How to Include Folder or Drive to a Library in Windows 10
Libraries gather folders that are stored in different locations so you can browse them in one place. You can include folders and drives to a library as you like.
When you include a folder in a library, the files appear in the library, but continue to be stored in their original locations.
Your Camera Roll, Documents, Music, Pictures, Saved Pictures, and Videos libraries are in the hidden %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries folder.
See also: Windows libraries | Microsoft Docs
Where is the folder stored? |
Can it be included in a library? |
On your C drive, or other internal drives on your PC |
Yes |
On a CD or DVD |
No |
On a USB flash drive, SD card, microSD card, or portable external hard drive |
Yes, but the files and folders will be available only when the device or drive is connected. |
On a network |
Yes, as long as the network location is indexed, or the folder has been made available offline. |
On a different PC in your homegroup |
Yes |
On a network-attached storage (NAS) device |
No |
- You can include up to 50 folders and drives to a library, but the included folder or drive (parent) can have as many folders in it as usual.
- If you upgraded your PC from an earlier version of Windows, each of your libraries will include a Public folder by default.
- To be able to search in libraries, the Windows Search service needs to be set to be Running and Automatic.
- Libraries require it's included folders to also be added to the index to be able to search them even though they will still open properly.
This tutorial will show you how to include a folder to a library for your account in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: To Include Folder or Drive to Library using Manage Library Tools
- Option Two: To Include Folder to Library using Library Properties
- Option Three: To Include Folder to Library using "Include in Library"
OPTION ONE
To Include Folder or Drive to Library using Manage Library Tools
1 In
File Explorer (Win+E), select or open a library (ex: Videos) you want to include a folder or drive to.
2 Click/tap on the
Library Tools Manage tab, and click/tap on the
Manage library button in the ribbon. (see screenshots below)
3 Click/tap on the
Add button. (see screenshot below)
4 Browse to and select a folder or drive that you want to include in this library, and click/tap on the
Include folder button. (see screenshot below)
4 When finished, click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
To Include Folder or Drive to Library using Library Properties
1 In
File Explorer (Win+E), right click or press and hold on a library (ex: Videos) you want to include a folder or drive to, and click/tap on
Properties. (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on the
Add button. (see screenshot below)
3 Browse to and select a folder or drive that you want to include in this library, and click/tap on the
Include folder button. (see screenshot below)
4 When finished, click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
OPTION THREE
To Include Folder or Drive to Library using "Include in Library"
1 Do
step 2 or
step 3 below for how you want to use
Include in library.
2 In
File Explorer (Win+E), right click or press and hold on a folder or drive that you want to include in a library, click/tap on
Include in library, and click/tap on the
library (ex: Videos) you want to include it to. (see screenshot below)
3 In
File Explorer (Win+E), select a folder or drive that you want to include in a library, click/tap on the
Home tab, click/tap on
Easy access in the ribbon, click/tap on
Include in library, and click/tap on the
library (ex: Videos) you want to include it to. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn