You may, however, install a variety of file managers with a variety of functions to match your needs. So, if you’re a Linux user who wants to experiment with alternative file managers, don’t worry; there are plenty of options available online. In this article, we’ll go through the best Linux file managers you can use right now to handle your duties. We’ll talk about the 11 best file managers for Linux in this article. The popularity, functionality, and most recent update of these file managers are used to compile the following list. Every file manager will have its own set of features, advantages and disadvantages, and installation procedure.
11 Best File Managers For Linux
The 11 best file managers for Linux, based on our findings are:
1. Dolphin
Dolphin is a free KDE file manager that you may install. It has a simple user interface that lets you examine the contents of your flash storage devices and hard discs. You have a lot of options when it comes to creating, copying, moving, renaming, and deleting files. Dolphin is a useful file management program that makes file administration much easier. You may download numerous plugins from its official website if you wish to expand its capabilities. Dolphin has three view modes: the tree view, grid view, and detail view. Dolphin may be used as a single file manager for both network and local files on your Linux computer.
Key Characteristics:
- Dolphin’s functionality may be enhanced using a variety of plugins.
- A built-in terminal lets you run any command from a specific folder.
- It has a URL navigation bar that allows users to browse local directories.
- For accessing numerous folders at once, there is a split view and a multiple tab capability.
- It has a dockable panel that may be used to display additional information.
- The Dolphin file manager’s right-click menu offers a variety of rapid choices for sharing, duplicating, and compressing files.
2. Thunar
Thunar is an excellent file manager that is meant to be more responsive and quicker than other file managers. It’s designed for the Desktop Environment and comes pre-installed with the GNOME accessibility toolkit. By design, it’s a simple and less resourceful tool, but you may expand its capabilities with other plugins. It complies with all industry requirements and is compatible with assistive technology. It has a simple UI with no confusing or needless features, making it simple to work with.
Key Characteristics:
- Thunar has a terminal emulator.
- Users can try renaming numerous files at the same time.
- Multiple files can be renamed at a time.
- Emblems can be used to identify folders for quick and easy referencing.
- Thunar’s functionality may be enhanced by using a variety of plugins.
- It has a volume manager that dynamically organizes removable media devices.
- It contains a Transmit To feature that allows you to send files with only one click.
3. Konqueror
Konqueror is a free and open-source file manager that also includes a web browser. As a result, you may access both network and local files from the same manager. The term Konqueror points to a conqueror that can meet the needs of web browsers as well as file managers. Konqueror grew up in the KDE environment, but in KDE 4, Dolphin took over as the default file manager. Konqueror has a straightforward user interface that lets you quickly move, copy, search and delete files. It also includes sophisticated features like FTP and SFTP access, SMB shares, archive access, and more.
Key Characteristics:
- Konqueror may be customised to meet the needs of the user.
- It comes with a fully loaded FTP client, which allows the user to divide the observable interface and examine both distant and local files in a singular window.
- KParts, Service-menus, KIO, and many other plugins are supported.
- Users can use KHTML or KDEWebKit as a rendering engine to surf the web.
- It also allows HTTPS, BitTorrent, FTP and HTTP downloads from many domains.
4. Nemo
Nemo is a free, open-source, adeptly-featured file manager with a clean, quick, and easy graphical user interface. Linux Mint created it, and it was originally launched in 2012. Nemo is the default file manager for the Cinnamon desktop environment. For optimum performance, Nemo employs both GNOME Virtual File System (GVf) and Gnome Input/Output (GIO) It offers a double-pane mode that makes moving, copying, and pasting files and folders a breeze. You may access both local and network files from the same exact window using this file manager. It comes with a number of bookmark management features as well as a number of navigation choices.
Key Characteristics:
- Nemo features a built-in terminal that allows you to run commands right from a file manager.
- It comes with a GTK bookmarks management feature.
- There are several navigation choices available, including back, refresh, up, and forward.
- Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) are supported by Nemo (FTP).
- It has a number of extensions that may be used to expand its capabilities.
- To rename numerous folders at once, Nemo includes a bulk renaming option.
5. PCManFM
Thunar, Konqueror, and Nautilus were all replaced by PCManFM or PCMan File Manager. It is a file manager, yet it has many of the same functions as other Linux file managers. Nemo was revamped in 2010 by redesigning it from the ground up and setting it differently. As a result, the most recent version of PCManFM differs significantly from previous versions. It’s a GNU-General Public licensed utility that’s available for free. The most recent version of PCManFM-Qt is a major component of LXQt, however, in 2020, the ArchLinux group switched PCManFM to gtk 3.
Key Characteristics:
- PCManFM provides a variety of features, including a twin-panel interface, bookmarking, photo thumbnails, and multilingual support.
- There are several view options available, including a detailed view, icon view, compact view, and thumbnail view.
- Users may simply mount, eject, unmount and manage storage devices with volume management.
