Windows Phone is great in many ways; Live Tiles in particular are a fantastic way to gather information before you’ve even opened an app, and they help your start screen look 100% personalized. On the other hand, if you don’t need a Live Tile, your only other option was the app list…until Nokia brought App Folder to Windows Phone!
App Folder works similar to folders on iOS and Android, but because of how Windows Phone functions there’s a few twists. For starters, it’s an actual app, instead of a feature baked into the operating system. To create folders, you go into the App Folder app (say that 10x fast!), create the folder you want, and then select the apps you wish to add. Then you can pin the folder to your Start screen, giving you shortcuts to the selection of apps without having to pin them all individually to the Start or go digging through the app list alphabetically for them. When you’re selecting apps, the program helpfully lists any folders the apps are already in, so you don’t double up. You can double up if that’s your thing, however. Pinned folders can be set to any of the three tile sizes (small, medium, and rectangular), helpful if you’re like me and prefer your tiles to look uniform.
If you’ve been using Windows Phone for some time, and you’ve adjusted to the lack of folders, is this a necessary feature? Personally, I think it is. Folders fit a space between a Live Tile and the app list, where I can place the apps I might need to pull up easily but that I don’t need pinned individually on the Start screen. My folders are mostly Gear Diary related apps like WordPress and Evernote, social media apps, and navigation. All of these I use fairly regularly, but I hate the look that my Start menu gets when I have a ton of individual icons pinned there…so folders are perfect!
Unfortunately, App Folder is for Nokia Lumia phones only, but if you have one, be sure to head over to the Windows Phone Store and download it today!
MSRP: Free for all Lumias with Microsoft Windows Phone GDR2/Nokia Amber update or better (Fall 2013 update)
What I liked: Folders! On Windows Phone!
What Needs Improvement: Nothing