Windows has built-in icons that you can use, or you can create your own. To start, simply open a new window in your File Explorer, and select the folder you’d like to color. Step 1: Open File Explorer and Select Folder Let’s start by looking at the default way. Just like on your Mac, there are different ways to color folders on a PC – by doing it manually, or by using an app.

Needless to say, it’s very tempting to want to go with something different…something more colorful. Don’t you agree?įor those of you using Macs, the default folder color in Windows is a muted yellow that brings to mind those neutral paper folders you pick up at office supply stores (maybe that’s the point? Yikes!)… Not particularly uplifting to look at when you’re organizing. I say that’s evidence enough that coloring your folders is a good idea. Their conclusion? “Results indicate color improves time performance…,” which means that if you’re anything like the people they studied, you’ll probably be more productive by using color folders instead of regular ones. Maybe we should paint that brick wall?įor those of you who want to delve deeper into figuring out which color will help you remember your core folder structure better, there is a great research paper by the Association for Computing Machinery here that investigates the effect of color on people. When I hear that I get excited because looking for connections is what genealogy is all about. How do you distinguish between them without exhausting your brain? Well, as it turns out, the answer is “by coloring them.” Color-coding your stuff apparently triggers the mind-mapping part of your brain that lets you see connections that may otherwise be lost on you.

Obviously, this topic was one that interested a lot of people, who I’m guessing are just as bored as I am when faced with thousands of folders that look exactly the same. Science Says: Color Folders As Much as PossibleĪfter I posted the last blog post on how to color folders on your Mac, I was excited to see how much positive feedback came though my social networks. So go forth, my organized friend, and color your world! 😉

Today, we’ll be going over how to do this on a PC so that you MS fans out there also can have a colorful folder system in your world! I’ll be going over two ways of customizing your folders, but I think as you keep reading, it’ll become very clear which one I prefer. In the last blog post, we talked about how to color folders on your Mac, so that you can have a great visual organizing system.

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