The keyboard-first file manager
FileHop is built so you can run your whole file workflow without the mouse. Here's the complete shortcut reference — 140+ keys for navigation, file operations, search, split panes, and more. Press ? inside the app to see it anytime.
Navigation & selection
File operations
Jump & view
Search & path
Workspace, panes & global
On Windows? Swap ⌘ for Ctrl and the whole map applies. FileHop shows the right modifiers for your machine automatically.
The keyboard doesn't stop at the file grid
Every editor in FileHop is keyboard-driven too. The image editor maps single keys to tools (C to crop, F for filters, and so on). The video editor uses the shortcuts pros already know — Space to play, J K L to scrub, S to split a clip.
And if you live in Vim, FileHop's optional Vim mode brings hjkl, dd, yy, and / search to the file grid and the editors. For the story behind it all,
read how shortcuts became first-class in FileHop.
Frequently asked questions
What is a keyboard-first file manager?
It's a file manager designed so that every common action — navigating, selecting, renaming, moving, searching, previewing, even editing — has a keyboard shortcut, and those shortcuts are consistent and discoverable. The goal is to manage your files without constantly reaching for the mouse. FileHop ships 140+ shortcuts plus a command palette and an optional Vim mode.
Do I have to memorize all the shortcuts?
No. Press ? anywhere in FileHop to open the full shortcut map, grouped by what you're doing. Hover almost any button to see its key in the tooltip, and open the command palette with ⌘K to run any action by name — it shows the shortcut next to each command, so you pick them up naturally.
Are the shortcuts different on Windows?
The layout is the same; only the modifier changes. Where this guide shows ⌘ (Command) on Mac, use Ctrl on Windows. FileHop automatically displays the correct modifiers for the machine you're on, and Delete uses Ctrl+Delete on Windows.
Can I navigate and edit files using Vim keys?
Yes. FileHop has an optional Vim mode that brings hjkl navigation, dd/yy/p, visual mode, and / (filename) and \ (file contents) search to the file grid — and the same keybindings work inside the source editors and the DOCX editor. Note that Vim in the DOCX editor is still in early stages and being refined. Turn it on in Settings.
Does the command palette change based on the file?
It does. ⌘K opens a context-aware palette: on a PDF it offers Annotate, on a video it offers Export, and so on. The available commands match the file in front of you, so the right action is always a couple of keystrokes away.
Is FileHop free, and does it work offline?
FileHop is free for Mac and Windows and runs entirely offline. Your files never leave your machine — there's no upload, no account, and no internet requirement for any of the keyboard workflows described here.