These 6 Linux File Managers Are Way Better Than Your Default

2 days ago

The record head mightiness not beryllium a characteristic connected your desktop that you've ever considered changing, but erstwhile you've seen a amended option, you can't unsee it. I've utilized astir each record head connected nan market, and immoderate are acold amended than others.

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If you find nan record head connected your Linux desktop of prime isn't cutting it, present are six alternatives. One of these could good go your favourite Linux record manager.

1. Krusader

The feature-packed Krusader sports a layout that mightiness look a spot 2005, but it's user-friendly and gets nan occupation done. This precocious record head is simply a twin-panel app created for nan Plasma Desktop but tin beryllium installed connected astir distributions.

One of my favourite features built into Krusader is nan Network Connection wizard, wherever you tin create connections for FTP, SFTP, FISH, NFS, SMB, and WebDAV. Instead of installing third-party package to link to your web share, you get everything you need.

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Krusader besides features extended archive handling, a Useractions instrumentality (for creating automated interactions pinch circumstantial record types), a powerful hunt feature, customizable views, MountMan (for mounting/unmounting drives), disk usage reports, and more.

Krusader is simply a record head champion suited for precocious users. If you're caller to Linux, it contains features you astir apt won't usage until you're much acquainted pinch nan OS. Even so, this is an outstanding choice.

You tin instal Krusader pinch a bid like:

sudo apt-get instal krusader -y

If you're utilizing a Fedora-based desktop, nan installation is:

2. Nemo

Nemo is nan default record head for nan Cinnamon desktop but tin beryllium installed connected astir Ubuntu-based desktop distributions. Nemo mightiness look very akin to your default GNOME record head -- because it's a fork of GNOME Files (aka Nautilus). Here's nan astir evident difference: GNOME Files doesn't see a toolbar paper system, but Nemo retains it.

Unlike GNOME Files, Nemo allows for a fewer customizations, specified arsenic nan toolbar, sidebar, and moreover keyboard shortcuts. Nemo besides enables you to unfastened a files successful a caller model (instead of nan existent one).

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To make this user-friendly record head moreover much appealing, Nemo has support for invoking actions, scripts, and extensions. Out of nan box, you'll find Nemo includes actions for Add Desklets, Mount Archives, Set As Wallpaper, Create New Launcher, Change Desktop Background, and Display Settings. There's besides nan Nemo File Roller hold installed by default. Finally, there's nan speedy record preview, which allows you to position a preview of a record without having to unfastened it.

Nemo tin beryllium installed connected Ubuntu-based distributions pinch nan command:

sudo apt-get instal nemo -y

If you're utilizing a Fedora-based desktop, nan installation is:

3. PCManFM

I've ne'er been a large instrumentality of nan PCManFM name, but nan record head is beautiful stellar. Once upon a time, PCManFM utilized an outdated UI. Now, it tin conform to your desktop of choice. In fact, aft installing PCManFM connected Ubuntu 24.04, I thought nan OS mistook it for GNOME Files erstwhile it opened nan record manager. The only giveaway was nan sidebar, and nan only logic I spotted that was because I'm truthful acquainted pinch GNOME Files.

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PCManFM has a ton of features, specified arsenic afloat gvfs support, thumbnails, desktop management, bookmarks, tabbed interface, measurement management, resistance and driblet betwixt tabs, and -- 1 of my favourite features -- nan expertise to tally a bid wrong a folder. This characteristic comes successful useful erstwhile you recognize you request to tally a bid wrong a model but don't want to person to unfastened a terminal model to do so.

PCManFM besides includes a powerful hunt instrumentality that allows you to hunt by sanction aliases patterns, record type, content, properties, and more. On apical of each that, PCManFM is very fast.

You tin instal PCManFM connected immoderate Ubuntu distribution pinch nan command:

sudo apt-get instal pcmanfm -y

On Fedora, that bid is:

sudo dnf instal pcmanfm -y

4. Thunar

Thunar is nan Xfce record head and offers conscionable nan correct magnitude of features and nary more. Although it is built for Xfce, it tin beryllium installed connected astir Linux distributions and will conform to nan look and consciousness of your chosen desktop.

Thunar does person a fewer tricks up its sleeve that make it guidelines retired from nan crowd, specified arsenic civilization actions (actions that are added to nan right-click discourse menu), nan expertise to transportation files successful parallel (for speed), customizable keyboard shortcuts, a send-to characteristic that includes Bluetooth sharing, bulk renaming, and plugins for nan likes of archiving, media tags, shares, and VCS.

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One point to statement astir nan plugins: They must beryllium installed manually, which tin beryllium beautiful confusing (given that nan charismatic archiving is of very small help). Essentially, you person to download nan root for nan plugin you want, unpack it, and past compile it. For astir users, that's a spot much. However, if you're acquainted pinch Linux, you'll find nan installation of nan plugins rather achievable.

Even pinch that complication, Thunar is simply a awesome action for record managers.

To instal Thunar, you tin rumor a bid like:

sudo apt-get instal thunar -y

If you're utilizing a Fedora-based desktop, nan installation is:

sudo dnf instal thunar -y

5. X File Explorer

X File Explorer (XFE) is very overmuch rooted successful old-school Linux. This record head looks and behaves for illustration it's been yanked from nan past -- but that's not a bad thing! XFE is very lightweight (so it's fast), and includes HiDPI show support, an integrated matter editor, image viewer, RPM/DEB package viewer, nan expertise to create symlinks, and is highly customizable.

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You tin besides enable/disable guidelines mode (which allows you to entree files arsenic nan guidelines personification -- truthful agelong arsenic you person nan guidelines personification password and it's enabled). One of nan stand-out features of XFE is nan hunt tool, which allows you to hunt via minimum size, past modified, user, record type, quiet files, matter contains, hidden files, and moreover ignoring cases.

Another useful characteristic is nan expertise to spot nan size of your existent Trash record and quiet it from nan menu. You tin besides alteration nan UI to azygous pane, dual pane, aliases triple pane.

XFE tin beryllium installed connected a Ubuntu-based distribution pinch nan command:

sudo apt-get instal xfe -y

If you're utilizing a Fedora-based desktop, nan installation is:

6. Caja

Caja is nan default record head for nan MATE desktop, but tin beryllium installed connected conscionable astir immoderate distribution. Caja has built-in support for SSH, FTP, HTTP/S, and Samba protocols, truthful it tin web arsenic good arsenic immoderate record manager. On apical of that, Caja features a elemental and acquainted UI, respective different views (Places, Information, Tree, History, Notes, Emblems, and Bookmarks), and book support for customization. You tin besides customize Caja for azygous aliases double-click to unfastened items, actions for executable matter files (such arsenic bash scripts), and media handling. There are besides extensions disposable for Caja, which are installed via nan modular repositories. Run a hunt for "caja" successful your app shop and you'll find plentifulness of extensions to install, from image converters, Dropbox support, Nextcloud support, actions and more.

Caja tin beryllium installed connected Ubuntu-based distributions pinch nan command:

sudo apt-get instal caja -y

If you're utilizing a Fedora-based distribution, nan installation bid is:

And location you person it -- six replacement record managers you tin effort connected nan Linux desktop. Considering that these are each free, what do you person to lose? Give 1 of these a effort and spot if you don't for illustration it complete your default.