# Groups in e-Folder --- Groups are collaborative workspaces where users from one or more institutions can store, organize, and share files together. Each group has its own folder space, separate from your personal folders. You can be a member of multiple groups at the same time. --- ### Accessing your groups Click the **Groups** button at the top right of E-Folder, or on the **View All Groups** button. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/jA4image.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/jA4image.png) --- The **Workspace Groups** panel will open with two tabs: **Browse Groups** shows all the groups you belong to, and **Create Group** lets you set up a new one. You can click on a group to open it or use the search bar to find a group by name. ### Creating a group 1. Click **Groups** and select the **Create Group** tab. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/g3Yimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/g3Yimage.png) 2. Choose the **Hierarchy Type**: — Select **Top-level Group** to create a standalone group. — Select **Sub-group** if this group is under an existing one. You will be asked to search for and select the parent group. 3. Enter a **Group Name** 4. Add an optional **Description**. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/X0Oimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/X0Oimage.png) 5. Under **Member Management**, select the **Target Institution** to filter users by organization, [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/E3Limage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/E3Limage.png) 6. Then search for members by name and add them. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/2dRimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/2dRimage.png) 7. Click **Create Group**. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/kh7image.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/kh7image.png)
**Note:** Added members will see the group appear in their **Browse Groups** list. New members are assigned **Read** access by default, however, you can update this after the group is created.
--- ### Working inside a group Once you open a group (from the browse groups tab), you will find the same tools available as in your regular folders; a search bar, Filter, and **+New** to add files and folders. The sidebar gives you access to: #### **Folders & Files** **sharing**— the group's file space. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/ArBimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/ArBimage.png) #### **Subgroups** — any subgroups nested under this group. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/1rUimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/1rUimage.png) #### **Group details** — only the group creator can edit the group name and description, or delete the group. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/9Fsimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/9Fsimage.png) **Members** — manage who is in the group and what they can do. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/UzRimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/UzRimage.png) --- ### Managing members Click **Members** in the sidebar to see a list of all group members, their access role, institution, and email address. 1. To **add members**, click **+ Add Members** at the top right and search for users by name. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/siwimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/siwimage.png) 2. To update permissions, tick the checkbox next to one or more members and click **Update Permissions**.
**Note:** Members with **Read** access cannot modify files uploaded by others. To grant full access, update their permission to **Full Access**.
[![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/e9Bimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/e9Bimage.png) 3. To remove members, tick the checkbox next to the member and click **Remove Selected**. [![image.png](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/mFyimage.png)](https://docs.smartadmin.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/mFyimage.png) Removed members immediately lose access to the group and all its contents. ---