Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

The "Manage Folders" link seems to have disappeared from the new Windows Live Hotmail. I'll show you where it's hiding.

There USED to be an option at the bottom of the list of folders in Windows Live Hotmail called 'manage folders'. In their infinite wisdom, at the last so called 'upgrade' they took that option away. Now I have no idea how to delete folders.

You and a lot of people.

After posting a pretty silly workaround that I couldn't believe, a reader chimed in with the answer.

It's hidden. In plain sight. No, I wouldn't have thought to click there.

Here's the folder list:

Hotmail's folder list on the left

In previous incarnations of Hotmail there was an additional link: "Manage Folders" that allowed you to add, delete and rename additional folder of your own.

It's gone.

Here's the magic:

The Manage Folders 'gear'

If you hover your mouse over the "Folders" label, a small "gear" will appear to its right.

Click on that:

Hotmail's Manage Folders in a Popup menu

There it is. Click on Manage Folders and you add folders, as well as delete or rename folders that you've added. (The base set of folders shown above cannot be deleted or renamed, only those that you've added can be.)

Thanks to Mike, first of the commenters below, to point this out.

Article C4389 - August 4, 2010

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

Not what you needed?

Recent Comments
26 Comments

Dears:
I am very glad to visit this web searching sites. I really faced problem how to delete unwanted folders in Windows Hotmail . When searched for my problem I really found very good information that helped me to solve my problem and work proper and professional in managing my hotmail system.

Thank you
Zekria Danishyar
Afghanistan
Kabul City

Posted by: Danishyar at November 15, 2011 6:01 AM

THANK YOU SOO MUCH!! i couldnt work out how to delete a folder in my hotmail account! thank god for this site because it showed me the steps on how to do it! thank you to the person who created this site!! :)

Posted by: Sammy at November 22, 2011 6:11 PM

When I hover the mouse over "Folders" the gear doesn't appear!!!!

Posted by: Sandy at January 13, 2012 8:56 AM

Aha, I have solved my problem. Not sure which version of Hotmail I have, but I figured out that if I right click on the folder name, it gives several options, including to "delete" the folder.

Posted by: Sandy at January 13, 2012 10:43 AM

I have been looking for Managed Folders for months so I could delete unwanted folders.
Leo thank you very much. You have solved my problem.

Posted by: Philip Hardy at February 1, 2012 5:34 AM
Post a comment on "How do I delete a folder in the new Windows Live Hotmail?":





Remember Me?

(You may use HTML tags for style)

Before commenting, please...

  • READ THE ARTICLE. A comment that shows you didn't will be deleted and ignored.

  • Comment only on the article. Use the search box at the top of the page if you have a question about something else.

  • NO PERSONAL INFORMATION in the comment. No email addresses. No phone numbers. No physical addresses.

  • Anything that looks the least bit like spam will be deleted. Links to unrelated sites or links that appear to be primarily promotional will be deleted, or the comment will be deleted.

  • Don't ask me to recover lost passwords or hacked accounts. I can't. Those comments will be deleted.

  • I can't respond to every comment. And I can't vouch for the accuracy of others who do.

Please wait. Your comment is being processed ...