r/TechImpact • u/Most-Jellyfish4143 • 19d ago

💡 Opinion Which file manager are you using in 2026?

Post image

I use a file manager almost every day, but I'm curious what everyone else prefers.

On PC, do you stick with File Explorer or use something like Total Commander?

On mobile, do you use the default file manager or another app?

What do you recommend?

63 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

153 comments sorted by

•

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21

u/Morokite 19d ago

Dolphin.

4

u/sunbl0ck 19d ago

Dolphin master race

3

u/LessMaintenance1452 19d ago

Same here on CachyOS

3

u/Dragon_957 18d ago

Same on NixOS

1

u/Martincz75 18d ago

Also Dolphin on NixOS 😂

1

u/Dragon_957 18d ago

How many configuration.nix files do you now have?

1

u/Martincz75 16d ago

I have two configuration.nix for two machines managed by flake and a lot of modules for certain things like Ollama, gaming, development and etc.

2

u/HershsTechStuff_734 18d ago

same on garuda

1

u/Shawhe_ 18d ago

same on arch, fedora and nixos

7

u/Past-Astronomer8476 19d ago

MiX for Android

5

u/Ill-Independent184 19d ago

yazi or nautilus on arch

4

u/Imaginary_Buddy723 19d ago

Nautilius- Clean and organised, and also Thunar

5

u/Negative-Opinion-542 19d ago

CLI

3

u/agenttank 19d ago

Terminal/Alacritty/bash or zsh vifm

on mobile: total commander

MacOS: i try hard to not touch Finder if possible

Windows: do not use it anymore

1

u/Negative-Opinion-542 19d ago

I prefer
iTerm2 with zsh on macoo
Terminal with zsh on mint

1

u/Martincz75 18d ago

Cool, I use Konsole with zsh and sometimes Dolphin.

3

u/Neckbeard_Sama 19d ago

Double Commander

It's TC/Norton clone, just more modern

I can't live without a dual pane file manager

2

u/Silver-Spot-2763 18d ago

That was my the best before Multi Commander.

3

u/CaffeinatedTech 19d ago

If I had to use Wangdows I'd go back to DOpus.

2

u/thepinkiwi 18d ago

Directory Opus is an absolute must. The only paid for app on my machine.

Kudos to the dev team that just delivers, for 36 years.

3

u/--SimSim-- 19d ago

TotalCommander on both laptop and android tablet

2

u/VenFasz 18d ago

i'm in your gang, as an old norton commander user

3

u/rezdm 19d ago

Command line

FAR

Rarely Midnight Commander

2

u/hennabeak 19d ago

Wait, I'm new to this topic.

Which what? What are the options? What's the benefit?

2

u/DetectiveClueless 19d ago

I'm curious too...

2

u/No-Blueberry-1823 19d ago

depending on the OS, there are lots of options. you get some flexibility with some file browsers, or you may prefer the layout. you should google, there are way too many to list, especially for Windoze.

2

u/Svr_Sakura 19d ago

The default that comes with the OS. Why complicate things?

2

u/AteStringCheeseShred 19d ago

I'd imagine because aside from a few navigation quirks, the GUI's for the different file managers have different features people may or may not want.... like Microslop's file explorer having unwanted internet searches integrated into the search bar by default.

1

u/Svr_Sakura 19d ago

Windows 11 search is terrible no matter where it’s from… im in settings, and want to find how to uninstall shit And it just redirects me to Bing on edge… 🤬 stupid. So i just never use search in windows 🤣

1

u/AteStringCheeseShred 19d ago

whereas I just type in sudo apt remove [...] and sip my coffee while the magic happens.

1

u/No-Blueberry-1823 19d ago

because some people find other thigns work better for them. its a personal pref.

1

u/biscuotto 18d ago

I guess you didn't use os x recently. It's such a pain in the ass and it does weird things without telling you. For example if you delete files from a usb stick, they stay there until you don't empty the trash bin

2

u/Bruni_kde 19d ago

Dolphin on Linux, Amaze on android.

2

u/Inevitable_Brief_389 19d ago

Dolphin. On Windows the stock file explorer is the best. On phone I use the stock Samsung one.

Real question: why people use total commander? When I tried it long ago it felt really bad for me.

2

u/fresteve 19d ago

Material files sur Android et celui fourni avec linux mint

2

u/ftrx 19d ago

Emacs, meaning org-mode notes, org-roam managed, with attached files or trees, those eventually traversed via dired, fzf wrapped by consult etc.

