Total Launcher Folders Guide: Organizing Apps, Grids, and Thumbnail Styles

Folder containers in Total Launcher function as modular application groups designed to declutter homescreen layouts and streamline app navigation. Acting as compact, highly customizable app drawers, folders support extensive modification of internal grid dimensions, open-window transitions, visual headers, and thumbnail cover previews. Understanding folder placement options—whether positioned directly on a primary desktop page or embedded inside an existing app drawer—ensures an organized and responsive user interface across any Android setup. The initial configuration workflow begins with selecting a screen location and generating a new folder resource.

To place a standalone folder icon on a page:

1. Enable Edit ON mode (Long press an empty area → Toggle Edit Mode icon).
2. Tap the Add icon (+) in the upper right corner.
3. Select Graphic› Image
4. When the Action on tap dialog opens, select Folder.
5. A list of existing folders will appear.
   1. To create a new one, scroll to the bottom and select New folder
      1. The Folder Options dialog will appear, allowing initial setup. Key options are:
         1. Applications: Tap to open the app list. Check the boxes next to the apps you want inside the folder, then tap OK.
         2. Label: Enter a reference name for the folder (e.g., “Social Apps”). Note: This label is primarily for your reference in the Action menu.
         3. Icon: Tap to change the default folder icon using an Icon Pack, Image, or Shape.
         4. Folder Style: Allows detailed customization of the folder's internal layout
         5. See below for an expanded description and additional options.
   2. Click OK to finish. The folder icon will appear on your page.

Apps can be organized into folders directly within a Sliding Drawer or App widget.

1. Open the App Drawer
2. Tap the Add icon (+) located in the App Drawer's bottom menu bar
   • Note: If the menu bar is hidden, enable it in the App Drawer settings
3. Select Folder from the dialog
4. Enter the Label (title) for the folder and tap OK
5. The new folder will appear within your App Drawer grid

Once a folder is created, contents can be modified.

1. Enter Edit ON mode. See here.
2. Open the folder by tapping its icon.
3. Tap the Checkmark icon (✓) located as the last item in the folder
4. A list of all installed applications will appear:
   • Add: Tap an unchecked app to add a checkmark.
   • Remove: Tap a checked app to remove the checkmark.
5. Tap OK to save changes.

Customizing a folder involves two main menus: the initial Folder Options (basic properties and header) and the deeper Folder Style (visuals and layout).

These options appear immediately when editing the folder's properties. This controls the folder's identity and the optional “Header” bar displayed at the top of the open container.

• Basic Settings:
  • Label: The internal name of the folder
  • Icon: The icon used for the folder on the desktop (Reset, Color, Icon pack, Shape, Image).
  • Applications: The menu to add or remove apps from this folder.

• Header Style: (Controls the title bar of the open folder)
  • Show header: Toggle to display or hide the header bar.
  • Header height: Sets the vertical size of the header area.
  • Header image: Sets a specific background image for the header bar.
  • Text Settings: Define the Typeface, Font size, Text color, and Alignment for the header title.

Controls the grid structure and positioning of the open folder container.

• Grid Dimensions:
  • Max column number: Limits how many items appear horizontally.
  • Max row number: Limits how many items appear vertically.
    • After setting the grid, the remaining objects will scroll
• Item Dimensions:
  • Item width / Item height: Forces a specific size for items. Note: Setting these too high may override column/row settings.
• Positioning:
  • Center in the screen: Toggles whether the folder window floats in the center or uses a custom position.

Controls how the folder interacts with the user and transitions on screen.

• Interaction:
  • Sort order: Defines if items are sorted by Name, Smart order, or User defined.
  • Gesture to close: Assign a gesture (e.g., swipe down) to close the folder window.
• Visuals & Audio:
  • System scroll animation: Toggles the standard Android scrolling physics.
  • Animation duration: Sets the speed (in ms) of the open/close transition.
  • Entering sound / Exiting sound: Specific audio effects triggered when opening or closing.

This section combines global background settings with the specific styling of the app icons inside the folder.

• Folder Container:
  • Background: Sets the color, image, or shape of the main folder window.
  • Show shadow: Toggles a drop-shadow effect behind the folder window.
  • Margins: Adjusts the padding between the folder edge and the content.
• Item Styling:
  • Item background: Background for individual apps (Normal and Pressed states).
  • Icon size: Scales the size of the app icons inside the grid.
  • Visual Effects: Adjust Icon opacity, Icon saturation, and Icon color filter (e.g., for tinting icons).

Controls the text appearance on the folder cover.

• Visibility: Show label (Toggle on/off).
• Font Style: Typeface, Font size, Text color (Normal and Pressed), Scale X (width of text).
• Formatting: Label lines (limit the number of text lines).
• Shadows: Configure the text shadow's Color, Radius, Offset X, and Offset Y.

Unlike the above options, which style the *open* container, these options style the *closed* icon that sits on the page or in a folder.

• Layout: Icon layout (Select from 7 preset arrangements).
• Geometry: Icon scale, Icon offset X, Icon offset Y.
• Composition:
  • Background: The shape or color behind the thumbnail apps.
  • Foreground: An overlay applied on top of the thumbnail.
  • Mask: Applies a shape to the viewable thumbnail cluster.
    • See more here or How to Create Folder Masks.