Nifty Explorer+
A second Explorer with file sizes and dates, sorting by date or size, filters, folder focus, recently changed files, and pinned files and folders from anywhere.
Maintained. No sign-in. No telemetry. Works in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium and other editors that use Open VSX.
Features
VS Code's Explorer can't be changed by extensions, so Explorer+ is a second view you can put next to it, or drag anywhere you like.
- See sizes and dates. Every file shows its size and how long ago it changed ("5 min ago", "yesterday", "2026-01-05"). Hover for the exact size and time, and a preview for images.
- Sort the way you think. By name (natural order:
file2 before file10), by date modified to find what you just touched, by size to find what's bloating the repo, or by type. Folders first, or mixed in.
- Filter. Show only files matching part of a name, a glob like
*.test.*, or a set of extensions like ext:ts,tsx.
- Focus on a folder. Right-click a folder and choose Focus on This Folder to browse just that part of a big repo; one click takes you back.
- Recently changed lists the files changed most recently anywhere in the workspace.
- Pin anything. Pin files and folders, including ones outside the workspace (a logs folder, a config file in your home folder), and they stay at the top of the view in every workspace.
- Git colors and badges, like the regular Explorer.
.git, node_modules and .DS_Store are hidden by default.
- Works in the browser on vscode.dev and github.dev.
Commands
| Command |
What it does |
Nifty Explorer+: Sort By… |
Name, date modified, size or type |
Nifty Explorer+: Filter Files… |
Name, glob or ext: filter |
Nifty Explorer+: Focus on This Folder |
Show only that folder |
Nifty Explorer+: Pin to Explorer+… |
Pin files or folders from anywhere |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
What it does |
nifty.explorer-plus.defaultSort |
name |
Starting sort order |
nifty.explorer-plus.foldersFirst |
true |
Folders before files |
nifty.explorer-plus.showSize |
true |
Show file sizes |
nifty.explorer-plus.showModified |
true |
Show when files changed |
nifty.explorer-plus.showRecent |
true |
Show the Recently changed section |
nifty.explorer-plus.recentCount |
15 |
How many recent files |
nifty.explorer-plus.hide |
.git, node_modules, .DS_Store |
Names never shown |
Install
- VS Code: search for "Nifty Explorer+" in the Extensions view, or install from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
- Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium, Kiro, Antigravity: install from Open VSX.
Privacy
This extension collects no telemetry and needs no account.
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See all 28 Nifty tools at https://getnifty.dev
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