Folder File Filter

Filter folder files by glob mask, file extension, or active file context inside VS Code Explorer.

GitHub repository | VS Code Marketplace | Open VSX

Why Use It

• Filter one folder by mask or extension without running a broad project search.
• Browse matching neighbors directly in Explorer while keeping file opening predictable.
• Use the active file context to jump between related docs, configs, tests, logs, and assets.

Features

• Adds a Folder File Filter view to the Explorer sidebar.
• Adds Folder File Filter: Show Matching Files to folder context menus in Explorer.
• Adds a Folder File Filter action to file context menus in Explorer.
• Adds Folder File Filter: Open Settings to the Command Palette.
• Prompts for a glob mask such as *.md, **/*.test.*, **/docs/**, or **/*backup*.
• Shows extensions that already exist in the selected folder before recent masks and generic pattern presets.
• Can save named filters and show them in the mask picker.
• Can pin source folders in the results view for quick reuse inside the current workspace.
• Shows the active mask as a clickable Mask: ... row at the top of the results view.
• Shows matching files from the selected source folder as clickable tree items.
• Can infer one filter from multiple selected files, such as {*.json,*.md}.
• Supports native Ctrl/Shift multi-selection and result context-menu actions for open, open to side, reveal in File Explorer, and copy path.
• Supports sorting by path, name, or extension, plus optional grouping by extension.
• Can follow the active file tab and update the filter when a file with another extension is opened.
• Can auto-refresh active results when matching files are created, changed, or deleted.
• Supports refresh and clear actions from the Folder File Filter view title.
• Can open the highlighted result while moving through the results list.

Common Use Cases

• Filter docs such as **/*.md, docs/**/*.md, or README*.md.
• Filter configs such as **/*.json, **/*.yaml, **/*.toml, or *.config.*.
• Filter tests such as **/*.test.ts, **/*.spec.js, or tests/**/*.py.
• Filter logs, reports, screenshots, and generated assets without leaving Explorer.
• Right-click one or more files to infer a mask from their extensions and browse matching neighbors.

Use

1. Open a workspace in VS Code.
2. Right-click a folder in Explorer.
3. Run Folder File Filter: Show Matching Files.
4. Type a glob mask or pick one from the current-folder extensions, recent masks, or generic patterns dropdown.
5. Open files from the Folder File Filter view.

For files, right-click a file in Explorer and run Folder File Filter. The command searches the selected file's parent folder using a mask inferred from the file name, such as *.json for settings.json. If several files are selected with Ctrl or Shift, the command combines their unique masks, such as {*.json,*.md}. The Folder File Filter results view also supports native Ctrl/Shift multi-selection. To change the active mask without reopening the Explorer context menu, click the Mask: ... row at the top of the results view or use the Change Mask button in the view title. The title button uses the active Explorer file or folder first, then the active editor file's folder, then the last source folder. To switch folders explicitly from the results view, select a file or folder in Explorer and use Folder File Filter: Change Source Folder from the view title. Use Pin Source Folder to keep the active Explorer folder or current source folder in a Pinned folders group. When a mask is active, each pinned folder also shows its own matching child files and count for that mask. Clicking a pinned folder opens the mask picker for that folder, and stale pins can be removed from their context menu. Use Save Filter to name the current mask, Change Sort to sort results by path, name, or extension, and Toggle Group By Extension to fold results into extension groups.

To open extension settings, run Folder File Filter: Open Settings from the Command Palette.

