A method is disclosed for folder transfer based on instant messaging (IM). The method includes receiving from an IM sender a transfer request for transferring a folder-to-be-transferred. The folder-to-be-transferred may contain a plurality of files. The method also includes receiving from the IM sender folder information of the folder-to-be-transferred, determining a receiving folder corresponding to the folder-to-be-transferred on a predetermined storage location, and determining files-to-be-transferred from the plurality of files corresponding to the folder-to-be-transferred based on the folder information. Further, the method includes sequentially sending one transfer request for each of the files-to-be-transferred to the IM sender through a same network connection, receiving the files-to-be-transferred sent sequentially by the IM sender through the same network connection, and storing the received files-to-be-transferred in the receiving folder.