GNOME’s file manager, known as Files (or Nautilus), is solid out of the box, but a few smart adjustments can make it feel like an entirely new tool. With just a handful of tweaks, you can turn Nautilus into a faster, cleaner, and more capable workspace for managing your files.
GNOME is one of the most widely used Linux desktop environments, appreciated for its clean design and simplicity. Its default file manager reflects that philosophy: easy to use, minimal, and dependable. But while the default setup works for most people, it leaves a lot of useful features hidden beneath the surface. With a few configuration changes, you can make Files far more capable and efficient. The tweaks below improve everything from navigation and previews to appearance and advanced settings.
Enhance File Navigation
Smooth navigation can make or break a file manager. A few small adjustments can dramatically speed up how you move through folders. For instance, adding “Open in Terminal” and “Open as Administrator” to the right-click menu saves several steps when working with scripts, permissions, or system configurations.
Two convenient options that can be easily added to the right-click menu are “Create Link” and “Delete Permanently”. You’ll find switches to turn one or both on from the Nautilus preferences menu (three bars on the top-left of the window).
The “Create Link” option will allow you to create links to files or folders in new locations. You can then use the link just as if you were using the file or directory itself. Creating a link in your home directory to a log file buried in a complex directory tree, for example, will let you easily check that log file without memorizing and navigating to its actual location.
“Delete Permanently” does just what it says. It will permanently delete files or folders, bypassing the system trash container. This can help to free up space immediately when you don’t need the safety net that the trash provides.
Bookmarks are another powerful but underused feature. Adding shortcuts to your most-used directories can turn multi-click navigation into a single action. It’s ideal for projects, shared folders, or cloud directories you visit often.
To create a new bookmark, simply drag any folder in the right pane of Nautilus over to the bookmarks list on the left. If you change your mind later, you can easily remove it by right-clicking on the bookmark.
Improve File Previews and Thumbnails
Visual previews are a big time-saver, especially when you’re dealing with images, videos, or documents. GNOME lets you tweak how and when these previews appear. You can increase thumbnail sizes to make browsing more visual, or limit them to local folders to save bandwidth when using network drives.
Options to change thumbnail size and display are often missed because they’re somewhat hidden in a dropdown menu that isn’t immediately obvious. When you have Nautilus in icon-view mode, click the small down arrow on the top right that appears just before the window control buttons.
You can expand GNOME’s preview capabilities by installing thumbnailer plugins from your package manager. These small helpers let Files show thumbnails for many more file types, including videos, PDFs, and camera RAW images.There’s no extra setup required. They should work automatically once installed. If not, try logging out of GNOME and logging back in, or reboot your system.
Common packages include:
- ffmpegthumbnailer for videos
- evince-thumbnailer for PDF
- gnome-raw-thumbnailer for RAW photos
You should be able to install using your distro’s package manager at the command line or by searching in GNOME Software. If performance ever lags, clearing the thumbnail cache or restricting thumbnail generation (found in preferences) can help Files stay responsive without losing functionality.
Add Functionality with Extensions
GNOME Extensions open the door to a wide range of improvements, and several directly enhance the file manager. You’ll find extensions that add features such as file tagging, color-coded folders, and clipboard managers that keep track of copied items.
Installing extensions is simple: you can use the GNOME Extensions website or your distribution’s package manager. When testing new ones, however, it’s best to enable them one at a time. That way, if something conflicts or slows down your desktop, it’s easy to pinpoint the cause. Extensions can be safely disabled at any time, and most users find that even one or two well-chosen add-ons significantly increase productivity.
Customize Appearance and Behavior
Looks matter more than many users realize. A clean, visually comfortable workspace reduces strain and helps you stay organized. GNOME makes it easy to customize your file manager’s look and feel.
Start by changing the icon theme or folder colors. Many themes include vivid color variations that help you identify work, media, or system folders at a glance. You can also adjust sorting behavior to display files by name, date, or type, and customize which columns appear in list view.
Dark mode is another simple way to make Files feel easier on the eyes. You can enable it manually or set it to follow your system theme automatically. Combined with an appropriate zoom level and sidebar arrangement, these tweaks make Files more comfortable to use for long periods.
You’ll find loads of free themes along with installation instructions at Gnome-Look.org. Once installed, you can switch between themes and theme elements using the popular GNOME “Tweaks” app (which you can install through GNOME software if it’s not already available).
Integrate Cloud and Network Storage
GNOME Files integrates nicely with online and network locations. You can connect Google Drive, Nextcloud, or SMB network shares right from the sidebar. Once added, these appear alongside your local folders, letting you move files between systems as if they were on your hard drive.
You’ll find the options to add accounts from many cloud providers in GNOME settings under “Online Accounts”.
If you regularly use certain network drives, you can also configure them to mount automatically at startup. This ensures that shared workspaces and cloud directories are ready the moment you log in without any extra steps.
Advanced Configuration and Hidden Options
Some of Nautilus’s most useful capabilities aren’t visible in the regular settings menu. If you open dconf-editor (GNOME’s advanced configuration tool), you’ll find several options that can subtly but noticeably improve your experience.
Depending on your distribution and installation choices, you may or may not see dconf-editor in your app launcher. If it’s not there, you can install it easily at the command line. Just open a terminal window and enter the following:
sudo apt install dconf-editor
sudo dnf install dconf-editor
To get started, you can switch the top navigation bar from breadcrumb-style navigation to a direct location entry. This small change lets you type or paste exact paths, saving time when jumping between folders. It’s especially useful when you’re working on something with both Nautilus and a terminal window. You can quickly copy paths from one to the other. For users who deal with nested directories or hidden system paths, it’s a must-have. You’ll find the option under org > gnome > nautilus > preferences in the dconf editor.
Also under Nautilus preferences, you can set the default view to be used whenever you open a new window. Most systems default to icon view. You can switch it to list view to get a more streamlined folder and file view that will make navigating large directories much faster and easier.
Another simple but useful option is to set the default compression scheme used when you right click on a file and select “compress”. If you work with a lot of file archives, this can be a big time saver.
You can choose from:
- zip (default)
- tar.xz (tarball)
- 7z (7-Zip)
- encryptedzip (password protected zip file)
If you change your mind about anything you’ve modified, dconf-editor marks everything you’ve changed and gives you the option to switch anything back to its default settings.
Bonus Productivity Booster: Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can save a surprising amount of time. GNOME already includes many built-in shortcuts, but you can also create your own. Just open the “Keyboard Shortcuts” section in GNOME Settings to customize them.
Common shortcuts include opening new tabs, closing tabs, renaming files, and refreshing folders. For users who switch between projects or directories often, mastering just a few of these key combinations can make file management feel almost effortless.
You’ll find that you can execute almost any task using keyboard shortcut combinations. Experiment until you find the combinations that feel most natural, then make them part of your daily routine!
GNOME’s file manager is already dependable, but these tweaks transform it from a basic utility into a versatile, personalized workspace. Whether you want faster navigation, better previews, or visual improvements, small adjustments add up to a smoother experience.
Taking the time to explore these options will reward you with a system that feels custom-built for how you actually work. The result is a cleaner, more capable file manager that helps you stay focused, efficient, and organized every day.
