To add a note to a folder in Windows 11, create a desktop.ini file inside that folder with an InfoTip entry. The text then appears as a tooltip when you hover over the folder. This is a folder customization, not a standard comment field: the Details tab that files have in Properties is missing for folders on the Windows 11 systems described in user reports, so this method is the workaround Microsoft’s documented approach supports.
Why folders don’t get a Comments box
Right-click a file in Windows 11, open Properties, and you will usually find a Details tab with editable metadata fields. Right-click a folder and open Properties, and that tab is often absent. A Microsoft Q&A thread from October 2023 captures exactly this problem: a user asked how to add an important note to a folder and reported that the Details tab was missing for folders. The answer offered there was the desktop.ini method below.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Microsoft’s own documentation, How to Customize Folders with Desktop.ini on Microsoft Learn (last updated 4 January 2022), describes the mechanism. It says: “You can also use Desktop.ini to create an infotip that displays information about the folder and controls some aspects of the folder’s behavior, such as specifying localized names for the folder or items in the folder.”
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How to add a folder note with desktop.ini
You need permission to modify the folder and the ability to show hidden and system files. The steps below follow the documented requirements. Replace FolderName with the real name of your folder.
#1 Best Overall
- Mark the folder as a system folder. Open Command Prompt (search for “cmd” in the Start menu), then change to the folder’s parent directory with
cd. Runattrib +s "FolderName". Microsoft’s documentation givesattrib +s FolderNameas the command-line example and says this setting enables the special handling Desktop.ini requires. A successful run prints nothing. - Create the file. Open Notepad and type or paste the content from step 3. Choose File > Save As. Set Save as type to All Files, and set Encoding to a Unicode option. Navigate into the folder and name the file exactly
desktop.ini. Microsoft says Unicode format is needed for localized strings shown to users. The documentation does not name a specific encoding label, so choose any Unicode option offered in your editor. - Add the note. The file must contain a section header and an
InfoTipkey:[.ShellClassInfo] InfoTip=Your folder note goes here
Replace the sample text with your note. Microsoft defines
InfoTipas informational text for the folder. Keep the note short; tooltips are small and the documentation sets no length limit. - Hide and protect the file. Open Command Prompt inside the folder (or change to it with
cd) and runattrib +h +s desktop.ini. Microsoft recommends marking Desktop.ini both hidden and system so it is not shown to ordinary users. - Check the result. Move the pointer over the folder in File Explorer. The note should appear as a tooltip. Select the folder to see the note in the folder information block that Microsoft says also displays the text. If nothing changes, see the troubleshooting section below.
What the note does and does not do
- It shows an infotip. Microsoft’s documentation says the text appears on hover and in the folder information block.
- It is not the usual Properties Details field. The method supplies the missing note by customizing the folder, not by adding a metadata field that you edit in the Details tab.
- It is folder-specific. Each folder has its own
desktop.ini. There is no single list of notes for the whole computer. - Search is not established. Windows Search indexes selected locations and file information such as words and metadata. The cited Microsoft Support page on search indexing does not establish that a Desktop.ini InfoTip will be searched as a folder comment, so do not rely on it to find folders.
- Sync and storage behavior is not established. The sources do not show whether the note carries over to other computers, cloud sync services or network shares. Test the setup in the location you plan to use.
Troubleshooting
The tooltip does not appear
- Check the file name. Windows can hide known extensions, so a file saved in Notepad as
desktop.ini.txtwill not work. Turn on View > Show > File name extensions in File Explorer to confirm the name. - Check the file location. The file must sit directly inside the folder you want to annotate.
- Check the section and key. The header must read
[.ShellClassInfo]and the line must begin withInfoTip=. The Windows 11 Q&A example uses these exact elements. - Check the folder attribute. Run
attrib "FolderName"from the parent directory. The attribute list should includeSfor the folder. If it does not, repeat step 1. - Re-save in Unicode. If the file was saved in a non-Unicode encoding, save it again in a Unicode encoding and retry.
- Refresh the view. Press F5 in the folder window or reopen the folder.
The cited documentation describes these requirements but does not provide a Windows 11 build-by-build troubleshooting matrix, so if none of these checks resolves the issue, the cause may be specific to your build or configuration.
Alternatives and how they compare
Two other approaches are worth comparing. A community suggestion in the same Microsoft Q&A thread mentions a Comment column in Details view. The thread does not confirm that this column is available for folders in standard views, so treat it as an idea to check on your own system rather than a dependable method. The thread also mentions third-party tagging tools. This guide does not recommend one because their current Windows 11 support and terms are not established by the sources.
| Approach | Where the note appears | Searchable | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
Desktop.ini InfoTip |
Tooltip on hover and in the folder information block (Microsoft documentation) | Not established by the cited sources | Manual setup in Command Prompt and Notepad; folder-specific; short text |
| Separate note file inside the folder | Only when someone opens the file; not shown as a folder property | Not stated | Can hold longer notes, but it is a separate file, not a folder annotation |
| Details-view Comment column (community suggestion) | Column in Details view, if available on your system | Not stated | Availability for folders not confirmed in the sources |
For most readers, the desktop.ini method is the only option that puts a note on the folder itself. A separate text file works better for longer notes.
Recommended Free Tools
Sources and dates
- Microsoft Learn, How to Customize Folders with Desktop.ini (last updated 4 January 2022): primary source for the folder system attribute, hidden and system attributes on Desktop.ini, Unicode format, and the InfoTip behavior.
- Microsoft Q&A, “Add comments to a Folder in windows 11” (question dated October 2023): the user report of the missing Details tab and the community answer with the
[.ShellClassInfo]andInfoTippattern. - Microsoft Support, “Search indexing in Windows”: general indexing behavior only.
These sources are dated. Behavior on newer Windows 11 builds may differ, so check the result on your own system after setup.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Less chaos, more calm. The refreshed design of Windows 11 enables you to do what you want effortlessly.
- Biometric logins. Encrypted authentication. And, of course, advanced antivirus defenses. Everything you need, plus more, to protect you against the latest cyberthreats.
- Make the most of your screen space with snap layouts, desktops, and seamless redocking.
- Widgets makes staying up-to-date with the content you love and the news you care about, simple.
- Stay in touch with friends and family with Microsoft Teams, which can be seamlessly integrated into your taskbar. (1)
“
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
