Best File Managers for Linux of 2025

Slik Safe is an incredibly fast file experience that increases efficiency, speed, and security. A file storage solution with end-to-end encryption that allows you to store, transfer and share files in less than five seconds. Connecting to the Slik Safe application on your device will backup all of your files and folders whether they are on cloud apps such as Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox, or on local devices. All your files will be encrypted on your device and protected with military grade encryption before being uploaded to the cloud. The app runs in the background and constantly backs up files and folders connected to it in real time. Slik's AI allows you to retrieve specific information from a file, where all details are extracted in Natural Language. If you want to know the sum of Column 2, then just type it in. You can get the answer by typing it.

TagSpaces is a cross-platform, privacy-aware file manager and browser that has some note-taking capabilities. It allows you to organize your files and folders using tags and colors. You can download it for Windows, macOS Linux and Android. The TagSpaces Web Clipper allows you to collect web pages, bookmarks and geo-coordinates as well as screenshots from the Web. The built-in Markdown editor allows you to create notes that include tables, math formulas, todo lists and diagrams. TagSpaces can be connected to any folder on your hard disk and allow you to quickly browse its contents. You can add labels also known as tags to any folder or file. In the Pro version, you can also add descriptions and geotags to files and folders. Geo-tagged files or photos can be placed on a digital map. In the Pro version you can also turn every folder into a Kanban board, which allows you to represent process with the help of cards(files) and columns(folders). Cross-references can be achieved by using tags in the folder hierarchy. You can search for files using any combination of tags with the built-in search. TagSpaces can also browse files placed on S3 compatible object storage like from Wasabi or AWS S3.

GNU Midnight Commander, a visual file manager licensed under the GNU General Public License, qualifies for Free Software. It is a full-screen text mode application with many features. You can copy, move, delete, and modify files, whole directory trees, search files, and run commands in the subshell. You can also use the internal editors and viewers. Midnight Commander is built on flexible text interfaces such as Ncurses and S-Lang. This allows it to be used on a regular console or inside an X Window terminal. It can also work over SSH connections and all types of remote shells. Because it has a Text User Interface, Midnight Commander can be used in any graphical environment and in any terminal emulator. GoogleGroups' mailing lists are only for Trac messages and are not a place to discuss MC problems and solutions. Report bugs, attach your patches and review the ones that are there.

X File Explorer (Xfe), a MS-Explorer-like file manager for X, is an MS-Explorer. It is based upon the popular, but now discontinued, X Win Commander originally developed by Maxim Baranov. Roland Baudin, a french Linux enthusiast, developed Xfe in 2002. There are many great options already. Why should you need another file manager? Why not use a full-featured, animated, bells and whistles file manager like Rox, Nautilus, Konqueror? These file managers are all feature-rich and well-designed, but let's face the fact that they are enormous! Resource-hogging file manager are not the best choice if you're a console user, a light desktop user, and/or have an older system. Most file managers (KDE, Gnome and Xfce) are Desktop-dependent. You will need to load all types of unwanted bloat onto the system. Xfe is small and fast. It only needs the FOX library in order to function fully. It can also be launched from the command-line in a fraction to a second.

Ranger is a console file manager that supports VI key bindings. It offers a simple and elegant interface with nice curses, as well as a view of the directory hierarchy. It comes with rifle, a file launcher which automatically determines which program is best for each file type. Examples/ directory contains plugins and scripts that show how ranger can be combined with other programs. These files are available in the git repository. UTF-8 Support (if your Python version supports it). Multi-column display. Preview of the selected directory/file. Common file operations (create/chmod/copy/delete/...) Renaming multiple files at once. Hotkeys and a console similar to VIM. Automatically identify file types and run the appropriate programs. After exiting ranger, change the directory in your shell. Tabs, bookmarks, mouse support, etc.

Deepin File Manager is an easy-to-use and powerful file-management tool that Deepin Technology has developed. It is based on the classic file manager's functions and layout, but has many unique features. You will manage with high proficiency thanks to the navigation bar, diversified view and sorting. All for a better experience. Deepin is a beautiful and intuitive desktop operating system. Deepin comes preinstalled, with a variety of self-developed apps that will not only meet your daily needs but also entertain you. Deepin is simple to install and can be configured to meet your work requirements without the need for additional software or system configuration. Deepin can be configured however you wish. The default settings and adjustments are sufficient to meet most users' needs.

Vala is an advanced file manager for Linux. Multiple panes are supported (single, dual and quad), with multiple tabs within each pane. Supports archive creation, extraction, browsing. Cloud storage support; managing KVM images, editing PDF documents and image files, as well as the ability to modify PDF documents and image file files, boot ISO files in KVM, and write ISO files to USB drives. Polo is a lightweight file manager for Linux that supports multiple panes and tabs. It also supports archives. You can choose from single-pane, quad-pane and dual-pane layouts (vertical or horizontal split), as well as single-pane and dual-pane. Multiple tabs can be supported in each pane. Each tab has an embedded terminal that can be toggled using the F4 key. Devices popup displays a list of connected devices and offers the option to mount or unmount them. Supports locking/unlocking LUKS encrypted devices. Browse archives as normal folders with support Supports the creation archives in multiple formats and advanced compression settings.

