Merge Folders in Windows 11

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It happens to us a lot of the time. Our files are scattered across multiple folders. When we need to find a file, we can’t find it easily. We look for it in one folder after another, only wasting our precious time.

Merging folders with similar files can help you keep your data organized and easy to find. You’ll know which folder has a higher chance of getting your file.

But merging folders may not be an easy task. What happens if you have hundreds of thousands of files? Things get even more complicated when a folder has a mix of different file types, like documents, photos and music. Keep reading as we explore some easy ways to merge your folders in Windows 11.

Method 1: Manually Merge Folders With No Unneeded Files

It’s easy to merge two simple folders without any unneeded files. Here’s how:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Go to the drive where you want to merge your folders. (For example: D:\)
  3. Create a new folder: MergedFiles
  4. Create a new tab.
  5. Go to the first folder that contains your files. (For example: D:\FirstFolder)
  6. Press Ctrl + A to select all the files and subfolders.
  7. Cut (Ctrl + X) and paste (Ctrl + V) them into the MergedFiles folder.
  8. Create a new tab.
  9. Go to the second folder that contains your remaining files. (For example: D:\SecondFolder)
  10. Press Ctrl + A to select all the files and subfolders.
  11. Move them to the MergedFiles folder.

Method 2: Manually Merge Folders With A Mix Of Unneeded Files

If you have a mix of file types, it can be challenging. We will be using search operators to filter files and then move only specific file types into the combined folder.

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Go to the drive where you want to merge your folders. (For example: D:\)
  3. Create a new folder: MergedFiles
  4. Create a new tab.
  5. Go to the first folder from where you want to move your files. (For example: D:\FirstFolder)
  6. Click on the Search box on the upper right corner of your screen, type “type:pdf OR type:docx” (without quotes)
  7. Press Enter.
  8. File Explorer will show Search Results with only PDF and DOCX files in the active directory.
  9. Press Ctrl + A to select all the files from the Search Results.
  10. Cut (Ctrl + X) and paste (Ctrl + V) them into the merged folder (D:\MergedFiles).
  11. Repeat the same steps to move specific files from the second folder (D:\SecondFolder) to the merged folder.

Note: Although I have used .pdf and .docx extensions in the above example, you can use any other file extensions as per your requirement.

Method 3: Using Easy File Renamer

Easy File Renamer is an industry-standard file renaming utility. Although its primary function is to batch rename your files, it also contains an addon tool for organizing your folders. You can merge multiple folders at once using the EFR’s Organizer functionality.

  1. Download and install Easy File Renamer.
  2. Click on the Organizer tab.
  3. Click on Add Path, and select the first folder you want to merge.
  4. Click on OK.
  5. Click on Add Path, and select the second folder you want to merge.
  6. Click on OK.
  7. In the Organize Files drop-down box, select the file types you want to organize. There are several options such as documents, images, music, videos, archive, etc.
  8. In the Organize By drop-down box, choose whether you want to organize your files by their date of creation or date of modification. Date taken option is also available for photos.
  9. In the Date Format drop-down box, specify the date format you want to keep (For example, year-month-day, etc.).
  10. Choose a folder creation pattern (For example, year month day, year month, or year)
  11. Select the “Move files” option, and then click on the Organize button.

Method 4: Using FreeFileSync

You can also use a freeware folder compare tool FreeFileSync. Here’s how:

  1. Download and install FreeFileSync.
  2. Click on the New icon.
  3. Specify the left folder and a right folder.
  4. Click on the Compare button.
  5. FreeFileSync will compare your folders and display the differences.
  6. Click on the Synchronize button.
  7. The synchronization process will take some time depending on the number of files.
  8. Once your files are synced, both the folders will have the same files. It’s safe to delete either folder.
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