Dual pane + Vim keys
Compare both sides while you work: j/k/h/l, Tab, zz, marking, copy and move — all keyboard-first.
FEATURES & SUPPORT
Put your file workflow
back in order.
Find, inspect, edit, move. VeloFiler is a dual-pane file manager for macOS that handles local files and SSH servers with the same keyboard-driven flow.
V1.8 now livemacOSDual paneVim keysOne-time purchase US$9.99
AT A GLANCE
One screen, no interruptions
VeloFiler is more than a file list: previews, remote connections, text editing and quick notes all share a single operation model.
Instant previews
Check images, video, audio, PDF, Office, Markdown and code before opening anything. Grid view (i) shows the whole folder as thumbnails.
Local and SSH feel the same
Just pick a Host from ~/.ssh/config. Remote listing, previews, renames and transfers all happen in the same window.
V1.8 / WHAT'S NEW
Read, follow and inspect Markdown
V1.8 improves the structure and keyboard interaction of Markdown previews.
Keep the Markdown structure
Headings, paragraphs, tables, task lists, footnotes, code, math, Mermaid and Zenn syntax remain readable in the preview.
Focus the preview
Press Ctrl-w p to focus the preview, then use j/k, the arrow keys and Ctrl-d/u to read long documents.
Follow links in context
Heading and relative links stay inside the preview, while external links open in the default app.
Inspect images and wide content
Local SVGs are displayed, and long code lines or wide tables can be inspected with horizontal scrolling.
QUICK START
These four steps are all you need
- 01Move
j/kto move between rows,hto go to the parent,lorEnterto open. - 02Inspect
Ptoggles the preview,iswitches list ⇄ grid (thumbnails). PressSpaceto play or pause video. - 03Connect
gsopens the SSH host picker; once connected, copy and move files between the remote and your local pane. - 04Take notes
gNcreates a note,gnlists them. Everything autosaves, with history.
FEATURES
Feature overview
From everyday file chores to inspection work in development and content production.
File operations
New files and folders, rename, trash, copy, move, paste and undo. For long names, gP shows the full path. Conflicts now offer Replace, Skip, Keep Both or Cancel.
Previews
Markdown renders GFM tables, task lists, footnotes, math, Zenn syntax, Mermaid and highlighted code — entirely locally. Video, audio, PDF and Office use macOS Quick Look; image previews support Fit/100% views, zoom and two-way scrolling.
SSH / SFTP
Uses your existing SSH setup via ssh-agent or IdentityFile. Idle disconnects reconnect automatically before your next action, and editing, creating, renaming and deleting on the remote are supported. Press Esc to cancel a transfer.
Per-pane system metrics
Press gM to show compact CPU, memory, disk I/O and network metrics in each pane. Local and SSH values refresh about every two seconds; GPU utilization appears when supported.
Built-in text editor
Switch Standard / Vim input with Ctrl-Shift-V, and move by a page with Ctrl-u / Ctrl-d. Japanese IME, regular-expression, case-insensitive and selection-only search, replace-current and replace-all, undo/redo, and editing of both local and SSH files. The caret has a visible fixed width, and Japanese IME candidates appear at the insertion point.
Built-in notes
Create, edit, rename, delete and keep history across multiple notes. Notes are Markdown with autosave; Ctrl-u / Ctrl-d move by a page, the first line becomes the title, or you can pin one with r.
Settings & permissions
config.toml controls fonts, editor mode, note location and more. External folders such as Dropbox trigger the standard macOS permission prompt on first access.
Grid (thumbnail) view
Toggle list ⇄ grid with i. JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP and more are shown in EXIF orientation; j/k steps through every file, ↑/↓ moves by row, ←/→ sideways. Columns adapt to pane width.
Cloud storage
gc or :cloud detects iCloud Drive plus Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive sync folders. Select one to open it in the active pane.
KEY REFERENCE
Key cheat sheet
VeloFiler is keyboard-first, but the main actions are always visible in the status bar and the spaced, scrollable ? help.
| Key | Action | Key | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
j / k | Move down / up | Tab | Switch pane |
h / l | Parent / open | Enter | Enter folder / preview |
P | Toggle preview | Space | Play / pause video |
gs / gS | SSH connect / disconnect | gP | Show full path |
i | List ⇄ grid view | gc | Go to cloud storage |
gn / gN | Notes list / new note | gM | Toggle metrics |
zz | Center selected row | gz | Fuzzy Jump |
Esc | Cancel transfer | Ctrl-u / Ctrl-d | Page through editor / notes |
0 / 1 | Image Fit / 100% view | - / + | Adjust image zoom |
Ctrl-Shift-V | Switch Standard / Vim | ? | Help |
The complete key map is always available inside the app via the ? help.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my notes in Dropbox?
Yes. Set directory = "~/Dropbox/VeloFilerNotes" under [notes] in the config file. macOS will ask for folder access once.
Are Vim settings separate for files and notes?
Yes. Regular files use editor_mode, notes use [notes].editor_mode. Switching with Ctrl-Shift-V inside a note saves the default for notes only.
Does SSH support password authentication?
Currently VeloFiler uses ssh-agent or a passphrase-free IdentityFile. Password/passphrase prompts and ProxyJump are not supported.
Will the SSH connection drop when idle?
Connectivity is checked before each operation, and a dropped session reconnects automatically (up to 3 attempts). Read operations such as listing and previews retry once after reconnecting. For safety, writes and deletes that may have partially completed are never retried automatically.
How do I report a bug?
Please leave a review on the “VeloFiler” App Store page. Including your macOS version, the last action you took, and whether it involved local files or SSH makes investigation much easier. For purchase or refund questions, use Apple’s Report a Problem. Never include private keys, passwords or personal data.