Specify the default view, sort order, and zoom levels for the file manager.
Tiffany Antopolski
tiffany.antopolski@gmail.com
Shaun McCance
shaunm@gnome.org

# File manager views preferences

You can control the default view for new folders, how files and folders are sorted by default, the zoom level for the icon and compact views, and whether files are displayed in the tree sidebar. In any file manager window, click Edit Preferences and select the Views tab.

# Default view

## View new folders using

By default, new folders are shown in icon view. You can select a view for each folder as you browse, and the file manager will remember which view you prefer for each folder. But if you often use the list or compact views, you can use these views by default.

Change the view for an individual folder from the View menu by clicking Icons, List, or Compact.

## Arrange items

You can arrange the items in your folder by name, file size, file type, when they were last modified, when they were last accessed, or when they were trashed. You can change how files are sorted in an individual folder using the View Arrange Items menu, or by clicking the list column headers in list view. See for details. This menu only affects the current folder, and the file manager will remember your preferred sorting technique for each folder.

Use the Arrange items drop-down list in the preferences to change the default order used in new folders.

## Sort folders before files

By default, the file manager will show all folders before files. Folders and files will each be arranged according to the selected sort order. If you would rather not treat folders specially and have them mixed with files according to the sort order, deselect this option.

## Show hidden and backup files

The file manager does not display hidden files or folders by default. See for information on hidden files. You can show hidden files in an individual window from the View menu. If you prefer to always show hidden files, or want to see hidden files in every open file manager window, select this option.

# Icon view defaults

## Default zoom level

You can make the icons and text larger or smaller in icon view. You can do this in an individual folder from the View menu, and the file manager will remember your zoom choice for each folder. If you frequently use a larger or smaller zoom level, you can set the default with this option.

In icon view, more or fewer captions are shown based on your zoom level. See for more information.

## Text beside icons

Selecting this option will place folder and file names to the right of icons, rather than below them. This is a more compact layout that allows you to see more information at once.

# Compact view defaults

## Default zoom level

You can make the icons and text larger or smaller in compact view. You can do this in an individual folder from the View menu, and the file manager will remember your zoom choice for each folder. If you frequently use a larger or smaller zoom level, you can set the default with this option.

## All columns have the same width

By default, each column in compact view is as wide as it needs to be to fit the names of the items in that column. Selecting this option will make all the columns have the same width. This will make files and folders that have names longer than the column width be displayed with an ellipsis (...) at the end.

# List view defaults

## Default zoom level

You can make the icons and text larger or smaller in list view. You can do this in an individual folder from the View menu, and the file manager will remember your zoom choice for each folder. If you frequently use a larger or smaller zoom level, you can set the default with this option.

# Tree view defaults

You can show a full folder tree in your file manager sidebar by selecting View Sidebar Tree. By default, the tree sidebar only shows folders. If you want to show files in the sidebar as well, turn Show only folders off.