Ranger File Manager Complete Reference Guide

Ranger is a powerful terminal-based file manager that brings vim-like navigation and keybindings to file system operations. This comprehensive guide covers everything from basic navigation to advanced configuration, making it an essential tool for command-line productivity.

Whether you’re new to ranger or looking to optimize your workflow, this reference provides practical commands, configuration examples, and tips for maximizing efficiency in terminal file management.

Getting Started with Ranger

Installation

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S ranger

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install ranger

macOS (Homebrew):

brew install ranger

First Run and Initial Setup

Launch ranger for the first time:

ranger

Generate default configuration files:

ranger --copy-config=all

This creates configuration files in ~/.config/ranger/:

rc.conf - Main configuration and keybindings
rifle.conf - File associations and opening rules
scope.sh - File preview configurations

Basic Movement

Key	Action
`h`	Go to parent directory
`j`	Move down one item
`k`	Move up one item
`l`	Enter directory or open file
`gg`	Go to top of list
`G`	Go to bottom of list
`H`	Go back in history
`L`	Go forward in history

Key	Action
`gh`	Go to home directory
`gr`	Go to root directory
`gm`	Go to /media
`gM`	Go to /mnt
`gt`	Go to /tmp
`gu`	Go to /usr
`gv`	Go to /var
`ge`	Go to /etc

Key	Action
`'`	Open bookmarks
`m`	Set bookmark
`um`	Delete bookmark
`cd`	Change directory (prompt)
`~`	Go to home directory
`/`	Search for files
`n`	Next search result
`N`	Previous search result

File Operations

Basic File Actions

Key	Action
`Space`	Select/deselect file
`v`	Select all files
`V`	Visual selection mode
`uv`	Deselect all files
`yy`	Copy (yank) selected files
`dd`	Cut selected files
`pp`	Paste files
`po`	Paste and overwrite
`pl`	Create symbolic links
`pL`	Create relative symbolic links

File Management

Key	Action
`cw`	Rename file
`a`	Rename file (append mode)
`A`	Rename file (insert at end)
`I`	Rename file (insert at beginning)
`dD`	Delete files permanently
`dT`	Move to trash
`mkdir`	Create directory
`touch`	Create empty file

File Information

Key	Action
`i`	Show file information
`du`	Show disk usage
`?`	Show help/keybindings
`f`	Find files
`F`	Find files (include hidden)

Tabs and Panes

Key	Action
`gn`	Create new tab
`gt`	Go to next tab
`gT`	Go to previous tab
`gc`	Close current tab
`alt+1-9`	Switch to tab number
`S`	Open shell in current directory
`!`	Execute shell command

Sorting and Filtering

Key	Action
`on`	Sort by name
`os`	Sort by size
`ot`	Sort by modification time
`oc`	Sort by creation time
`oe`	Sort by extension
`or`	Reverse sort order
`zh`	Toggle hidden files
`zf`	Filter files

Configuration and Customization

Essential Configuration Options

Edit ~/.config/ranger/rc.conf:

# Show hidden files by default
set show_hidden true
 
# Enable image previews
set preview_images true
set preview_images_method w3m
 
# Use better column ratios
set column_ratios 1,3,4
 
# Set default editor
set editor nvim
 
# Enable mouse support
set mouse_enabled true
 
# Set colorscheme
set colorscheme default
 
# Show file size in human readable format
set display_size_in_main_column true
set display_size_in_status_bar true
 
# VCS integration
set vcs_aware true
set vcs_backend_git enabled
set vcs_backend_hg enabled
set vcs_backend_bzr enabled
set vcs_backend_svn enabled

Custom Keybindings

Add custom keybindings to rc.conf:

# Custom navigation
map gd cd ~/Documents
map gD cd ~/Downloads
map gc cd ~/.config
map gp cd ~/Projects
 
# Quick file operations
map DD shell trash-put %s
map ex extract %f
map co compress %f
 
# Git operations
map gs shell git status
map ga shell git add %f
map gc shell git commit
 
# System operations
map bg shell setbg %f
map r shell $EDITOR %f
map R reload_cwd

File Type Associations

Edit ~/.config/ranger/rifle.conf:

