Custom templates folder

I created a custom folder (“/templates”) and I put all of my template files in the folder. instead of root (“/wp-content/themes/my-theme/”). It works fine.

Do I have to add some function for indicating “/templates/” folder as my templates folder?
Usually you put them on root, right?

It works fine now but I just wonder if there is anything I have to. I can’t find any information on wordpress codex.
I just installed WPML and All of templates pages are 404 now. I wonder if it(custom template folder location) causes this 404 pages. cuz woo-commerce pages are showing fine. wc is not in my template folder. it generated by plugin.

——– Additional

I created a template
www/wp-content/themes/my-theme/tpl-home.php

I named this file as a template page.

<?php
/*
Template Name: Home
*/
get_header(); ?>

And I moved templates files on www/wp-content/themes/my-theme/templates/tpl-home.php

It still works well. I have seen a lot of themes do like this.

Do I need to setup some function to indicated the folder?

As of WordPress 3.4 you can put your page templates in whatever direct subdirectory you need, it doesn’t sound like you can put them into sub-sub directories but I haven’t tested this.

I suggest storing templates into /page-templates/ folder as WordPress seems to recognize it. From WordPress Page Templates Entry:

WordPress recognizes the subfolder page-templates. Therefore, it’s a good idea to store your global page templates in this folder to help keep them organized.