules you define.
FolderFresh runs in the background and watches selected folders. When new files appear, it automatically moves them to the correct location using rules based on file type, name, or date. Once it is set up, you do not need to think about it again.
https://trihedron1240.github.io/FolderFresh
Getting started
After installing FolderFresh, you may be prompted to install or update the .NET runtime. This is normal and only needs to be done once. When FolderFresh opens, you are taken to the Home screen, which shows your folders, rules, and categories.
Step 1: Choose a working folder
Start by creating or selecting a folder that FolderFresh will monitor. Many people use a temporary “processing” folder on the Desktop. Any files you drop into this folder will be organised automatically once your rules are active.
Step 2: Create your first rule
Open the Rules section and click New rule. Give the rule a clear name so you know what it does later. Make sure the rule is enabled, so it runs automatically.
You can now define conditions for the rule. For example, you might want all Word documents to be moved into a specific folder. Choose:
- File extension
- Contains
- Enter
.doc(this will also catch.docxfiles)
Step 3: Add date-based sorting
FolderFresh can also sort files by age. You can add a condition such as “Date created is before a specific date.” This is useful for archiving older files automatically.
Once the condition is set, choose Move to folder and select where those files should go, such as an “Old Documents” folder inside your Documents library.
Step 4: Test your setup
To check that everything works, drag a mix of files into your processing folder. Click Organize Now and FolderFresh will immediately move files into the correct folders based on your rules.
Step 5: Use categories for smarter sorting
FolderFresh includes built-in categories like Documents, Images, and Audio. These categories group file types automatically. You can turn categories on or off, or create your own custom category by selecting which file extensions it should include.
This is useful if you want, for example, all image files moved to one folder and all audio files moved to another without creating multiple separate rules.
Why it’s useful
Once configured, FolderFresh saves time every day. Files are organised as soon as they appear, your folders stay clean, and you no longer need to manually sort downloads or work files.
Final thoughts
FolderFresh is a simple but powerful way to automate file organisation in Windows. Spend a short time setting it up, and it quietly keeps your folders tidy in the background, leaving you free to focus on more important work.
