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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11To create a public folder in Office 365 (Exchange Online), first create a public-folder mailbox, then create the folder in the Exchange admin center (EAC) or Exchange Online PowerShell. Set its permissions so the right people can use it. Mail-enable it only if people need to send email to the folder.
Before you create a public folder
Exchange Online requires a public-folder mailbox before you can create a public folder. The mailbox stores folder content and hierarchy information. The first public-folder mailbox in the organization is the primary hierarchy mailbox, which holds the writable copy of the hierarchy; additional public-folder mailboxes hold read-only copies.
If your organization already has a public-folder deployment, especially a legacy one, check its status before creating a mailbox. Microsoft warns that an existing legacy deployment may prevent ordinary mailbox creation and require migration-specific steps. The account performing the setup also needs the relevant Exchange permissions; consult Microsoft’s Exchange Online feature-permission guidance for role requirements in your tenant.
Choose EAC or PowerShell
| Method | Best fit | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange admin center | Guided, one-off setup | Use the public-folder mailbox and public-folder forms to enter a name and path. |
| Exchange Online PowerShell | Command-based or repeatable administration | Connect to Exchange Online, run creation commands, and use commands to verify the mailbox and folder. |
Either method creates the folder structure; you still need to review permissions and apply any optional settings afterward.
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Step 1: Create a public-folder mailbox
In the Exchange admin center
- Open Public folders > Public folder mailboxes.
- Select Add a public folder mailbox.
- Enter a name and select Add.
The first mailbox created becomes the primary hierarchy mailbox. Microsoft documents adding more mailboxes for load balancing, but verify that your deployment needs them rather than creating extras by default. Microsoft’s documented estimate for mailbox creation is less than five minutes; it is an estimate, not a guaranteed completion time. See Microsoft’s mailbox creation instructions.
In Exchange Online PowerShell
For a primary mailbox, connect to Exchange Online PowerShell and run:
New-Mailbox -PublicFolder -Name MasterHierarchyTo check which mailbox is the root public-folder mailbox, run:
Get-OrganizationConfig | Format-List RootPublicFolderMailboxStep 2: Create the public folder
In the Exchange admin center
- Go to Public folders > Public folders.
- For a child folder, select its parent first. To create a top-level folder, leave the parent unselected.
- Select Add a public folder, enter the folder name, and check its path.
- Select Add.
EAC creates the folder with its name and path. Edit the folder afterward to configure additional settings. Do not include a backslash () in the folder name. Microsoft’s estimate for folder creation is five minutes; actual timing can vary. Follow Microsoft’s folder creation instructions if the interface differs in your tenant.
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In Exchange Online PowerShell
Use New-PublicFolder and specify the folder name and parent path. Microsoft’s example creates Reports beneath Marketing2013:
New-PublicFolder -Name Reports -Path \Marketing\2013Use your intended parent path in place of the example path.
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Step 3: Assign and verify permissions
By default, a new public folder inherits permissions from its parent. Microsoft recommends ensuring at least one user has the Owner permission level so someone can access the folder and create subfolders. Assign other users only the access their work requires; review Microsoft’s public-folder permission guidance for permission levels and management options.
Refresh the EAC folder list to confirm the new folder appears, or verify it in PowerShell. For the example above:
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Get-PublicFolder -RecurseOptional: Mail-enable the folder
Mail-enable a public folder only if users should be able to send messages to it. Mail-enabling makes email-related settings, such as addresses and mail quotas, available. It does not by itself grant anonymous senders permission to post.
If people on the internet need to email the folder, grant CreateItems to the folder’s Anonymous account. Microsoft’s documented PowerShell pattern is:
Add-PublicFolderClientPermission "\Customer Feedback" -AccessRights CreateItems -User AnonymousApply this only where anonymous posting is intended. See Microsoft’s mail-enabling and mail-traffic instructions.
Quick Recap
Client limitations and deployment scale
- Outlook on the web: Users can add or remove public folders from Favorites and perform some item-level operations, but cannot create or delete public folders there. See Microsoft’s overview of Exchange Online public folders.
- Public-folder calendars: Microsoft’s Exchange Online instructions specify Outlook desktop for creating a public-folder calendar and state that public folders, including calendars, cannot be accessed from mobile devices. Calendar-specific steps are not interchangeable with creating other public-folder types.
- Large deployments: Microsoft documents a limit of 1,000 total public-folder mailboxes per Exchange Online tenant, counting both hierarchy-serving and non-hierarchy-serving mailboxes. The cited troubleshooting page was last updated June 25, 2025; confirm Microsoft’s current limit before planning a large deployment. See Microsoft’s public-folder mailbox limit guidance.
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