What a browser extension is, briefly
A browser extension is a small add-on program for Chrome (or a similar browser like Edge or Brave) that adds a feature to websites you visit. FolderTube is one such extension โ once installed, it adds a small button to YouTube that lets you sort the channels you already follow into folders you name yourself. It doesn't change YouTube itself or ask you to create a new account.
A simple starter structure
There's no need to plan an elaborate system. A handful of broad folders covers most people's needs, and you can always add more later:
| Folder | What goes inside |
|---|---|
| Family | Channels run by family members or friends |
| News | News programs and current-events channels |
| Hobbies | Cooking, gardening, crafts, or whatever you enjoy watching |
| Health & Wellness | Exercise, health information, or wellness channels |
If four folders feels like too many to start, even two โ say, Family and Everything Else โ is a real improvement over one long mixed list. You can split it further later once you're comfortable.
Setting it up, step by step
- Go to the Chrome Web Store page for FolderTube and click the button to add it to your browser. This does not cost anything and does not require a new sign-in.
- Go to YouTube.com as you normally would. You'll see a new purple button near the top-right of the page โ click it to open the folder panel on the side.
- Look for a sync or refresh button in that panel and click it once. This brings in the list of channels you already subscribe to.
- Click to create a new folder, type a name like "Family" or "News," and press enter.
- Find a channel in the list and drag it onto the folder name to move it in. Repeat for each channel โ there's no rush, and nothing is deleted or unsubscribed in the process.
Add real folders to YouTube
FolderTube is free to install. Drag your subscriptions into folders and finally find what you actually want to watch.
Add to ChromeA daily habit that fits
The morning check-in
Open YouTube, click the Family folder first if that's what matters most to you, and see what's new. Then check News or Hobbies if you have time. You don't need to open every folder every day.
If you subscribe to something new
Subscribe the normal way โ by pressing the Subscribe button on a channel's page โ and then open the folder panel and drag the new channel into whichever folder fits. It only takes a moment and keeps the list from going back to being mixed together.
Keeping track of what you've seen
There's also a feature called Mark as Watched that greys out a video's thumbnail and adds a small checkmark once you've seen it. It's a helpful way to tell, at a glance, which videos in a folder you've already watched and which are new.
If something doesn't look right
Nothing you do while setting this up can delete a subscription or a video โ dragging a channel into a folder only changes where it's organized, not whether you follow it. If the purple button ever disappears or folders stop showing up, refreshing the YouTube page usually fixes it; if not, there's a dedicated guide on what to do if FolderTube stops syncing.
Is it safe to install?
It's a fair question to ask about any extension. FolderTube only reads and organizes the list of channels you already subscribe to โ it doesn't post on your behalf or need your password. For a full explanation of what it can and can't access, see the guide on whether FolderTube is safe to use.
What to read next
For a broader look at the full set of features, see the complete guide to organizing YouTube subscriptions. If you'd like an even simpler starting point, see YouTube folders for beginners.