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Exploring Terminal File Managers

Discover a new way to manage files in Linux
25 January 2026 by
TechStora Editorial Board

Why Terminal File Managers?

I often find myself in situations where I need to manage files on a remote Linux server or a local machine. Using the usual commands can be tedious. That's where terminal file managers come in.

Features of Terminal File Managers

Some terminal file managers, like Yazi, offer features like built-in code highlighting, image decoding, and a plug-in system. Others, like Ranger, have a Vim-like interface and a three-column design.

What I Loved vs What Felt Weird

  • What I Loved:
    • Ranger's three-column design makes navigating directories easy
    • Automatic preview of text files, images, PDFs, and videos
    • Easy keyboard navigation
  • What Felt Weird:
    • Getting used to the Vim-like interface in Ranger
    • Not all terminal file managers have a plug-in system like Yazi

Key Performance Changes

With fast keyboard navigation and automatic previews, terminal file managers like Ranger make managing files a breeze. When you hit Enter on a text file, it opens in your default text editor.