Pathfinder

A fast file manager for Windows 11. Built end to end in Rust and rendered with Slint — no HTML, no WebView, no embedded browser. Cold starts in well under a second and stays smooth on huge folders.

The goal is simple: feel faster and cleaner than File Explorer, while keeping the workflows you already know.

Why it feels fast

• Native all the way. Rust backend, Slint GPU UI, Win32 shell ops — no PowerShell spawning on hot paths
• Streaming folders. Large directories show the first page immediately, then fill in with parallel metadata reads
• Indexed search. A local SQLite index makes finding files in folders you have already visited feel instant
• Background work stays in the background. Thumbnails and heavy scans use a machine-scaled worker pool at lower priority so clicks stay responsive

Features

Browse and navigate

• Tabs, back/forward history, breadcrumbs, address bar, and a real status bar
• Quick Access, drives, bookmarks, pins, and a Home landing
• Multiple views: icon grid, details list, gallery, preview pane, and dual pane with a draggable splitter
• Drag and drop between panes or from File Explorer (Ctrl to copy)
• Side mouse buttons for back and forward

Select and act

• Multi-select with Ctrl, Shift, and Ctrl+A
• Contextual action bar when files are selected
• Inline rename (F2), copy / cut / paste, delete to Recycle Bin
• Conflict resolution with Skip, Replace, and Keep Both
• Undo for the last operation
• Command palette (Ctrl+P) to run any action by name

Preview and inspect

• Text and code previews with binary detection
• Image previews with size and dimension metadata
• PDF first-page rendering (bundled pdfium)
• HTML and Markdown with a Code / View toggle
• Archive browsing as a virtual folder
• Properties, checksums, git status badges, color tags, and per-file notes

Find and organize

• Fast search with operators: ext:, kind:, size:, name:, content:, modified:, tag:
• Optional on-device semantic ranking when Local AI models are installed
• Smart folders and saved searches in the sidebar
• Bulk rename with templates (IMG_{n:04}.{ext})
• Duplicate finder (size → partial hash → full hash)
• Storage analyzer with largest items and cleanup suggestions
• Recycle Bin browser with restore and permanent delete

Appearance and system

• Multiple built-in themes with accent color, density, and folder color overrides
• Mica window backdrop on Windows 11
• Settings for Appearance, View, Performance, and AI
• Optional Local AI model pack with Compact / Balanced / Quality profiles, hashed downloads, and silent self-update (NPU → GPU → CPU)
• One-click silent app updater: download, install, and relaunch without a wizard
• Optional default folder handler registration

Download

Grab the latest build from Releases.

File	Description
Pathfinder_x.x.x_x64-setup.exe	NSIS installer (recommended)
Pathfinder_x.x.x_x64_en-US.msi	Windows Installer package

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Alt+Left / Right	Back / Forward
Alt+Up	Go up one level
F2	Rename
F5	Refresh
Delete	Move to Recycle Bin
Ctrl+T / Ctrl+W	New tab / Close tab
Ctrl+L	Focus address bar
Ctrl+F	Focus search
Ctrl+P	Command palette
Ctrl+,	Settings
Ctrl+I	Toggle preview pane
Ctrl+1 / 2 / 3	Grid / List / Gallery
Ctrl+C / X / V	Copy / Cut / Paste
Ctrl+A	Select all
Ctrl+Z	Undo
Ctrl+Shift+N	New folder
Space	Quick Look

Build from source

Prerequisites: Rust stable and Windows build tools (MSVC). For installers: NSIS and WiX Toolset v3.

git clone https://github.com/rorohecker/pathfinder.git
cd pathfinder/src-tauri
cargo build --release

Dev loop:

cargo run

Windows installers (NSIS + MSI), including pdfium.dll and uninstall shell-handler cleanup:

.\windows\pack.ps1

Installer output lands in src-tauri/target/release/bundle/.

Tech stack

Layer	Technology
UI	Slint (native window, GPU pipeline)
Backend	Rust, Rayon, SQLite
Shell	Win32 APIs directly
Installer	NSIS and MSI (windows/pack.ps1)

Windows notes

• Some third-party shell extensions may appear under "Show more options"
• Virtual locations (phones, cameras, Control Panel) may open in Explorer when they are not normal folders
• Previous Versions only appears when VSS / File History snapshots exist
• Protected OS files can still be blocked by UAC or TrustedInstaller
• Taskbar and Start pinning require the manual steps Windows exposes to third-party apps

Disclaimer

Pathfinder is provided as is, without warranty of any kind. It is a file manager that can move, overwrite, and delete real files. Back up anything important. If you hit a bug, open a GitHub issue.

License

MIT