OS File Managers

Users debate features, limitations, and alternatives for built-in file managers like Windows Explorer, Nautilus, Dolphin, and others across operating systems, often questioning why certain capabilities like tabs, previews, or path handling are missing.

➡️ Stable 0.5x Open Source
3,307
Comments
19
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2148
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

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Keywords

e.g NTFS OneDrive beets.io chromium.org OS ADS thumbs.db FE API file explorer folders folder files manager windows preview icon view

Sample Comments

pritambaral Aug 27, 2020 View on HN

Does your OS's builtin file manager not support this?

account42 Jun 26, 2025 View on HN

Demand more from you file manager then.

_nedR Jul 20, 2016 View on HN

What? You are saying windows explorer doesn't handle this feature properly? Thats insane.

hrktb Jul 13, 2018 View on HN

Don’t you have a file browser now ? What are the main limitations you are hitting ?

james-redwood Mar 6, 2022 View on HN

This is implemented in Nautilus, Dolphin, and Pantheon Files. Not sure what you are talking about.

the__alchemist Feb 14, 2025 View on HN

How do they deal with not having file browser tabs?!

okanat May 24, 2024 View on HN

Xplore file manager has this ability

FpUser Jan 11, 2024 View on HN

Very nice. I wish it would also work on mobile. The initial screen showed up but "clicking" on folders does not cause any action.

packetlost Aug 26, 2023 View on HN

FE File Explorer is most of what I want in a file manager

troupo Oct 11, 2023 View on HN

A file explorer that doesn't explore files in alpha is not a file explorer ;)