Why this rule
Documents is where Windows, Office and OneDrive expect your work to live, and it's what gets backed up. Leaving office files in Downloads means edits happen in the wrong place and the latest version is hard to find.
Set it up in TidyFile
It takes about a minute:
- 1Add a new rule and choose the folder to watch: Downloads.
- 2Add the condition: type is docx, doc, xlsx, xls, pptx, ppt.
- 3Set the action: move to Documents\From Downloads\{year}. Click Browse to pick the folder (your own Documents, Pictures and so on), then type the rest of the path after it. A folder typed without a drive letter is created inside Downloads instead.
- 4Save it. New files are handled as they arrive, and TidyFile previews what it would do to the files already there before moving any of them.
Variations
- Split them up: one rule for spreadsheets into Documents\Spreadsheets, another for Word files.
- Add “modified more than 1 day ago” so a file you're working on today stays put until tomorrow.
More ready-made rules are in the rule library, and there's a full guide to organizing files on Windows.
The TidyFile rule
Move Word, Excel and PowerPoint files to Documents
- When a file
- in Downloads · type is docx, doc, xlsx, xls, pptx, ppt
- Then
- move to Documents\From Downloads\{year}
Tip: folders like Documents or Pictures mean your own folders. In TidyFile, click Browse to pick the folder, then add the rest, such as \{year}. A folder typed without a drive letter is created inside the watched folder instead.
Set it up once and TidyFile applies it in the background, to new files the moment they arrive. Preview what it'll do to the files already there, and undo anything from the activity log.
Questions
What if I'm still working on a file in Downloads?+
Add “modified more than 1 day ago” to the rule, so today's files stay where they are and only move once you've finished with them.
Does this work with OneDrive?+
Yes. If your Documents folder is backed up by OneDrive, point the rule at OneDrive\Documents and the files sync as usual.