Column view
Miller columns with a preview pane – browse deep folder trees and see file details without opening anything.
Features
What Dirwise does
A file manager built around the keyboard, with the views and tools you reach for every day.
Ctrl+K command palette
Find folders, actions and tags in one box; type a path to jump straight there.
Tabs
Each tab keeps its own history, view and selection; drop files on a tab to move them there.
Split view
Ctrl+Shift+D opens two panels side by side; F5 and F6 copy or move to the other one.
Instant preview
Space previews images, PDF, video, audio, text, source code and Markdown.
Acrylic transparency
Optional blurred transparency on Windows 11 22H2 and later, in three strengths.
Recycle Bin
Browse deleted items with their original location and restore them without overwriting anything.
Extensions like in Windows
File extensions follow the Windows setting – or show them always or never.
Demo
See it in action
Keyboard
Keyboard shortcuts
The essentials. Everything else is in the full list.
- Ctrl+TNew tab
- Ctrl+WClose tab
- Ctrl+KCommand palette (Ctrl+Enter = search files)
- Ctrl+Shift+DSplit window into two panels
- F5 / F6Copy / move selection to the other panel (split view)
- SpacePreview
- Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+YUndo / redo
All shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| ↑ ↓ ← → | Move the selection (Icons follow the grid, Columns move between columns) |
| Shift + arrows / click | Extend the selection |
| Ctrl + click | Add / remove an item from the selection |
| Home / End, PgUp / PgDn | First / last item, page up / down |
| Typing letters | Jump to the item whose name starts with them |
| Enter / Ctrl+↓ | Open selected item |
| Backspace / Alt+← | Back |
| Alt+→ | Forward |
| Alt+↑ / Ctrl+↑ | Go to parent folder |
| Ctrl+L | Edit path |
| Ctrl+F | Focus search field (Enter = recursive search, ↓ = into results, Esc = clear) |
| Ctrl+C / Ctrl+X / Ctrl+V | Copy / cut / paste (Windows clipboard) |
| Ctrl+Shift+Z | Redo |
| Tab | Switch active panel (split view) |
| Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Next / previous tab |
| Ctrl+1 … Ctrl+9 | Go to tab 1–8 / the last tab |
| Ctrl+D | Duplicate |
| Ctrl+A | Select all (not in Column view) |
| Ctrl+Shift+N | New folder |
| F2 | Rename |
| Delete | Move to Recycle Bin (in the Recycle Bin: delete permanently) |
| Shift+Delete | Delete permanently (with confirmation) |
| Ctrl+R / F5 | Refresh (F5 outside split view) |
| Ctrl+Shift+. | Show / hide hidden files |
| Esc | Clear selection; close search results; close menus and dialogs |
| ← / →, Esc | Previous / next file, close (in Preview) |
| Mouse button 4 / 5 | Back / forward |
| Middle click on a folder / tab | Open in a new tab / close the tab |
FAQ
Questions and answers
Is Dirwise free?
Yes. Dirwise is free and open source under the MIT license – no ads, no account, nothing to buy.
Why does Windows show a SmartScreen warning?
The installer from GitHub isn't code-signed, so SmartScreen shows “Windows protected your PC”. Click More info → Run anyway. The Microsoft Store version installs without this warning and updates through the Store.
Does Dirwise collect any data?
No – no telemetry, no analytics, no crash reports. The GitHub version asks the GitHub API at most once a day whether a new version exists (you can turn it off in More → Check for Updates); the Store version itself makes no network requests. Details are in the privacy policy.
Does it work on Windows 10?
Yes, on Windows 10 and 11 (x64). Blurred transparency needs Windows 11 22H2 or later – on older systems the option simply isn't offered.
How can I contribute or translate?
Bug reports, ideas and pull requests are welcome on GitHub. The interface is in English and Czech; texts live in the translation files in src/i18n, so a new language starts with a new file there.