Complete Total Commander Keyboard Shortcuts: 112+ Hotkeys Organized by Category
Total Commander is a dual-pane file manager for Windows, developed by Christian Ghisler of Ghisler Software GmbH and first released in 1993. Unlike Windows File Explorer, it is built around keyboard-first operation meaning nearly every action can be performed without touching the mouse.
This guide covers all 112 default keyboard shortcuts in Total Commander, organized by category so you can find exactly what you need. Whether you’re copying files, managing FTP connections, working with archives, or switching between folder tabs every shortcut is listed here.
The shortcuts in this guide apply to Total Commander 9.x through 11.x on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Custom shortcuts added via Configuration → Options → Misc are not included, as these vary per installation.
Most used Total Commander shortcuts
These are the ten shortcuts that handle the majority of daily file management tasks in Total Commander. Learn these first.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Copy files | F5 |
| Move or rename files | F6 |
| Create new directory | F7 |
| Delete files | F8 |
| View file (Lister) | F3 |
| Edit file | F4 |
| Select all files | Ctrl + A |
| Select / deselect file or folder | Insert |
| Reread source directory | F2 |
| Show context menu | Shift + F10 |
Function key shortcuts (F1–F10)
The function keys are Total Commander’s core action keys. F5 through F8 mirror the classic Norton Commander layout used since the 1980s.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open help | F1 |
| Reread source window | F2 |
| List / view file | F3 |
| Edit file | F4 |
| Copy files | F5 |
| Rename or move files | F6 |
| Create new directory | F7 |
| Delete files to recycle bin (or directly, per config) | F8 |
| Activate menu above source window | F9 |
| Activate left menu or deactivate menu | F10 |
Shift + F-key shortcuts
Shift modifies the F-keys to give you alternate versions of the same operations copy with rename, view a single file from a selection, or create a new text file instantly.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Custom columns view menu | Shift + F1 |
| Compare file lists | Shift + F2 |
| List only file under cursor (when multiple selected) | Shift + F3 |
| Create new text file and open in editor | Shift + F4 |
| Copy files with rename in same directory | Shift + F5 |
| Create shortcuts of selected files | Shift + Ctrl + F5 |
| Rename files in same directory | Shift + F6 |
| Delete directly / to recycle bin (opposite of F8 config) | Shift + F8 |
| Show context menu | Shift + F10 |
Alt + F-key shortcuts
Alt + F-key shortcuts control drive selection, archiving, and advanced file operations. Alt+F5 and Alt+F6 are especially important for users who work with ZIP, RAR, or 7z archives.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Change left drive panel | Alt + F1 |
| Change right drive panel | Alt + F2 |
| Use alternate (external or internal) viewer | Alt + F3 |
| Start Lister with internal viewer (no plugins) | Alt + Shift + F3 |
| Exit Total Commander (or minimize with MinimizeOnClose) | Alt + F4 |
| Pack / archive selected files | Alt + F5 |
| Move files to archive | Alt + Shift + F5 |
| Unpack specified files from archive under cursor | Alt + F6 |
| Find files | Alt + F7 |
| Open command line history | Alt + F8 |
| Unpack files (Windows 95 compatibility alias for Alt+F6) | Alt + F9 |
| Test selected archives | Alt + Shift + F9 |
| Open directory tree dialog | Alt + F10 |
| Open left panel breadcrumb bar | Alt + F11 |
| Open right panel breadcrumb bar | Alt + F12 |
| Focus button bar for keyboard use | Alt + Shift + F11 |
Ctrl + key shortcuts
Ctrl shortcuts cover clipboard operations, FTP connections, filtering, path copying, and tab management. These are the most frequently used shortcuts for power users.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all files | Ctrl + A |
| Copy files to clipboard | Ctrl + C |
| Open directory hotlist (bookmarks) | Ctrl + D |
| Connect to FTP server | Ctrl + F |
| Switch to target directory | Ctrl + I |
| Calculate occupied disk space | Ctrl + L |
| Multi Rename Tool | Ctrl + M |
| New FTP connection | Ctrl + N |
| Copy current path to command line | Ctrl + P |
| Quick view panel (instead of file window) | Ctrl + Q |
| Reread source directory | Ctrl + R |
| Open Quick Filter dialog | Ctrl + S |
| Open new folder tab (and activate) | Ctrl + T |
| Exchange directories between panels | Ctrl + U |
| Cut files to clipboard | Ctrl + X |
| Paste from clipboard | Ctrl + V |
| Close currently active tab | Ctrl + W |
| Edit file comment | Ctrl + Z |
| Disconnect from FTP server | Ctrl + Shift + F |
| Change FTP transfer mode | Ctrl + Shift + M |
| Reactivate last-used Quick Filter | Ctrl + Shift + S |
| Open new folder tab (without activating) | Ctrl + Shift + T |
| Exchange directories and tabs | Ctrl + Shift + U |
| Close all open tabs | Ctrl + Shift + W |
| Open dir under cursor in new tab | Ctrl + Up Arrow |
| Open dir under cursor in other window | Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow |
| Duplicate current path in other panel | Ctrl + Left / Right Arrow |
| Jump to next tab | Ctrl + Tab |
| Jump to previous tab | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| Quick search for filename (starting letters) | Ctrl + Alt + Letter |
Navigation and selection shortcuts
These shortcuts let you navigate between panels, select groups of files, and move through the directory tree without touching the mouse.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select / deselect file or folder | Insert |
| Show file properties | Alt + Enter |
| Expand file selection (by mask) | + (numpad) |
| Shrink file selection (by mask) | – (numpad) |
| Invert selection | * (numpad) |
