Files & Folders

---

The Filing Cabinet Analogy

Your computer is organized exactly like a physical filing system:

Physical World	Computer World
Filing cabinet	Your computer’s storage (hard drive)
Drawer	Main folders like “Documents” or “Pictures”
Folder	A folder (same name!)
Paper document	A file

🎯 Fun Fact: The folder icon on computers hasn’t changed much since 1981. The person who designed it was inspired by manila folders in an office. Sometimes the simplest ideas stick!

---

Where Your Stuff Lives

Every computer has special folders set up for you:

Windows

• Documents - Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets
• Pictures - Photos and images
• Downloads - Things you download from the internet
• Desktop - The screen you see when you start up
• Music and Videos - You can guess these!

Mac

Same idea, slightly different names:

• Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Movies

---

Creating a Folder

Let’s make a folder right now. This is one of the most useful things you can do.

Windows

1. Right-click on the desktop (or inside any folder)
2. Hover over New
3. Click Folder
4. Type a name and press Enter

Mac

1. Right-click on the desktop (or inside any folder)
2. Click New Folder
3. Type a name and press Enter

---

Try This Now

Create a folder called “Practice” on your desktop:

1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop
2. Choose New → Folder (Windows) or New Folder (Mac)
3. Name it “Practice”

Bonus challenge: Right-click on your new folder and see what options appear. Can you find “Rename” and “Delete”?

---

Saving Files (So You Can Find Them Later)

When you save a file, you choose:

1. What to call it (the filename)
2. Where to put it (which folder)

Smart Saving Habits

1. Create a folder system - For example: Documents → Work → 2026 → January
2. Use descriptive names - “Tax_Return_2026.pdf” beats “Document1.pdf”
3. Check the save location - Look at the folder path before clicking Save
4. Use Save As - Ctrl + Shift + S lets you choose exactly where to save

🎯 Fun Fact: The “Save” icon in most programs is a floppy disk - a storage device that went obsolete around 2000. Many people under 25 have never seen one in real life, but we still use the icon!

---

Finding Lost Files

Don’t panic! Every computer has a search function.

Windows

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard
2. Just start typing the filename (or part of it)
3. Results appear as you type

Mac

1. Press Cmd + Space (opens Spotlight)
2. Type the filename
3. Results appear as you type

---

Try This Now: File Detective

1. Press the Windows key (or Cmd + Space on Mac)
2. Type “downloads” - your Downloads folder should appear
3. Open it and see what’s there - you might be surprised!
4. Now search for “.pdf” - see how many PDF files you have

---

File Extensions: The Secret Endings

Every file has a “secret” ending that tells your computer what type it is:

Extension	Type	Opens With
.docx	Word document	Microsoft Word
.pdf	PDF document	PDF reader
.jpg, .png	Image	Photo viewer
.xlsx	Spreadsheet	Excel
.mp3	Music file	Music player
.mp4	Video file	Video player

💡 Tip: You can often tell what type a file is by its icon. Word documents have a blue “W”, PDFs are usually red, and images show a preview.

---

Organizing Tips

The “Inbox” Method

1. Everything new goes into Downloads or Desktop
2. Once a week, sort these into proper folders
3. If you haven’t sorted something in a month, you probably don’t need it

The 3-Folder Start

Create these three folders in Documents:

1. Work (or Career)
2. Personal (finances, health, etc.)
3. Archive (old stuff you might need someday)

Then create subfolders as needed.

---

Deleting Files (and Getting Them Back)

Deleting

1. Right-click on the file and choose Delete, OR
2. Select the file and press the Delete key

Files only disappear permanently when you “Empty” the Recycle Bin/Trash.

---

Key Takeaways

• Files go inside folders - create folders to stay organized
• Downloads folder is where internet downloads land
• Always check WHERE you’re saving before clicking Save
• Use search (Windows key or Cmd + Space) to find lost files
• Deleted files go to Recycle Bin/Trash first - you can recover them!

Next up: Installing programs safely and understanding what’s running on your computer.