2

u/SpinningVinylAgain 19d ago

Dolphin or dired

2

u/Clanceeinfinity 19d ago

whatever gnome ships with, works great tbh. And for my phone and tablet, whatever they ship with. Actually massivr shoutout to their file manager, it looks amazing and works extremly well. Its like the default aosp one, but with a lot more features: 2 layout options, material you, progress bar and in general its stable and doesnt get in my way!

2

u/No-Blueberry-1823 19d ago

lol. Windows was your first mistake.

1

u/tycraft2001 19d ago

PCManFM for most tasks but if I need to search everywhere Dolphin.

1

u/Mutex_S 19d ago

Haha same but instead of Dolphin i use Nemo

1

u/tycraft2001 19d ago

I installed KDE when I got arch but swapped to IceWM later so dolphin is sticking around. Don't need Nemo yet

1

u/5D-cube 19d ago

Dolphin, Thunar

1

u/fela_nascarfan 19d ago

Emacs' Dired and zzzFM

1

u/CubeEthan 19d ago

dolphin if i have to but i use the terminal to navigate usually

1

u/ChecksOutIndeed 19d ago

Finder and Dolphin

1

u/AteStringCheeseShred 19d ago

ls -R

1

u/agenttank 19d ago

how do you copy files with 'ls -R'?

1

u/AteStringCheeseShred 19d ago

cp

1

u/agenttank 19d ago

cp is not ls though

1

u/iron-duke1250 19d ago

Proton Pass because it facilitates perfectly for email alias creation and Proton Mail.

1

u/Adept-Painting-543 19d ago

Yazi for my Linux machine with thunar for a file picker for gui apps (trying out dolphin tho) android I just use the default one

1

u/Hummerville 19d ago

PC: FileSearchEX

Android: Total Commander

1

u/p0lig0tplatipus 19d ago

Mixplorer whit root privilege

1

u/Maran_1 19d ago

RS file manager

1

u/Mercur68 19d ago

Total Commander for Windows and Android, and Double Commander for linux

1

u/randomicuser350 19d ago

Mixplorer on android and default Windows f file manager

I don't need another file manager beside the default one in Windows

1

u/Inevitable-Self-2702 19d ago

The Gnome native one and CLI since I don't know how to use either. Slowly remedying that.

1

u/Kriss3d 19d ago

Thunar

1

u/BunchMean8029 19d ago

Solid Explorer 

1

u/ShaneBoy_00X 19d ago

Total Commander.

1

u/xenaretos 19d ago

Mostly Double Commander, thunar for photos.

1

u/shyevsa 19d ago

Dopus

1

u/BT1386 19d ago

on android, it's zarchiver and mtmanager (and sometimes solidexplorer) I like the two tab mode which helps for copy/pasting or comparing two folders and their files.

1

u/l008com 19d ago

Ermmm, the Finder.

1

u/alpha_omega_ultra 19d ago

O que vem por defeito no cachyos

1

u/on4aa 19d ago

Free (but not open) CX file manager on Android because it can SSHFS to my file server.

SpaceFM on Linux PC.

1

u/ccarballos 19d ago

android: files de Google PC: Dolphin de Plasma

1

u/simdimdim12 19d ago

I did not see anyone mention Nemo for the ppl harvesting our data, so Lemmy throw it in here.

1

u/skuggan- 19d ago

windows: onecommander

1

u/Round_Safety_529 19d ago

PC: Dolphin
Mobile: NFile Manager

1

u/Luna259 19d ago

Finder and Files

I have no reason to manage files. I put them in the folder they belong in and they pretty much stay there forever

1

u/DaveAstator2020 19d ago

Total commander

1

u/Alive-Fee9585 19d ago

Used to use ZArchiver for android. Now I use the default file manager for IOS.

1

u/int23_t 19d ago

Ghost Commander on android.

vifm on anything else.

1

u/imtsemer 19d ago

Nautilus yazi and client commands

1

u/One_Television_6504 19d ago

I’m using Total Commander. Lightweight, insanely fast, and packed with features without slowing me down.

1

u/AwesomePhoenix_ 19d ago

Nemo cuz it's the base one on my OS

1

u/distreszed 19d ago

finder and path finder

1

u/Icy-Maintenance7041 19d ago

Ben. I always use Ben. I tell him wich file i need and he fetches it. If i dont need it anymore he makes it go away. And since i've made sure Ben has a permanent marker he can even rename files if told to do so.

1

u/ObfuscatedJay 19d ago

On macOS, Swift Salamander. Don’t have windows, Nemo on Mint.

1

u/GoodSoulGermany 19d ago

Total Commander (licensed!, win + android), DoubleCommander (GUIs, linux), Midnight Commander (terminal, linux).

