Techniques are provided for manipulating folder and file icons on a screen of an electronic device. A folder icon representing a folder is displayed on a screen, in a first mode, at a first location on the screen. The folder may contain a plurality of individual files and the folder icon is configured to indicate the plurality of individual files. An activation event is detected comprising a movement from the first location on the screen to a second location on the screen. In response to detecting the activation event, the folder icon is displayed on the screen along with icons representing the individual files on the screen. The screen may display the icons of the individual files as fanning out from the folder icon and/or may display the icons of the individual files entirely outside of the folder icon.