# Workshop: Folder Audit — Copy-Pastable Prompt

**For attendees.** Before you paste anything, do these two things:

1. **Pick a folder** you know is messy — your Downloads folder, Desktop, or a project folder you've been avoiding. It doesn't have to be perfectly organised first.
2. **Open an agent session** — in Claude, this is a Cowork project pointed at that folder. In ChatGPT, use a session with the Files tool. You need a version that can actually read the files, not just chat.

Then paste everything below the `--- COPY FROM HERE ---` line and press send.

**Time required:** 10–15 minutes. You'll end up with a clear picture of what's in there and a short action list.

---

--- COPY FROM HERE ---

I want you to audit the folder I've given you access to and help me understand what's actually in it.

## What I need from you

Work through the folder systematically and give me:

1. **What's here** — A plain-language summary of the types of files you found. Group them by category (documents, images, old projects, downloads, duplicates, etc.), not by filename. I don't need a full file list — I need to understand what I'm looking at.

2. **What's probably stale** — Flag files or folders that look old, unused, or forgotten. Use last-modified dates as a guide. Don't guess at what's important — just surface what looks dormant.

3. **What stands out** — Anything surprising: large files eating storage, duplicate content, files that look important but are buried, anything that seems like it belongs somewhere else.

4. **A short action list** — Three to five things I could do in the next 30 minutes to make this folder meaningfully better. Keep suggestions concrete. "Delete X", "Move Y to Z", "Rename this so you can find it" — not "consider organising your files."

## Your operating rules

- **Don't delete anything.** Only look and report. I'll decide what to do.
- **Don't rename or move anything** unless I explicitly ask.
- **Be direct.** If something looks like junk, say so. I can handle honest feedback about my files.
- **One category at a time** if the folder is large. Ask me if you should continue before moving to the next section.
- **Flag anything sensitive** — if you spot files that look like they contain passwords, financial info, or personal data, mention it without quoting the contents.

## Once you've finished

Ask me: *"Which of these would you like to tackle first?"* — and help me work through whichever item I pick.

--- END OF PROMPT ---

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## Notes for attendees

**Which AI tool works best for this?**

- **Claude (Cowork / Projects):** Point a project at the folder directly. Works well for local folders on your computer.
- **ChatGPT:** Upload files manually via the Files tool. Better for a specific set of files than a whole messy folder.
- **Gemini:** Similar to ChatGPT — file uploads work, full folder access requires Workspace integration.

**If the folder is very large:** Start with a subfolder or a single category (e.g., just your Downloads). You can always run the prompt again on a different section.

**What this won't do:** It won't reorganise anything automatically. That's intentional — you stay in control. Think of the AI as a very patient assistant who can read every filename and tell you what they found, but won't touch anything without asking.