Settings

{
  "folderFileFilter.defaultMask": "**/*",
  "folderFileFilter.maskPresets": [
    "**/*",
    "*.*",
    "**/*.*",
    "**/README*",
    "**/test*",
    "**/*test*",
    "**/*.test.*",
    "**/*.spec.*",
    "**/__tests__/**",
    "**/docs/**",
    "**/src/**",
    "**/*-backup*",
    "**/*_backup*"
  ],
  "folderFileFilter.maxResults": 500,
  "folderFileFilter.savedFilters": [
    {
      "label": "Markdown docs",
      "mask": "**/*.md"
    }
  ],
  "folderFileFilter.sortBy": "path",
  "folderFileFilter.groupByExtension": false,
  "folderFileFilter.autoRefreshResults": true,
  "folderFileFilter.autoRefreshDebounceMs": 300,
  "folderFileFilter.openOnSelection": false,
  "folderFileFilter.autoFilterFilesFromSelectedFile": true,
  "folderFileFilter.autoFilterFromActiveFile": true,
  "folderFileFilter.restoreFocusAfterOpenDelayMs": 150
}

The mask picker shows extension masks found in the selected folder, saved named filters, the current/default mask, recently used manual masks, and folderFileFilter.maskPresets. Folder extension suggestions scan only the selected folder's top level and are sorted by frequency, then by extension name. Saved filters are stored in folderFileFilter.savedFilters and can be updated through the Save Filter view action. Recent masks are stored in VS Code's extension global state. Automatic active-file filters do not add masks to that history. Pinned folders are stored in VS Code workspace state as a workspace folder name plus a relative path. They do not store machine-specific absolute paths. If a multi-root workspace contains duplicate workspace folder names, pinned folders fail closed as ambiguous; rename the workspace folders before pinning them. Searches are limited to folders inside the current workspace. folderFileFilter.maxResults defaults to 500 and is capped at 5000. Use folderFileFilter.sortBy and folderFileFilter.groupByExtension to control result presentation without changing the active search. Disable folderFileFilter.autoRefreshResults if file-system changes should not refresh the active result list automatically. Increase folderFileFilter.autoRefreshDebounceMs if a tool writes many matching files in a short burst. Enable folderFileFilter.openOnSelection to open the highlighted result while moving through the list with Up/Down. Files open with their default editor in preview mode and focus stays in the Folder File Filter view. Disable folderFileFilter.autoFilterFilesFromSelectedFile to confirm or edit the inferred mask before the file context menu command runs. Disable folderFileFilter.autoFilterFromActiveFile if opening a file in the editor should not update the active filter automatically. Increase folderFileFilter.restoreFocusAfterOpenDelayMs if a custom editor takes focus after opening and interrupts Up/Down navigation.

Privacy And Security

The extension searches local workspace files through the VS Code extension API and opens matches with VS Code's default editor selection. Source folders must be inside the current workspace. It does not upload files, make network requests, or collect telemetry.

Support The Project

If Folder File Filter helps your workflow, please star the GitHub repository or leave a rating on the marketplace where you installed it. This helps other VS Code users find the extension.

License

Commercial licensing is available separately. Unless you have a separate commercial license agreement, this project is licensed under MPL-2.0. See the repository LICENSE for the full MPL-2.0 text and NOTICE for copyright and commercial licensing notice.

Terms and Abbreviations

• Explorer: the VS Code sidebar that shows workspace folders and contributed views.
• Glob: a path matching pattern such as **/*.md, **/*.json, or **/*.test.ts.
• Mask picker: the dropdown used to type or choose a glob mask.
• Auto-refresh: automatic rerun of the active filter when matching files change.
• Command Palette: the VS Code command launcher opened with commands such as Show All Commands.
• Ctrl and Shift: keyboard modifier keys used by VS Code Explorer for multi-selection.
• Custom editor: a VS Code editor provided by an extension for a specific file type.
• MPL: Mozilla Public License.
• Open VSX: the open extension registry used by VS Code-compatible editors.
• Pinned folder: a workspace-relative source folder shortcut stored in VS Code workspace state.
• rating: a user review or score on an extension marketplace.
• Saved filter: a named glob mask stored in extension settings.
• Sort mode: the selected result ordering, such as path, file name, or extension.
• star: a GitHub repository star used as a lightweight public signal of user interest.
• Telemetry: automatic usage or diagnostic data collection; this extension does not collect it.
• VS Code: Visual Studio Code.
• VS Code extension API: the local API surface VS Code exposes to extensions.