If you tend to set up a new Mac the exact same way as your old Mac, you know how tedious it can be to go and download files, tweak settings, and mess around with various preference panes. Blogger Jacob Salmela shows of a way to use Dropbox to save all those settings.

Hi Lifehacker, How can I file an email to multiple related folders within Outlook 2013?

Windows: Some programs seem like they should come by default with Windows. FoldersPopup gives you one-click access to your favourite folders and locations.

Windows: On OS X, Folder Actions are a powerful way to automate your folders. Folder Actions for Windows brings those easy-to-use tools to the PC world.

Mac: If you make a lot of folders for your projects, you know it can be a pain to get things organised. Post Haste is a free Mac app that allows you to create project-based templates so you can get started immediately.

By default, when you start Windows Explorer, it opens up to your Libraries. If you'd rather have it open to a different folder, changing this behaviour is very easy. Here's how.

A simple option in Windows Explorer's preferences fixes one of its biggest annoyances, automatically expanding the left sidebar as you navigate through your computer's folders.

Windows: Creating a new folder in Windows is easy, but not necessarily fast. Smart Folders is a simple little app that turns folder creation into a simple, one-step process.

Windows, Mac and Linux: Keeping a clean desktop can be a little difficult when it's such a convenient dumping ground for your crap. Here's a set of simple icons to prevent you from littering and, instead, keep everything nice and tidy.

We've long recommended filing away email into folders for better organisation, but a study by IBM Research finds that just using the search function can be much faster than navigating through folders to find old messages.

Sometimes, making a simple change to your work environment can deliver big benefits. If you regularly upload or access new files, consider changing the sort order for more efficient working.

Android only: Creating folders on a home screen, then finding and dragging apps into them, isn't quick or precise. Apps Organizer and its broader cousin Folder Organizer make creating and accessing batches of apps, contacts and bookmarks much easier.

The familiar "up" arrow from previous versions of Windows is missing from Windows 7. You can still head up to a higher directory with the Alt+Up keyboard shortcut, but if you'd like the actual button back, you can restore it with Classic Shell

Windows only: Pir is a lightweight Windows application that creates text lists of folders and directories for exporting — handy for quickly sending a friend lists of your music collection or ripped movies.

Need a listing of everything you've got in a Windows folder? You could grab screenshots, but that's a pain when there are lots of files. A quick command-line trick gives you an easily printable directory of contents.

Windows: If you like colour coding your folders by project, urgency or other markers, it's a huge hassle to do it through the default Windows interface. Folderico adds an icon-swapping menu to your right-click context menu for no fuss switching.

Chances are your computer's desktop and other folders aren't cluttered because you like it that way, but because you don't want to spend time organising every file that hits your hard drive. Automate your file organisation and stay clutter-free without the effort.

Ed. Note: If you love Gmail but just can't shake a longing for folder-style organisation this clever hack will help you create pseudo-folders.

Firefox: If you hate having to search through your folders every time you change the type of file or directory you're saving to—and we certainly do!—Save File To helps you make custom context menus for file saving bliss.