Keyboard shortcuts
How to write a shortcut, when it fires, and which combinations FileRanger already uses.
Give an action a shortcut and it runs when you press that key combination. The shortcut also shows next to the action in the menu.
{ "title": "Convert to WebP", "command": "…", "extensions": ["png", "jpg"], "shortcut": "ctrl+cmd+w" }Writing a shortcut
A shortcut is a list of modifiers and one key, joined with +. Case doesn't matter.
| Modifier | You can write |
|---|---|
| ⌘ Command | cmd, command, ⌘ |
| ⌃ Control | ctrl, control, ⌃ |
| ⌥ Option | opt, option, alt, ⌥ |
| ⇧ Shift | shift, ⇧ |
The key is a single character (w, 7, .) or a function key from f1 to f12. Space, Return, Tab and the arrow keys can't be used.
ctrl+cmd+w ⌃⌘W
opt+cmd+k ⌥⌘K
shift+f7 ⇧F7
f8 F8Function keys also work without a modifier. A letter or digit without a modifier doesn't: plain letters jump to matching file names, so FileRanger never treats them as shortcuts.
On most Mac keyboards, the top row controls brightness and volume. Hold fn to press F8 and the other function keys, or turn on Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys in System Settings → Keyboard.
Shift with digits and symbols
With Shift held, macOS reports the character Shift produces, so shift+cmd+1 arrives as ⇧⌘! and never matches. Combine Shift with letters or function keys only.
When a shortcut runs
A shortcut runs its action only if:
- a FileRanger window is in front and no dialog is open,
- you aren't typing in the address bar, the search field or a file name, and
- the action applies to the current selection.
The last point lets two actions share a shortcut, as long as they never apply to the same selection, like ctrl+cmd+c for "Compress" on folders and for "Convert" on images. If several matching actions use the same shortcut, the one that comes first in the menu runs. Built-in packs come before custom actions.
Shortcuts FileRanger uses
FileRanger checks action shortcuts before its own menu shortcuts. So if a custom action uses ⌘D, it replaces Duplicate whenever the action applies. Pick combinations from outside this list:
| Shortcut | Command |
|---|---|
| ⌘N, ⌘T, ⌘W, ⇧⌘W | New window, new tab, close tab, close window |
| ⇧⌘N, ⌥⌘N | New folder, new text file |
| ⌘↓, ⌘↩, ⌘Y | Open, open in new tab, Quick Look |
| F2, ⌘D, ⌘⌫ | Rename, duplicate, move to Trash |
| F5, F6 | Copy or move to the other pane |
| ⌥⌘T, ⌥⌘R | Open in Terminal, show in Finder |
| ⌘Z, ⇧⌘Z | Undo, redo |
| ⌘X, ⌘C, ⌘V, ⌥⌘C | Cut, copy, paste, copy path |
| ⌘A, ⌥⌘A | Select all, invert selection |
| ⌘F, ⌘L | Search, go to folder |
| ⌘1, ⌘2, ⌘3 | List, grid, two panes |
| ⌃`, ⌘I, ⌘R | Switch pane, details panel, refresh |
| ⇧⌘. | Show hidden files |
| ⌘[, ⌘], ⌘↑, ⇧⌘H | Back, forward, enclosing folder, Home |
| ⌃⇥, ⌃⇧⇥ | Next tab, previous tab |
| ⌥⌘1 to ⌥⌘9 | Tab 1 to 8, last tab |
| ⌘, ⌘Q ⌘H ⌘M | Settings, quit, hide, minimize |
The built-in action packs add these:
| Shortcut | Action | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| ⇧⌘E | Open in your editor | apps |
| ⌥⌘C | Copy Path | path |
| ⇧F2 | Batch Rename… | organize |
| ⇧⌥⌘C | Copy as AI Context | ai |
Shortcuts that macOS itself uses, like ⌘Space for Spotlight or ⇧⌘4 for screenshots, never reach FileRanger.
A good place to start is ⌃⌘ or ⌃⌥⌘ with a letter. FileRanger uses neither combination, and few other apps do. Avoid ⌃⌘Q, which locks the screen, and ⌃⌘F, which switches to full screen.