# Choose Folder Colours In File Explorer

<code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> brings coloured folders from OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online in to Windows File Explorer. Users can change the colour of their folders, from a palette of 16 colours, directly from Windows File Explorer via the <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> context menu. The colours chosen will reflect in OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online on the web, and vice versa. Folder colours can be used to classify information and assist in rapid visual location of folders.

Coloured folders are enabled by default on a new <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> subscription. The <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> subscription administrator can optionally choose to disable colour folders completely, or enable them only for OneDrive for Business.

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FMtrbONazLxjJRZ1IhbSf%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=58357105-cfc5-4d99-99f7-9638d4733ebe" alt=""><figcaption><p>Choose from a range of 15 different alternative colours to the default yellow</p></figcaption></figure>

To change the folder colour on Windows 11, right click the folder in File Explorer, and navigate in to the <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> menu. Choose the 'Change the colour of this folder' command to show the colour chooser dialog.

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FVulCo9TriSAhQO6snWFh%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=20956c31-c336-4406-914b-d23c962899e1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Select the new colour for the folder and click the 'Apply Colour' button. The folder colour will update with the selected colour.

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FNrqoPWp5nCwCPAupjOqw%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=887fa620-6ff7-430e-8aa7-ba7902f3de89" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The folder colour choice you make will update in File Explorer and will sync to OneDrive and SharePoint Online in the browser, and vice versa.

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FE1Y4nbIvbVwRfQv9pMZc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=bddd567e-b8fc-46e8-a86e-cf63e2622d18" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If a folder colour is changed in OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online in the web, it may take up to a few minutes for File Explorer to show the new colour. Changing a folder colour via the File Explorer context menu will show immediately.

For a step-by-step guide to change the folder colour, refer to [change-folder-colours](https://docs.zeedrive.com/user-guide/change-folder-colours "mention").

Colours are useful for classifying the function of folders. For example, green for approved and red for rejected. Colouring a folder provides the means to apply visual metadata to a folder but without changing the structure. For a folder containing many folders of which some are rarely used, the rarely used folders can be coloured grey to take the attention from them and on to active folders.

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FOCNXi6QOLmQsLrDivoZT%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5e07751d-d2d9-44c5-9dc4-6c1ed1729f3d" alt=""><figcaption><p>Consider colouring rarely used folders grey so that active folders are more prominent</p></figcaption></figure>

The <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> administrator can choose whether to enable the colourisation of folders on the subscription. Colourisation of folders can be enabled for all folders (OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online), for OneDrive for Business only, or disabled entirely.

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FCHMptsESAww9qoBIVmpd%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8b3cd443-9326-4865-9a15-80803349dea1" alt=""><figcaption><p>From the <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT_NAME</code> action button choose the option "Customise the end user experience > Colourise folders in File Explorer" to open the configuration settings</p></figcaption></figure>
