Commons:How to create new categories or subcategories

Note: See Commons:Categories#Creating a new category for more info. This is the short version.

How to create new categories

If an image or media file needs to be put in a new category or subcategory, then you will have to create the new category; to create a new category:

1. Enter the name of the category in the Search field, prefixed with "Category:", e.g., as Category:NEW CATEGORY NAME. Then click the search icon or press the Enter key.
2. A Search page will be displayed, which should have produced no matching results, i.e., the message "There were no results matching the query" is displayed near the bottom of the page. (If there are matching pages, then the category name you have chosen already exists.)
3. Click the link labeled "Create the page "Category:NEW CATEGORY NAME" on this wiki!".
4. An editor page for the new category is displayed. Add the following text to specify the parent category for the new category:

   [[Category:PARENT CATEGORY NAME]]

5. You may also add other explanatory text about the category, but this is usually not necessary.
6. Save the page (i.e., click the Publish page button).

Alternate approach

1. Put the new category name at the bottom of a file while in edit mode:

[[Category:NEW CATEGORY NAME]]

2. Then click the "Publish page" button. There will now be a red link at the bottom of the file.

3. Click on the red link. This will open an edit window.

4. Add the parent category link:

[[Category:PARENT CATEGORY NAME]]

5. Save the page. You have created a new subcategory.

You can create as many categories, and subcategories, as are needed to correctly categorize image and media files.