Modern file explorer that challenges the boundaries of the platform. Explore a beautiful Windows-first design. Easily manage all your files for increased productivity. Multi-folder collaboration with tabs and much more Integration of cloud files Multiple layouts and tabs? Rich file previews Files offers all the features you would expect from a modern file management system. You can manage your documents and photos in cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud right from the sidebar. You can preview documents, photos, and other files without opening them. Rich previews, syntax highlighting and markdown are all supported. You can quickly organize and mark your files and folders by assigning colored and named tags to make them easy to identify. You can even create your own tags! Keep your desktop clear of clutter by closing multiple windows. Files offers a browser-like tabbing interface with keyboard shortcuts.

To quickly jump to a directory, press Ctrl+P. fman can remember which folders you most frequently visit and suggest them to you. This is much faster than manually navigating through directory hierarchy. Its powerful plugin system allows you to tailor the plugin to your needs. You can either install plugins made by others or create your own plugins and share them with other members. fman is an alternative file manager to Explorer on Windows and Finder on macOS. It can be used to browse directories, copy and move files, mount external drives, and more. These tasks are easier than with other file managers. It makes it easy to move or copy files. Simply open the directory you wish to copy from on one end and the destination on another. The copy is then performed using a simple keyboard shortcut. You don't need to deal with multiple windows or drag files. This makes it easier to complete file-related tasks faster.

Vifm is a file management tool with a curses interface. It provides a Vim-like environment to manage objects within file systems. Vifm allows you to control your files with just a keyboard shortcut if you are using vi. Vim-like user mappings. Vim-like command line mode with ranges, abbreviations and other features. Registers and marks that resemble Vim. Comparison of directory trees. Operation undoing/redoing/backgrounding. Support for FUSE file systems. You can also apply color schemes to sub-trees. You can customize file decorations according to the type and/or names of the files. Named bookmarks (tags). Less-like preview mode. Advanced file filtering and renaming capabilities. One or two pane views within tabs. Shell-like and external command line editing. Table/grid/tree/miller views of files. Integration with GNU Screen, tmux. Multi-block selection. Cross-platform (GNU/Linux. BSD. Solaris. Windows. Mac OS).

Worker is a two-pane file management program for UN*X's X Window System. Two panels separate directories and files display the files. This panel supports many advanced file manipulation features. The main goal is to make file management easy. This includes full keyboard control, as well as assisting with finding files and directories using the history of accessed directories, live filtering and accessing commands using the keyboard. Worker is a free program that was developed by Ralf Hoffmann. It is released under the GNU General Public License V2 and later. VFS support allows for quick and easy access to archives as well as remote sites. Enter the name and arguments of external programs, along with unlimited history. A powerful mechanism to link external programs to hotkeys, buttons, or file types (e.g. gimp.tar.diff, mount) and insert the names of selected files, source, and target directories. Text viewer can be used in an embedded or standalone pane.

4Pane is a Linux multi-pane, detailed list file manager. It is lightweight and easy to use. It offers standard file manager features, including multiple undo and redo for most operations (including deletions), archive administration including 'virtual browsing within archives, multiple renaming/duplications of files, a terminal emulator and user-defined tools. Screenshots show that the screen is divided into a left directory tree-view and a right detailed list view. This default view shows both files as well as directories. Two of these twin panes are displayed by default (hence the name), but you can configure this and most other features to suit your needs. It has been tested on all major Linux distros. It has a gtk-style look, but it is not tied to any particular desktop.

Qt File Manager for Linux and macOS. Integration with XDG Customizable interface, powerful custom commands system, customizable key bindings. Drag and drop functionality, tabs support. The system tray daemon (qtfm–tray(1)) Displays available storage/optical devices within the system tray. Add storage/optical devices to the system tray and it will mount them (and open them) automatically (not default). Auto-play CD/DVD (not default). Extensive thumbnail support (6.2+). ImageMagick supports image formats. Supports PDF and other related documents. Supports video formats via FFmpeg Supports embedded images within media files

Linux twin-panel file manager that is small and highly customizable. It is designed to be an easy to use and powerful file manager that seamlessly integrates with the GNOME desktop environment. The program comes with a variety of features to make it your own. Easy to use interface allows you more flexibility in your day-to-day operations. You can set up a variety of tabs to suit every occasion. Visually mark directories and files for quick reference. Access the command line interface quickly via terminal tabs, VTE or external. Multitasking is easier thanks to full multithreading support. Easy extensible with Python or GTK+ Fully optimized for keyboard users. Sunflower is a Linux file manager with twin panels and support for plugins. It is small and easily customizable. Fully compatible with Wayland compositors.

