Windows 7 gives you a lot of different ways to customize the things you see on your screen, and the ways that you display your files and folders.
Most of these changes are applied to different folders in the same way, but some folders, like your Pictures folder, can be organized in a slightly different manner.
The Pictures folder includes an additional item on its shortcut menu called the Arrange By menu. This option allows you to sort pictures in that folder by Month, Day, Rating or Tag. However, choosing to sort your images with one of these parameters will change and remove a couple of other items on the shortcut menu that you are probably used to using.
If, for example, you are unable to add a new folder in your Windows 7 Pictures folder, then it is likely due to your use of a sort filter on the Arrange By menu.
Fix Your Windows 7 Pictures Folder if Everything is Sorted By Date
Using one of these special organizational methods for your Pictures folder is a great way to find a picture if you know when you took it, but are unable to locate the image using a different method. But if you use the Arrange By menu to sort by month or day, then you will not be able to add a new folder, as the folders in this view are created only based upon image creation date. Luckily you can easily return to the default folder view that will allow you to add and sort items in the manner to which you are accustomed.
Step 1: Click the Start button at the bottom-left corner of your screen, then click Pictures in the column at the right side of the window.
Step 2: Right-click in an empty space in the folder.
Step 3: Click Arrange By at the top of the shortcut menu, then click Folder.
All of the regular columns and file sorting options should now be restored, and you should be able to add a new folder from the right-click menu.
Now that you know how to change a setting so that you can create new folders inside of the Pictures folder on your Windows 7 computer, you will be able to better sort those files.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.