An apparatus comprises a generation unit that newly generates a folder by a predetermined program; an association unit that associates the generated folder by the program other than the predetermined program with the predetermined program; a record unit that records management information, the management information being for identifying whether folders used by the predetermined program have been generated or associated; a selection unit that selects a desired folder from among the folders used by the predetermined program; an identification unit that identifies whether the selected folder has been generated or associated with reference to the information recorded in the memory; and a deletion control unit that performs control of when the selected folder is the generated folder, deleting the selected folder, and when the selected folder is the associated folder, cancelling the association without deleting the selected folder.