PCManFM is a lightweight GTK file manager originally developed for the LXDE desktop environment. It aims to provide a fast and straightforward way to manage files without unnecessary resource usage.
The software uses libfm for much of its file-management functionality and can also manage the desktop, including desktop icons and wallpaper. PCManFM can be built against either GTK 2 or GTK 3.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Tabbed file browsing.
- Drag and drop support, including between tabs.
- Icon and detailed list views.
- File association support.
- Thumbnail support.
- Bookmarks.
- Handles non-UTF-8 encoded filenames.
- Support for large files.
- Desktop icon management.
- Desktop wallpaper management.
- Find files functionality.
- Can be built with GTK 2 or GTK 3.
Website: github.com/lxde/pcmanfm
Support:
Developer: Hong Jen Yee, Ingo Brückl and contributors
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

PCMan File Manager is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| File Managers | |
|---|---|
| Krusader | Advanced orthodox file manager for KDE |
| nnn | Fast and flexible file manager |
| Dolphin | Default file manager for KDE |
| Midnight Commander | User-friendly yet powerful orthodox file manager |
| Double Commander | File manager with two panels side by side |
| superfile | Modern terminal file manager |
| Ranger | Console file manager with VI key bindings |
| PCManFM-Qt | Lightweight Qt-based file manager which uses GLib |
| PCManFM | Default file manager for LXDE |
| Files | File browser designed for elementary OS |
| GNOME Files | Spatial file manager; default file manager for GNOME |
| Spacedrive | Powered by a virtual distributed filesystem |
| lf | Terminal file manager written in Go |
| GNOME Commander | Orthodox file manager for the GNOME desktop environment |
| Yazi | Fast, well optimized, and beautiful file manager. |
| CliFM | Shell-like, command line terminal file manager |
| Xfe | Very similiar to Windows Explorer |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| GTK File Managers | |
|---|---|
| Double Commander | File manager with two panels side by side |
| Files | File browser designed for elementary OS; loose fork of GNOME Files |
| GNOME Files | Simple file manager for GNOME |
| GNOME Commander | Two-panel graphical file manager |
| 4Pane | Multi-pane, detailed-list file manager |
| PCManFM | Slim and useful, but not to have any feature bloat |
| Sunflower | Small and highly customizable twin-panel file manager |
| Thunar | xfce’s file manager |
| Flux | Multi-threaded Linux file manager |
| Tux Commander | Windowed file manager with two panels side by side |
| Portfolio | Minimalist, touch-friendly file manager |
| A couple of GNOME Files forks are also worth mentioning. | |
| Nemo | File manager for the Cinnamon desktop environment |
| Caja | File manager for the MATE desktop |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |


Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.