XYplorer
Tabbed browsing, dual pane file management, advanced search with filters, scripting and automation, customizable interface, bulk renaming, integrated file preview for various formats, portable operation without installation, user-defined commands, and multi-language support.
Cost / License
- Freemium (Pay once)
- Proprietary
Application types
EUPlatforms
- Windows
Features
Properties
- Lightweight
- Customizable
Features
- Tabbing
- Dual Pane Support
- Portable
- Folder Size
- Support for scripting
- Tagging
- Duplicate File Finder
- Batch processing
- Batch Rename Files
- Dark Mode
- File Tagging
- Batch Editing
- Custom Menus
- File Search
- Session Management
- Flat view
Tags
- explorer-replacements
- tag-based-file-management
- Scripting language
- userscript
- tabbed-manager
- find-files
XYplorer News & Activities
Recent News
Recent activities
- Danilo_Venom updated XYplorer
POX added XYplorer as alternative to Trove File Explorer- kamoltuk2001 liked XYplorer
POX added XYplorer as alternative to CoverFlowFinder- kramermillay liked XYplorer
gwrvan-barre added XYplorer as alternative to FolderFresh
npn99f8hmj added XYplorer as alternative to Synapse file manager- not_me updated XYplorer
RobertL87 added XYplorer as alternative to Double Commander- anti_canada_ranger reviewed XYplorer
Ultimately not for me. •I love that you can hide elements like the toolbar, directory, panes. Lots of color/appearance settings. It's also remarkably space-efficient, other explorer alternatives are several hundred MBs. •To me "Trees" (default left side folder directory) is effectively redundant with "Breadcrumbs." Also rather annoying it automatically expands to whatever folder you have selected. You can use it as a bookmarks bar by right-clicking empty space and choosing a favorited folder...
Featured in Lists
All types of Management Software.
🏆 = seriously impressed/impresses me
Mostly free Filemanager, File Management, File Utility, Archiver, CRC Hashing software.
What is XYplorer?
XYplorer is a portable, Windows-based file manager that doesn't require installation. It offers features like tabbed browsing, file search, preview option, and a customizable interface. It also provides an optional dual pane view, a scripting engine, and methods for automating tasks. It can be run from a USB flash drive without altering system or registry settings.
Its tabbed browsing feature allows easy folder navigation and each tab remembers its configuration. It also provides tab sets and dual panes for better usability. XYplorer's interface is user-friendly and it offers scripting capabilities for creating custom solutions. It uses minimal RAM and has a small executable size for quick loading times.
The software is robust and reliable with a responsive development team. It allows users to adjust elements like fonts, colors, toolbar buttons, file icons, and shortcuts. All stored data is in plain text format for transparency and future compatibility.
You can also use the Beta version for free: https://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?t=28739
XYplorer information
Developed by
Cologne Code Company Licensing
Proprietary and Freemium product.Pricing
One time purchase (perpetual license) ranging between $20 and $80 + free version with limited functionality.Rating
Average rating of 4.3Alternatives
94 alternatives listedSupported Languages
- English
Comments and Reviews
If I had to choose between The Second Coming of Christ and Xyplorer, I would choose Xyplorer. It's that good!
The author (Donald Lessau) is an eccentric and genius programmer who has gone to extreme lengths to optimize the efficiency of the code in this program, and he has released so many updates over the past 10 years I am astonished and flabbergasted at how he does it.
The amount of functionality in Xyplorer is so deep and so comprehensive, it's practically a file manager operating system. However, all features are configurable and you can disable anything you don't want, so it doesn't get too overwhelming. The important thing is that the features are in there for when you need them.
The usability of this program is off the charts! Donald has accommodated just about everybody's preferences, to the point where you get 6 different choices for the coloring scheme used to style the alternating white-gray Details mode ListView! There are practically 3 ways to do everything - so whichever way you reach for first, just works.
I can't say enough about this program other than to BUY IT IMMEDIATELY and you'll never look back. Seriously, Donald is a power user's power user, so to speak (ala "a Man's man"), so you won't find any frustrating or stupid design decisions in this software like you do with most typical software.
Ultimately not for me. •I love that you can hide elements like the toolbar, directory, panes. Lots of color/appearance settings. It's also remarkably space-efficient, other explorer alternatives are several hundred MBs. •To me "Trees" (default left side folder directory) is effectively redundant with "Breadcrumbs." Also rather annoying it automatically expands to whatever folder you have selected. You can use it as a bookmarks bar by right-clicking empty space and choosing a favorited folder but it's not a great use of space. •Disappointed there's no file preview on cursor hover like Qttabbar, you're reliant on a preview window and manually selecting files like a dark ages tradition. I suspect it's slower than default explorer and generating thumbnails is also surprisingly slow. •Opening the configuration options window bizarrely takes 6 or 7 seconds to open, something that really piles up when there's no "apply changes" button to preview.
Overall I think it's a better looking alternative than the numerous -Commanders out there but it's not quite enough to dethrone more user-friendly explorer GUIs. I don't doubt the other reviews, just not worth exploring for me.
Just to say that there is an hovering preview for images, text… since a long time (you must have missed it) and you can change the tree mode with something different (Rapid Access, groups of favorites…).
One of the best third-party file management apps I've used, and I've tried many. The program is well polished and easily customizable. Well worth the registration cost.
This is one of the very few proprietary softwares that I absolutely love and can warmly recommend. I was a xyplorer user back in the early days of the software and was already enthusiastic back then. In the meantime, I have become a linux user and have turned my back on windows. But lately I've been using windows from time to time to test software that I've created for customers - and I was shocked to see where the file manager of windows 11 has become.. Where the file manager under Win-7 or say Win-10 was still “Lego”, under Windows 11 it has become “Duplo” for babies.
To cut a long story short: In this visual comparison, Xyplorer is something like a skyscraper. It is not only a MUST HAVE for power users, but also has no alternative in its field.
1,114 / 5,000 I have used it as a portable since its first releases (in the time of XP...) with great satisfaction, even though I am aware of not taking advantage of its deepest possibilities. As a basic user I only benefit from the complete color customization (you can even designate colors according to file extension... imagine), tools menu and the agility in file management (the option to configure it as the default file explorer, the double window, the
ascenterwith double clicking on empty space, navigation through the folder tree or the possibility of launching a cmd prompt from the built-in customizable right click and the countless, everlasting tabs) The elaborate customization of the configuration file can be saved as a copy from the menu options, and has the ability to save a complete copy of Data, making silent reinstallation comically simple. Although I tried many of the alternative candidates, I never found a replacement for its functionalities and flexible environment adaptability, it is simply one of a kind.Quite lack for something that is supposed to be "premium" given the price tag. Also, doesn't handle network drive gracefully. If you have a large folder mounted and close XYp, it will take forever for the GUI to appear at the next launch. There are many better option out there.
XYplorer was ey-opening for me. I was just looking for an explorer with tabbing design. But it is incredibly customizable and the developer is highly responsive in the very active and community driven forum. What I extensively use is any kind of batch processing like renaming files the way I like. Also I'm using a script (it's like a plugin) someone else is offering and maintaining in the forum which is the "Session Manager". It allows to save all tabs in a session and super quick change between those. That way I do have different sets of folder immediately open, depending on the task I am working on at the moment.
What I also love, there is "Lifetime License" available, with all updates to come included. Very rare these days. Student discounts available upon request.