# Text files
ext txt|md|py|js|html|css|json = $EDITOR "$1"
 
# Images
mime ^image = feh "$1"
 
# Videos
mime ^video = mpv "$1"
 
# Audio
mime ^audio = mpv "$1"
 
# PDFs
ext pdf = zathura "$1"
 
# Archives
ext zip|rar|7z|tar|gz = aunpack "$1"
 
# Web files
ext html|htm = firefox "$1"

Advanced Features

Directory Persistence

To make ranger remember your location between sessions, add this alias to your shell configuration:

# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
alias ranger='ranger --choosedir=$HOME/.rangerdir; LASTDIR=`cat $HOME/.rangerdir`; cd "$LASTDIR"'

Or use this more robust function:

# Enhanced ranger function
ranger_cd() {
    local IFS=$'\t\n'
    local tempfile="$(mktemp -t tmp.XXXXXX)"
    local ranger_cmd=(
        command
        ranger
        --cmd="map Q chain shell echo %d > "$tempfile"; quitall"
    )
    
    ${ranger_cmd[@]} "$@"
    if [[ -f "$tempfile" ]] && [[ "$(cat -- "$tempfile")" != "$(echo -n `pwd`)" ]]; then
        cd -- "$(cat "$tempfile")" || return
    fi
    command rm -f -- "$tempfile" 2>/dev/null
}
alias ranger='ranger_cd'

Bulk Operations

Key	Action
`ya`	Copy filename
`yp`	Copy full path
`yn`	Copy filename without extension
`yd`	Copy directory path
`Space`	Select multiple files
`v`	Select all files in directory
`Ctrl+v`	Toggle visual selection

Search and Filter

Key	Action
`/`	Search forward
`?`	Search backward
`n`	Next search result
`N`	Previous search result
`zf`	Filter files by name
`zF`	Filter files by extension
`zd`	Filter directories only
`za`	Toggle filters

External Program Integration

Configure external programs in rc.conf:

# Set default applications
set open_all_images true
set preview_images true
set use_preview_script true
set preview_script ~/.config/ranger/scope.sh
set preview_images_method w3m
 
# Terminal integration
set update_title true
set update_tmux_title true
set shorten_title 3

Performance Optimization

Speed Improvements

# Disable slow operations
set automatically_count_files false
set show_selection_in_titlebar false
set display_tags_in_all_columns false
 
# Optimize previews
set preview_files true
set preview_directories true
set collapse_preview true
set preview_max_size 10485760  # 10MB
 
# Cache settings
set preview_images_method w3m
set w3m_delay 0.02
set w3m_offset 0

Memory Management

# Limit cached files
set max_filesize_for_preview_image 10485760
set max_console_history_size 50
set max_history_size 20

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Preview not working:

# Install required dependencies
sudo pacman -S w3m highlight atool lynx elinks poppler mediainfo
 
# Check scope.sh permissions
chmod +x ~/.config/ranger/scope.sh

Slow performance:

# Disable expensive operations
set vcs_aware false
set preview_images false
set use_preview_script false

Colors not displaying:

# Check terminal color support
echo $TERM
export TERM=xterm-256color
 
# Try different colorscheme
set colorscheme snow

Mouse not working:

# Enable mouse support
set mouse_enabled true
 
# Check terminal mouse support
set mouse_enabled false  # if issues persist

Plugins and Extensions

Popular Plugins

ranger-archives: Enhanced archive support

git clone https://github.com/maximtrp/ranger-archives.git
cp ranger-archives/plugins/* ~/.config/ranger/plugins/

ranger-devicons: File type icons

git clone https://github.com/alexanderjeurissen/ranger_devicons.git
cp ranger_devicons/devicons.py ~/.config/ranger/plugins/

ranger-zoxide: Smart directory jumping

# Install zoxide first
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide/main/install.sh | bash
 
# Add to rc.conf
map cz console z%space

Custom Commands

Add to ~/.config/ranger/commands.py:

