SharePoint Document Issues

How to Create the Same SharePoint Subfolder in Multiple Project Folders

Guest Writer Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to automatically deploy a identically named subfolder into multiple existing project directories within a SharePoint Documents library.

How to Automatically Create Subfolders in Multiple SharePoint Project Folders

Product: SharePoint / Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing large-scale project folders with identical structures in a centralized document library and needing to update the folder structure uniformly.
Observed behavior: The user seeks a method to automatically create a specific subfolder (e.g., 10_Correspondence) under a designated parent folder (e.g., 00_Administrative) across all project folders without doing it manually for each one.

Before you start

Before running bulk automation tasks, ensure you have sufficient permissions to modify the SharePoint Document library and test your workflow on a small, isolated set of folders to avoid accidental structural changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Automate Subfolder Creation Using Power Automate

Use Microsoft Power Automate to dynamically iterate through existing project folders and create the desired subfolder without manual entry.

Power Automate is the most reliable method for bulk-updating SharePoint structures. Standard SharePoint connectors in Power Automate are typically included with most Microsoft 365 business licenses.

Set up the cloud flow

Log in to Microsoft Power Automate and create a new instant or scheduled cloud flow. Select the specific SharePoint site and Document library as your target environment.

List existing project folders

Add the 'Get files (properties only)' action. Configure the query parameters to filter and return only the folder entities that represent your main project directories.

Implement the folder creation logic

Add an 'Apply to each' loop to iterate through the retrieved folders. Inside the loop, use a condition to check for the '00_Administrative' folder, and use the 'Create new folder' SharePoint action to generate the '10_Correspondence' subfolder inside it.

Automate Subfolder Creation Using Power Automate

Test the Automation First: Always test your flow by pointing it to a dummy project folder or a very small subset of your library to verify that paths and names resolve correctly before processing the entire library.

Solution 2

Bulk Create Subfolders via PowerShell Script

For administrators comfortable with scripting, PowerShell offers a rapid way to read folder lists and execute bulk creation commands across a SharePoint library.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Your Project Documents with WPS Office

While SharePoint and Power Automate handle your cloud folder structures, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and fully compatible suite for editing all your Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint project documents.

1. Download and install: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Sync your SharePoint library: Ensure your SharePoint Document library is synchronized to your local File Explorer using the OneDrive sync client.
3. Edit documents seamlessly: Open WPS Office and browse to your synced SharePoint folders to create, edit, and save project files with full Microsoft format compatibility.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight and fast, perfect for everyday project document editing.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate tabbed interface.Seamlessly open and save documents directly from your synchronized local folders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use File Explorer synchronization to create these folders in bulk?

While it is possible to sync the SharePoint library to File Explorer and use local Windows batch scripts to create folders, relying solely on local sync for massive structural changes can lead to synchronization errors or delays. Using cloud-based tools like Power Automate or direct API tools like PowerShell is generally safer and more reliable.

Do I need a premium license for Power Automate to bulk-create folders?

No, standard SharePoint connectors in Power Automate are typically included with standard Microsoft 365 business licenses. A premium license is usually not required for basic SharePoint file and folder manipulation.

How can I easily list all project folders for a PowerShell script?

You can export the folder list directly from the SharePoint library view to an Excel or CSV file. Alternatively, you can use the Get-PnPFolder cmdlet in PowerShell to dynamically retrieve all subdirectories within a specified parent library.

Document & File Issues