Browse files and folders

Use the Files application to browse the files in your home folder, on external devices, on file servers, and across your computer's file system.

How do I open the file manager?

  • Search for files and folders in the dash the same way you would search for applications. They will appear under the heading Files and Folders.

  • Another way to open the file manager is to select the Home Folder shortcut in the launcher.

In the file manager, double-click any folder to view its contents, and double-click any file to open it with the default application for that file. You can also right-click a folder to open it in a new tab or new window. In list view, you can also click the expander next to a folder to show its contents in a tree.

The path bar above the list of files and folders shows you which folder you're viewing, including the parent folders up to your home directory, the root of a removable device, or the root of your file system. Click a parent folder in the path bar to go to that folder. Right-click any folder in the path bar to open it in a new tab or window, copy or move it, or access its properties.

You can quickly access common places from the sidebar. If you do not see the sidebar, click View ▸ Sidebar ▸ Show Sidebar. You can add bookmarks to folders you use often, and they will appear in the sidebar.

If you frequently move files between nested folders, you might find it more useful to show a tree in the sidebar instead. Click View ▸ Sidebar ▸ Tree to enable the tree sidebar. Click the expander next to a folder to show its child folders in the tree, or click a folder to open it in the window.