from ranger.api.commands import Command
 
class extract(Command):
    def execute(self):
        import os
        from ranger.core.runner import Runner
        
        def refresh(_):
            cwd = self.fm.thisdir
            cwd.load_content()
            
        one_file = self.fm.thisfile
        cwd = self.fm.thisdir
        original_path = cwd.path
        
        if one_file.extension in ['zip', 'rar', '7z', 'tar', 'gz']:
            self.fm.run('aunpack ' + one_file.path)
            self.fm.reload_cwd()
 
class compress(Command):
    def execute(self):
        selected_files = self.fm.thistab.get_selection()
        if not selected_files:
            return
        
        archive_name = self.arg(1)
        if not archive_name:
            self.fm.notify("Usage: compress <archive_name>")
            return
            
        files = " ".join([f.path for f in selected_files])
        self.fm.run(f'apack {archive_name} {files}')
        self.fm.reload_cwd()

Desktop Environment Integration

Complete Desktop Setup

For users setting up a complete development environment, ranger integrates seamlessly with modern desktop environments. The automated Hyprland desktop setup includes ranger as part of a comprehensive terminal-based workflow alongside tmux, neovim, and other productivity tools.

Development Workflow Integration

Ranger works particularly well within the development environment described in the complete environment documentation. The integration provides seamless file management across terminal applications, making it ideal for developers who prefer keyboard-driven workflows.

Tmux Integration

For seamless integration with tmux terminal multiplexer, see the complete tmux configuration guide which includes custom keybindings and modal navigation similar to ranger’s vim-style interface.

# Add to .tmux.conf
bind-key r run-shell 'ranger'

Neovim Integration

Integrate ranger with Neovim for powerful file management within your development workflow. The complete Neovim setup guide covers advanced editor configuration that complements ranger’s file management capabilities.

" Add to init.lua for Neovim
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>r', ':!ranger<CR>', { desc = 'Open ranger' })

Shell Integration

Zsh integration:

# Add to .zshrc
bindkey -s '^o' 'ranger\n'  # Ctrl+O opens ranger

Bash integration:

# Add to .bashrc
bind '"\C-o":"ranger\n"'  # Ctrl+O opens ranger

References and Resources

Questions Answered in This Document

Q: How do I navigate directories efficiently in ranger? A: Use vim-style navigation with h (parent), j/k (up/down), l (enter), and shortcuts like gh (home), gr (root), and bookmarks with m to set and ' to access.

Q: How can I make ranger remember my location when I exit? A: Add the alias alias ranger='ranger --choosedir=$HOME/.rangerdir; LASTDIR=cat $H OME /. r an g er d i r ‘; c d "$ LASTDIR”’` to your shell configuration file.

Q: What are the essential ranger keybindings for file operations? A: Key bindings include Space (select), yy (copy), dd (cut), pp (paste), cw (rename), dD (delete), and mkdir (create directory).

Q: How do I configure ranger to show hidden files and enable previews? A: Edit ~/.config/ranger/rc.conf and add set show_hidden true and set preview_images true with set preview_images_method w3m.

Q: How can I customize ranger’s file associations? A: Edit ~/.config/ranger/rifle.conf to define which applications open specific file types, using patterns like ext txt = $EDITOR "$1" for text files.

Q: What are the best performance optimizations for ranger? A: Disable expensive operations with set automatically_count_files false, limit preview sizes, and consider disabling VCS awareness if not needed.

Q: How do I search for files and navigate search results in ranger? A: Use / to search forward, ? to search backward, n for next result, N for previous result, and zf to filter files by name.

Q: Can I use ranger with tabs and how do I manage them? A: Yes, use gn (new tab), gt/gT (switch tabs), gc (close tab), and Alt+1-9 to jump to specific tab numbers.

Q: How do I integrate ranger with other command-line tools? A: Use shell commands with !, create custom keybindings in rc.conf, and integrate with tools like git, tmux, and text editors through custom commands.

Q: What should I do if ranger previews aren’t working? A: Install dependencies like w3m, highlight, atool, and mediainfo, ensure scope.sh is executable, and check that preview_images_method is set correctly.

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