muCommander is an open source, dual-pane file manager that works on all major operating systems. Email files can be copied, moved, renamed, batch renamed, and copied. Multiple tabs and universal bookmarks. Credentials manager. Configurable keyboard shortcuts Google Drive and Dropbox cloud storage Virtual filesystem that supports local volumes, FTP and SFTP. Archives ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZip, BZip2, ISO/NRG, AR/Deb, LST. Checksum calculation. Fully customizable user interface with configurable toolbars and themes. Available in many languages. muCommander is a cross-platform, lightweight file manager that uses a dual-pane interface. MuCommander requires Java 11 or higher. Report bugs, propose new features, answer queries, write documentation, create tutorials videos, or translate the user interface. Open the "natively" document (mapped to shift-enter as default) to launch Open Office.

All members of your team can now access continuously updated information from multiple applications and platforms. 360 Sync is available through an affordable unlimited access license. It takes less than 30 seconds to set up, and then works behind the scenes so you don't have to worry about file management.

Fileographer is an application that allows you to manage files and take notes using the keyboard. It is available for macOS and Linux. It allows you to navigate your hard drive using a few letters of the name of the folder or file you want. It allows you to filter files within your folders so that you can find what you are looking for. It allows you to create files by typing a name, then pressing enter. You can edit these files immediately. Fileographer lets you batch rename. Features: • You can navigate your hard drive using a keyboard instead of a mouse. • Use two panels at the same time to view two directories. • View file previews and play media files. • Create and edit text documents. • Create folders. • Copy, move, and duplicate files. • Group files into new folders. Rename files in bulk. • Move files into the trash and delete them. • Capture notes in any application by pressing F3

You can get all the professional features that you need in a document management application for your iPad/iPhone. Connect to computers (Windows, Mac), servers, cloud storage and USB drives. Create automatic backup and sync tasks and edit documents in place. Rename folders and files in bulk and much more. You can manage your files and directories with a clean, consistent interface. You can create, delete, and rename them, as well as copy, move, or download. FileBrowser Professional is so seamless that it makes you feel like everything is on the same server. Split-screen mode on an iPad allows you to drag and drop files from a USB flash drive local to your server's FTP. Copy and paste files between Google Drive and Dropbox, or any other storage. FileBrowser Pro is the only app that you need to access and organize your storage. FileBrowser Professional iPad/iPhone App allows you to copy and move folders and documents from one computer to another, or to your cloud storage.

Allows users to easily navigate and manage their files. We strive to strike a balance between user-centered usability and well-crafted features while keeping it simple. Nautilus is committed to protecting your data. Any risky operation will be notified and can be undone. All the tools are easily understood by a quick glance at the application.

Krusader, a commander-style twin panel file manager for KDE Plasma (and other desktops in *nix), is similar to Midnight and Total Commander. It has all the file management features that you could want. It can open a variety of archive formats, and can also handle KIO slaves like SMB or fish. It is easy to use, fast, customizable, and almost invisible on your desktop. It will look great on your resume and you can give web addresses to employers so they can see how hard you work. Krusader is in need of your help!

Dolphin is KDE’s file manager. It allows you to browse and navigate the contents of your hard drives and SD cards. It is easy and quick to create, move, or delete files and folders. Dolphin has many productivity features that will help you save time. Split view and multiple tabs allow you to navigate multiple folders simultaneously. You can also drag and drop files between views to move them or copy them. Dolphin's right-click menu offers many quick actions, including the ability to compress, share, duplicate, and copy files. You can also create your own actions. Dolphin is lightweight but you can still adapt it to meet your needs. This allows you to manage your files exactly how you want. Dolphin supports three view modes: a grid view that shows all files, a more detailed view and a tree view. You can also modify most of Dolphin's behavior.

Thunar is a modern file management tool for the Xfce Desktop Environment. Thunar was designed from the ground up for speed and ease of use. It has a simple user interface that is intuitive and doesn't include unnecessary or confusing options. Thunar is quick to start up and navigates through files and folders quickly and responsively. Thunar plugins are available as separate packages that can be used to enhance Thunar's functionality. Many Thunar plugins provide additional options for files via shortcuts or in the context menu. The interface used by thunar plug-ins is the thunarapi.

It is small, almost 0-config, and incredibly quick. It is designed to be discreet and intelligently integrate with the workflows of your thoughts. nnn can analyze disk usage and batch rename, launch applications, and pick files. There are tons of plugins available to expand the capabilities of nnn, e.g. Live previews, (un-mount disks), find & list and file/dir diff are all available in the plugin repository. You can also upload files. A patch framework contains large amounts of user-submitted patches that are subjective in nature. You can either use the desktop opener or create your own opener. Plugin to display image, video, and audio thumbnails. Hotkeys allow you to run plugins and other custom commands. Create (with parents), rename and duplicate files and directories.