Managing Files and Folders in Metal

Last updated: February 10, 2026

Metal provides a built-in file system for organizing all of your documents -- whether uploaded directly or imported from integrations like Egnyte, SharePoint, or ShareFile. This article explains how the folder structure works and how to create, manage, and organize your files.

How Files Are Organized

Metal organizes files into a hierarchy of folders:

  • My Workspace -- your personal folder, created automatically when you sign up

  • Shared Folders -- folders you create and share with colleagues

  • Integration Folders -- automatically created when you connect Egnyte, SharePoint, or ShareFile

Each folder can contain files and subfolders, nested up to 20 levels deep.

My Workspace (Personal)

When you first sign up, Metal automatically creates a personal folder called My Workspace. This folder is:

  • Private by default -- only you can see its contents

  • Always available -- it cannot be deleted or renamed

  • Unique to you -- every user in your organization has their own

Use My Workspace for files you are working with individually before sharing them with your team.

Shared Folders

Shared folders (listed under Shared Folders in the sidebar) let you collaborate with colleagues. You can create as many shared folders as you need.

To create a shared folder:

  1. Navigate to Shared Folders in the sidebar.

  2. Click the Add Folder button.

  3. Enter a name for the folder.

  4. Choose the access level:

    • Restricted (lock icon) -- only you and people you explicitly share with can access it.

    • Global (globe icon) -- everyone in your organization can access it.

  5. Optionally associate the folder with a company.

  6. Click Create.

Creating Subfolders

Once inside a folder, you can create subfolders to further organize your files:

  1. Open the folder from Shared Folders.

  2. Click the Add Folder button.

  3. Enter a subfolder name and click Create.

Subfolders can be nested up to 20 levels deep.

Integration Folders

When you connect a file storage integration such as Egnyte, SharePoint, or ShareFile, Metal automatically creates a dedicated folder for that integration. These folders:

  • Are created once per integration, per organization

  • Contain the files and subfolders synced from the external service

  • Cannot be manually created or deleted -- they are managed by the integration

For more details, see Connecting Egnyte, Connecting SharePoint, or Connecting ShareFile.

Browsing Your Folders

You can view all your folders from the Shared Folders page. The page offers:

  • Table view with sortable columns: Name, Company, Owner, Sharing, Members, and Last Modified

  • Grid view toggle for a more visual layout

  • Search bar to quickly find a folder by name

Click on any folder to navigate into it and browse its contents.

Folder Settings

To manage a folder, open it and access its settings:

  • Rename the folder

  • Change the company associated with it

  • Delete the folder (requires typing the folder name to confirm)

Deleting a folder permanently removes all of its subfolders and files. This action cannot be undone.

Associating Folders with Companies and Projects

You can link a folder to a specific company or project. When a folder is associated with a company:

  • Files within it can inherit the company association automatically

  • You can filter and search for folders by company

This is useful for organizing research materials, deal documents, or any files related to a specific company or project.

What's Next

  • Uploading and Browsing Files -- Learn how to upload files and navigate the file browser

  • Sharing and Permissions -- Learn how to share folders with your team