Folder Viewer
Browse and manage folders in full-size VS Code editor tabs.
Folder Viewer adds a file-manager view to the editor area without replacing the built-in Explorer. Each folder opens in an independent tab, giving you more space to browse files, compare folders, and perform common file operations without leaving VS Code.
Features
- Editor tabs: Open multiple folders in independent, full-size tabs.
- Navigation: Move through folders with breadcrumbs, back navigation, refresh, and favorites.
- File details: View creation time, modification time, and file size. Calculate folder sizes on demand.
- File operations: Cut, copy, paste, rename, move to trash, permanently delete, and copy absolute paths.
- Folder actions: Open a folder in another Folder Viewer tab, a new VS Code window, or the integrated terminal.
- ZIP archives: Preview ZIP contents in a dedicated tab, or compress and extract archives with progress and cancellation.
- Selection: Use single, range, and multi-selection with familiar mouse and keyboard controls.
Open a Folder
| Method |
Action |
| Explorer |
Right-click a folder and select Open in Folder Viewer. |
| Command Palette |
Run Open in Folder Viewer, then choose a folder. |
| Keyboard |
Press Cmd+Shift+; on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+; on Windows and Linux to open your home folder. |
Each Folder Viewer tab is limited to the folder it was opened with and its descendants.
Browse and Manage Files
- Double-click a folder to enter it.
- Double-click a file to open it with its registered VS Code editor.
- Double-click a ZIP file to preview its contents in a new tab.
- Use the star in the path bar to add or remove the current folder from favorites.
- Click the size button beside a folder to calculate its size. Hold
Cmd on macOS or Ctrl on Windows and Linux while clicking to calculate all visible folder sizes.
- Right-click an item or empty space to open the context menu.
Depending on the selection, the context menu provides:
| Category |
Actions |
| Clipboard |
Cut, copy, paste, and copy absolute paths |
| Item management |
Rename, move to trash, or permanently delete by holding Shift while choosing Delete |
| Folder tools |
Open in a new Folder Viewer tab, open in a new VS Code window, or open in the integrated terminal |
| Archives |
Compress the selection to a ZIP file or extract a selected ZIP file |
Behavior Notes
- Each tab is scoped to the folder it was opened with. Navigation and file operations stay inside that root folder.
- ZIP files open in a preview tab on double-click. Use the context menu to extract ZIP files or compress selected files and folders.
- When moving items to trash is not supported by the current file system provider, Folder Viewer asks before falling back to permanent deletion.
- Remote and virtual workspaces depend on the capabilities exposed by their VS Code file system provider, so some operations may be unavailable or slower than local folders.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action |
macOS |
Windows / Linux |
| Select all |
Cmd+A |
Ctrl+A |
| Add to selection |
Cmd+Click |
Ctrl+Click |
| Select a range |
Shift+Click |
Shift+Click |
| Cut |
Cmd+X |
Ctrl+X |
| Copy |
Cmd+C |
Ctrl+C |
| Paste |
Cmd+V |
Ctrl+V |
| Copy path |
Option+Cmd+C |
Shift+Alt+C |
| Go to path |
Cmd+Shift+G |
Ctrl+Shift+G |
| Rename selected item |
F2 or Enter |
F2 or Enter |
| Move to trash |
Cmd+Backspace |
Delete |
| Delete permanently |
Shift+Cmd+Backspace |
Shift+Delete |
| Clear selection |
Escape |
Escape |
Keyboard shortcuts apply while focus is inside the Folder Viewer tab.
License
MIT
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