OneCommander Brings Greater Customization to Windows File Management

OneCommander became my solution. I’ll cover this utility and how it offers a more Mac-like file management experience on Windows.

Installing OneCommander

You can download OneCommander for free for personal use from their website: (https://www.onecommander.com/) or purchase a license for professional use. It's available as an MSI installer or as a portable version. The portable version here: (https://www.onecommander.com/OneCommander3.44.1.0.zip)

Quick digression: Portable versions of the software are versions of tools that don’t require any installation/administrator rights. Often, I’m on a client’s system (editing video) and can’t install the software. Tools like OneCommander, which have a portable version, mean that I can use tools without installing them, and without leaving any residue/pieces in the system.

Setting up OneCommander

When you first run OneCommander, you'll be prompted to select a theme and a default layout. I like the dark theme and their suggestions for Mac users. Here is where you can show folder sizes (which is also in the preferences.)

The only flaw here is that while OneCommander can calculate folder sizes, it can't sort folders by size due to Windows limitations. Can’t get everything.

OneCommander features a dual-pane layout, allowing you to manage files in two separate locations simultaneously. It’s keyboard-driven, allowing me to use the arrow keys to navigate. The Enter key will open anything you select.

The essential keyboard command I’ve come across is ALT-F to switch focus from top/bottom (or left/right) panes. This way I can use the arrow keys to get where I want and swap between sections.

The left sidebar provides quick access to common locations, and you can create custom groups for easy access to frequently used directories. There’s even an (empty) group for Networking shares. You can add your own as well. A history of recent locations is also available for quick navigation.

Customizing OneCommander

User inferences are one of my pet peeves. While the preferences here are a little overwhelming, there are some gems.

• Key interface adjustments: Font size, highlighting files by age or size, and changing themes.

• Hide files starting with a dot/period - which is how Mac OS handles hidden files. This helps eliminate the annoyance of .DS_Store files appearing in Windows from Mac Volumes.

Bonus: Quicklook

This integrates with QuickLook, Seer, or WinQuickLook - all of which are Mac “QuickLook” preview tools for Windows. On my system, I have Quick Look installed. This way I have configured OneCommander to preview files directly within the application. This integration provides a seamless file preview experience akin to Mac Finder. If you haven't already, check out my article on Quick Look for more information on this useful utility.

Conclusion

While Windows 11 has brought some improvements to Windows Explorer, I feel that OneCommander has more of the missing features for Mac users transitioning to Windows. It offers a more comfortable and familiar file management experience, addressing many of the pain points Mac users encounter with Windows Explorer.

And yes, I’m always looking for ways to work faster/smoother - so if you use another utility please share them in the comments.