| Restore previous selection | / (numpad) |
| Switch between left and right panel | Tab |
| Go to parent directory | Backspace |
| Go to root directory | Ctrl + Backspace |
| Move cursor up / down | Up / Down Arrow |
| Open folder / run file under cursor | Enter |
| Move to first file in list | Home |
| Move to last file in list | End |
| Minimize Total Commander to tray | Shift + Esc |
File sorting and view shortcuts
Use these shortcuts to instantly switch between file views and sort your file list without opening any menus.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| File display — brief view | Ctrl + F1 |
| Thumbnails view | Ctrl + Shift + F1 |
| File display — full details | Ctrl + F2 |
| Comments view | Ctrl + Shift + F2 |
| Sort by name | Ctrl + F3 |
| Sort by extension | Ctrl + F4 |
| Sort by date / time | Ctrl + F5 |
| Sort by size | Ctrl + F6 |
| Unsorted (original order) | Ctrl + F7 |
| Display directory tree | Ctrl + F8 |
| Print file under cursor | Ctrl + F9 |
| Show all files | Ctrl + F10 |
| Show only programs (.exe files) | Ctrl + F11 |
| Show user-defined file filter | Ctrl + F12 |
Tab management shortcuts
Total Commander supports multiple folder tabs in each panel, similar to browser tabs. These shortcuts let you manage them entirely from the keyboard.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open new folder tab (activate immediately) | Ctrl + T |
| Open new folder tab (stay on current) | Ctrl + Shift + T |
| Close active tab | Ctrl + W |
| Close all open tabs | Ctrl + Shift + W |
| Jump to next tab | Ctrl + Tab |
| Jump to previous tab | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| Open directory under cursor in new tab | Ctrl + Up Arrow |
FTP shortcuts
Total Commander has a built-in FTP client. These shortcuts let you connect, disconnect, and manage FTP transfers without leaving the keyboard.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Connect to FTP server (from bookmarks) | Ctrl + F |
| New FTP connection (manual entry) | Ctrl + N |
| Disconnect from FTP server | Ctrl + Shift + F |
| Change FTP transfer mode (binary / ASCII) | Ctrl + Shift + M |
| Open dir under cursor in other window (new tab) | Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow |
📄 Download: Total Commander Shortcuts PDF Cheat Sheet
All 112 shortcuts organized by category. Free download, no sign-up required.
Related: Best Total Commander Alternatives & Competitors
Frequently asked questions about Total Commander shortcuts
What is the shortcut to copy files in Total Commander?
Press F5 to copy files in Total Commander. A copy dialog will appear where you can confirm the destination path. To copy files within the same directory (with rename), use Shift + F5 instead. This mirrors the classic Norton Commander keyboard layout.
How do I rename a file in Total Commander?
Use Shift + F6 to rename a file in place within the same directory. To move and rename a file to a different location simultaneously, press F6 this opens the Move/Rename dialog where you can change the filename and destination path at the same time.
How do I select all files in Total Commander?
Press Ctrl + A to select all files in the active panel. To select a group of files by pattern (e.g., all .jpg files), press the + key on the numpad and enter a mask. Use the * key to invert the current selection, and – to shrink it.
What does F6 do in Total Commander?
F6 opens the Move / Rename dialog in Total Commander. It lets you move selected files to the other panel’s directory or rename them both in one step. For renaming files only within the same folder without moving them, use Shift + F6 instead.
How do I pack or archive files using the keyboard in Total Commander?
Press Alt + F5 to pack (compress) selected files into an archive. Total Commander supports ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, and other formats. To move files into an archive (pack and delete originals), use Alt + Shift + F5. To unpack an archive, press Alt + F6.
How do I add or change keyboard shortcuts in Total Commander?
Go to Configuration → Options → Misc, then scroll to the “Redefine hotkeys” section at the bottom. Select your desired key combination using the modifier checkboxes (Ctrl, Alt, Shift) and the key dropdown, then assign it a command. This feature has been available since Total Commander version 4.02. Custom shortcuts are saved in the wincmd.ini file.
What is the difference between F5 and Shift+F5 in Total Commander?
F5 copies selected files to the directory shown in the other (inactive) panel. Shift + F5 copies the file into the same directory it is already in useful when you need a duplicate of a file in the same folder with a new name. Think of Shift+F5 as “copy here” and F5 as “copy there.”
Does Total Commander work on Mac or Linux?
Total Commander is a Windows-only application developed by Christian Ghisler of Ghisler Software. It does not have an official Mac or Linux version. For macOS, similar dual-pane file managers include Commander One and ForkLift. For Linux, Midnight Commander is a popular keyboard-driven alternative.
Final Thoughts
Total Commander’s 112 default keyboard shortcuts cover everything from basic file operations to FTP management and archive handling. The fastest way to build muscle memory is to start with the five F-key shortcuts F5, F6, F7, F8, and F3 and add one new category per week until the full set becomes second nature.
If the default shortcuts don’t fit your workflow, Total Commander lets you redefine any hotkey via Configuration → Options → Misc → Redefine hotkeys. Changes are saved to your wincmd.ini file and persist across sessions.
For quick reference away from your screen, download the free Total Commander shortcuts PDF cheat sheet above all 112 shortcuts, categorized and print-ready.
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