How to Create Files and Folders on Mac (Finder + Terminal)

If you just need the short answer:

• Create a new folder in Finder with Shift + Command + N.
• Create a file in Terminal with touch filename.txt.
• Create nested folders in Terminal with mkdir -p path/to/folder.

If you do this often (project setup, client work, recurring deliverables), keep reading for the most reliable methods.

Jump to what you need

• Create folders in Finder
• Create files manually on Mac
• Use Terminal commands (mkdir, touch)
• Create a full project structure fast
• Troubleshooting common errors
• FAQ

How to create folders manually in Finder

Finder is the easiest option for one-off tasks.

1. Open Finder and go to the location where you want the folder.
2. Press Shift + Command + N (or right-click and choose New Folder).
3. Type the folder name and press Return.

Create multiple folders quickly in Finder

You can repeat Shift + Command + N, but this gets slow for larger structures. For deep or repeated structures, Terminal is faster.

How to create files manually on Mac

Unlike some file managers, Finder does not include a built-in "New File" button for arbitrary files.

Use this workflow instead:

1. Open an app (for example TextEdit, VS Code, Pages, etc.).
2. Create a new document.
3. Save it in your target folder with the desired name and extension.

For placeholder files (like .txt, .md, .env, .gitkeep), Terminal is usually much faster.

Optional: add a "New Text File" Quick Action in Finder

If you create text files frequently from Finder, you can add a custom Quick Action:

1. Open Automator and create a new Quick Action.
2. Set "Workflow receives current" to files or folders in Finder.
3. Add Run Shell Script and paste:

for f in "$@"; do
  dir="$f"
  [ -d "$f" ] || dir="$(dirname "$f")"
  touch "$dir/new-file.txt"
done

4. Save it as New Text File.
5. In Finder, right-click any folder and run the Quick Action.

How to create folders with Terminal on macOS

Open Terminal, then use mkdir.

Create one folder

mkdir Project

Create nested folders in one command

mkdir -p Project/{docs,assets,src}

This creates:

Project/
  docs/
  assets/
  src/

Create folders with spaces in names

mkdir -p "Client Work/2026/Q1 Reports"

How to create files with Terminal on macOS

Use touch to create empty files.

Create one file

touch notes.txt

Create multiple files at once

touch index.html styles.css script.js

Create files in nested folders

mkdir -p app/{controllers,models,views}
touch app/controllers/.gitkeep app/models/.gitkeep app/views/.gitkeep

Create a full project structure in seconds

Here is a practical starter example:

mkdir -p "Website Project"/{content/{drafts,published},assets/{images,video},docs}
touch "Website Project"/docs/README.md
touch "Website Project"/content/drafts/ideas.md

Developer starter snippet (copy/paste)

mkdir -p my-app/{src/{components,pages,lib},public,tests,docs}
touch my-app/src/pages/index.tsx
touch my-app/src/components/.gitkeep
touch my-app/src/lib/.gitkeep
touch my-app/tests/.gitkeep
touch my-app/docs/README.md

If you repeat this setup often, save it as a reusable template in File Architect so you can generate the same structure without rewriting commands each time.

Common mistakes (and fixes)

1) No such file or directory

The parent folder does not exist yet. Use mkdir -p first.

mkdir -p project/docs
touch project/docs/notes.md

2) Permission denied

You are writing to a protected location. Use a folder inside your home directory (for example ~/Documents) or adjust permissions carefully.

3) Paths with spaces fail

Wrap the path in quotes:

touch "Client Work/invoice.txt"

Manual vs Terminal vs File Architect

If you only do this occasionally, Finder or Terminal is enough.
If you repeat the same setup every week, a reusable structure template in File Architect is typically faster and more consistent.

FAQ

Can I create a new text file directly in Finder?

Not natively as a general "New File" action. The standard approach is creating the file in an app and saving it, or using touch in Terminal.

What is the fastest way to create many folders on Mac?

For simple one-off folders, Finder shortcuts are fine. For many or nested folders, mkdir -p in Terminal is faster and easier to repeat.

Does touch overwrite file contents?

No. If the file exists, touch updates timestamps. If it does not exist, it creates an empty file.

Should I use Finder, Terminal, or File Architect?

Use Finder for occasional manual work, Terminal for command-based workflows, and File Architect when you want reusable visual templates without rewriting commands each time.