- It can handle SFTP, WebDav, and SMB and supports gvf with full access to remote files.
- It supports drag and Drops capabilities, which makes it more accessible.
- PCManFM also comes with a number of plugins that allow users to tailor it to their own requirements.
6. Double Commander
Double Commander is a free file manager that works on both Linux and Windows systems. It’s based on the Windows-only Total Commander file manager. Double Commander is a built-in text editor with syntax highlighting capabilities. Because of its easy interface, you can simply build, modify, and display file components. It can queue activities in the backdrop so that the user can operate without being interrupted by pop-ups. Despite the fact that it was published in 2007, updates are performed on a regular basis to ensure that there are no problems or errors.
Key Characteristics:
- Users may view several files at the same time with Double Commander’s dual-pane UI.
- It comes with a built-in file viewer that allows you to view files in, binary, text or hex format.
- The multi-rename capability allows users to rename numerous files at once.
- CPIO, GZ, ZIP, ZIPX, DEB, RPM, 7Z, and more archive formats are supported.
- It works with a variety of plugins, including Total Commander WCX, WDX, and WFX.
7. GNOME Files (Nautilus)
GNOME Files, formerly known as “Nautilus,” is the official file manager for the GNOME desktop. It has a basic user interface yet is jam-packed with functions. This single file manager allows you to access both network and local files. You may quickly recover deleted files in GNOME Files. It’s also quite simple to use the search features to find files. Aside from that, you may install other plugins to improve its powers and features. To access local and distant file systems, GNOME Files use an abstraction layer.
Key Characteristics:
- GNOME Files features an embedded tracker that rapidly returns search results.
- Batch renaming allows users to rename numerous files at once.
- It offers a straightforward user interface and straightforward choices.
- For archive files, it has compress and de-compress options.
- Users can customize the design of the site by adding different typefaces.
8. Nnn
Nnn, often known as n3, is a free and open-source CLI file manager for Linux operating system. It comes with a slew of features that make file administration a breeze for the end-user. Nnn’s main purpose is to provide a file management platform that consumes the least amount of space and memory possible. Another advantage of Nnn is that it uses very few resources. You may also use plugins to provide other functions like mounting drives, reading files, and so on. Nnn also includes a number of extra tools to help you manage your files efficiently while conserving resources.
Key Characteristics:
- For appropriate file management, Nnn requires fewer resources and memory.
- Users can install multiple plugins to customize their features to meet their own requirements.
- Its text-primary user interface makes file management activities more manageable.
- It has a variety of settings so that the user may tailor it to his or her needs.
- It contains mime information as well as extensive file statistics.
9. Krusader
Krusader is a fully-featured dual-pane file manager with a straightforward user interface. It’s a basic file manager that’s very configurable, quick, and user-friendly. It is still a popular Linux file manager, despite the fact that it was previously updated in 2019. Multiple archive formats are supported, including ARJ, bzip2, ZIP, GZIP, TAR, LHA ACE, and others. Krusader is also capable of handling KIO slaves such as SMB. Mounted file system support, enhanced view/edit/search, directory sync, batch left, and file-content comparison features are all available in Krusader. Krusader may also be enhanced with a variety of plugins available from the KDE Store.
Key Characteristics:
- SFTP and FTP are both supported by Krusader for file transmission.
- It allows you to compare the contents of files and synchronize directories.
- It comes with a pre-loaded terminal that allows the user to run commands from any directory.
- The file authority/permissions may be simply seen and edited by users.
- For greater accessibility, it offers a sophisticated search module.
10. Midnight Commander
Midnight Commander is a command-line file manager with cross and multi-platform compatibility. Because it is released under the GNU General Public License, it is also known as GNU Midnight Commander. Midnight Commander is a powerful file manager that lets you move, paste, copy, remove, and rename files and folders with ease. You may also use the subshell to perform commands, which contain file reader and editing options. It features two text-mode windows, each of which unveils the contents of the directories selected.
Key Characteristics
- It has a subshell that allows users to perform various commands.
- RPM Packages’ files and metadata can be seen by users.
- This Linux file manager’s search function allows users to quickly find any file.
- It also has a syntax highlighting feature.
- The bulk rename feature allows users to rename numerous files at a time.
11. Ranger
Ranger is a Linux command-line file manager with VI key bindings. It integrates practically all of the GUI file manager’s functionality into the terminal. It has a simple and attractive curse interface with a directory hierarchy view. Ranger’s file launcher is excellent at automatically determining the software to use for which file type.
Key Characteristics:
- Support for UTF-8 (if your Python copy supports it)
- Display with many columns
- The selected file/directory is shown in a preview.
- Typical file operations (create, chmod, copy, delete, etc.)
- VIM-like terminal with hotkeys for renaming many files at once
- Determine file kinds automatically and launch them with the appropriate applications.
- After closing Ranger, change the directory of your shell.
- Tabs, bookmarks, and mouse support are all available.