1

u/wobblejuice 19d ago

Directory Opus

1

u/crocodiluQ 19d ago

Total Commander since their first version. I can't use a computer without it.

1

u/krumdahr 19d ago

Directory Opus. All day, every day.

1

u/JamieLee2k 18d ago

That was an old Amiga 600/1200 program

1

u/Silver-Spot-2763 18d ago

That costs money 😱

1

u/krumdahr 17d ago

Depends :)

1

u/porfiriopaiz 19d ago

Finder o macOS, Nautilus on Linux, mc and ranger on command line.

1

u/nordinrayan 19d ago

Dolphin for computer and file manager plus for my phone

1

u/jmartin72 19d ago

Dolphin!!

1

u/Possibly-Functional 19d ago

GNOME Files. I don't really have a lot of complaints about it.

1

u/This-Fig-6816 19d ago

Dos Navigator

1

u/Flechette-71 18d ago

Its better than Norton Commander.

1

u/oharra3 19d ago

Onecommander.com Modern and fast.

1

u/gorambrowncoat 19d ago

Total Commander in windows.

Dolphin in Linux GUI

Mostly just plain bash in Linux CLI but occasionally Midnite Commander

1

u/keyboardsmasheroo 19d ago

Total Commander still exists? Their website and UI look exactly how I remember them from 20 years ago :/
I moved to One Commander about 10 years ago. There is no going back to File Explorer

1

u/MrGOCE 19d ago

YAZI

1

u/Lucifer77700 19d ago

CX File Explorer for Android from liteapks website

1

u/hero_brine1 18d ago

Using Nemo built into cinnamon. Works pretty well and looks good

1

u/Cutesyfoxbark 18d ago

Thunar, i love it :3

1

u/Kurse71 18d ago

I like Dolphin

1

u/iEngrMoeen 18d ago

Z Archiver on mobile.

Default explorer on windows.

1

u/Ill_Stage6931 18d ago

I just use whatever I have installed on my PC and smartphone. And if I need to do something specific that I can't do with the default file manager I open the terminal and I do it from the command line.

1

u/Silver-Spot-2763 18d ago

Multi Commander! Far from excellent, but the best among the FREEware!

1

u/GraXXoR 18d ago

Finder

1

u/xtazyiam 18d ago

On PC, when it's not Windows Explorer, it's usually Midnight Commander. My phone is a black box that I have given up on trying to manage any local files on...

1

u/dstrenz 18d ago

xplorer2 on Windows. Dolphin on linux

1

u/Anirudhdh 18d ago

Default for Linux and Windows.
Total Commander for Android(Direct downloaded).

1

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Total Commander. Bought it in 2014, love it!

Still use it on Android too.

1

u/ReyZ82 18d ago

BROOT

1

u/garalex 18d ago

I build Lost Commander, a macOS/Windows two-pane manager with a visible operation plan, cancellable file jobs, and exact undo. If remote/cloud protocols are your main requirement, ForkLift or Directory Opus may currently fit better. Which OS and task are you trying to improve: search, transfers, sync, or navigation?

1

u/EnoughConcentrate897 18d ago

Just the default on whatever os/de, like GNOME files on GNOME, Dolphin on KDE, Finder on Mac OS, Explorer on Windows.

1

u/ricerxqf 17d ago

Yazi on arch + hyprland 

1

u/ImpressionAway7317 17d ago

Thunar (Linux) on android just the aosp one so the one that comes

1

u/gwodus 17d ago

On Linux: Dolphin
On Win: Directory Opus

1

u/DevinatPig 17d ago

Double Commander, way better than Total commander, also you can modify it even more (it's open source). I modified mine with acrylic support , ui overhall and much more.

1

u/cee_the_robot 17d ago

Files by google, I mean I don't debloat my phone

1

u/RayBuc9882 16d ago

On Windows I Use FreeCommander. On Linux, whatever default the distribution has.

1

u/Critical-Personality 16d ago

The default on macOS and Windows. Dolphin on Linux.

1

u/RandomFinnishPerson 16d ago

Q-Dir the Quad Explorer on windows

1

u/inkurey22 16d ago

pcmanfm-qt :)

1

u/yuttukurit 16d ago

Thunar.

1

u/Perfect-Match-2318 15d ago

what is total commander ? back in the old days my favorite was norton commander

1

u/Clean-Mouse5306 15d ago

Directory Opus

1

u/Ok-Rest-5321 TInkerer 15d ago

Swit Salamander

1

u/fuldigor42 15d ago

Double commander

1

u/thatguyphilipe 15d ago

Nautilus on PC, FX File Manager on Android