Hello,
I would like to request the reintroduction of a dual-pane (split view) mode in Nautilus. This feature was previously available in earlier versions and is currently present in file managers like Nemo and Dolphin.
The dual-pane mode significantly enhances productivity by allowing users to easily compare and transfer files between directories without opening multiple windows. While tiling two separate Nautilus windows side by side is a workaround, it doesn’t offer the seamless experience that an integrated split view provides.
I’m currently considering switching fully to Nautilus, because it is becoming deeply integrated into the GNOME ecosystem, and I want to follow that path for better consistency and future compatibility. However, the lack of a native dual-pane feature is the main thing holding me back.
I understand that Nautilus aims for a clean and minimalist interface, but perhaps this feature could be optional, activated via a menu option or keyboard shortcut (e.g., F3), so it doesn’t interfere with the default user experience.
Thank you for considering this feature request.
I hope this topic isn’t too repetitive - I haven’t seen a discussion about it for quite a while, and since some apps have recently been getting requested features back, I thought it was a good moment to ask again.
What would be the advantages of this vs a window manager with a shortcut that creates a new window then tile them in a split screen? (other than a 1 less sidebar)
While tiling two Nautilus windows is possible, an integrated split view is far more convenient. It’s just one shortcut or menu click away — no need to manually open, arrange, or resize windows every time. Plus, the two panes stay together, making it easier to manage and move them around.
Since GNOME currently lacks window grouping or tabbed window management, setting up two windows manually is quite inconvenient, especially when working with many files.
Split view also uses screen space much more efficiently, particularly on smaller screens where two full windows side-by-side can feel cramped.
This feature is standard in many other file managers (like Nemo, Dolphin, or Total Commander), and users who rely on it find it hard to adapt without it.
Overall, split view isn’t just about “saving a sidebar” — it streamlines workflows, speeds up file operations, and reduces friction for users like myself, who need to work with a lot of files.
Maybe it seems unnecessary if you’ve never used it before — or rather never had the chance to — but I think once you experience it, you realize how much it improves the workflow.
Split view and Miller Columns are quite different and solve different problems.
Miller Columns are great for navigating deep folder structures — you can see multiple folder levels at once and quickly move through the hierarchy.
Split view, on the other hand, is about working between two locations — for example, copying files from one folder to another, comparing contents, or organizing files between two places without needing multiple windows.
They complement different workflows. I think both are valuable, but they serve different use cases. Personally, I don’t need Miller Columns, and I believe they don’t really fit with GNOME’s current design goals and UI philosophy.
IDK but I assume adding dual pane will be a lot of work, it will be a source of new class of bugs and will increase future maintenance work.
I frequently organize files between two (or more) locations and for me it works perfectly well with tabs;
I can move files to another location by dragging & dropping them on the other tab header.
Or copy them to the other location by holding Ctrl while dragging & dropping.
Or for keyboard oriented use Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+Tab to switch tabs and Ctrl+V to paste.
For visually comparing contents of 2 locations, yes that may be more convenient with dual pane. I manage with tabs for smaller directories and for larger directories open a 2nd window and half-tile both windows. I don’t have a need for this very often so I don’t mind not having dual pane. It would be nice to have but not at the expense of other things being worked on.
Just to clarify: yes, I do know about the tab features and the shortcuts you mentioned — and they definitely help a lot.
However, from my experience, even with tabs and tiling, an integrated dual-pane view still feels much more convenient, especially when constantly moving or comparing files between two locations.
I can’t really judge how much work it would be to add split view back — I don’t know the Nautilus codebase or the technical challenges involved.
I’m not asking for anyone to drop what they’re currently working on; I just wanted to suggest it for future consideration, because I personally think it would be worth it if feasible.
For now, I’ll stick with Nemo (which, as I understand, was partly forked back then because of the removal of split view from Nautilus), but I really like where Nautilus is heading overall. That’s why I wanted to bring this up — just to keep the conversation going and show there’s still user interest in this feature. Not everybody will agree that this is necessary, but back then not everybody was happy with the removal either.
I personally also like split-view file managing, and I do feel the duplicated sidebar is a bit cumbersome in the current version. However, apart from the implementation being complicated and this adding a source of potential new bugs, first of all this would need a design mockup that clarifies:
what is the toolbar layout? What does the transition to it look?
how is view focus communicated?
what happens if the window becomes too small for split view?
how does the sidebar interact with the split view?
There are probably many others. If someone works these out and there is a solid concept, then an implementation can be attempted. Before that it’s unlikely to go anywhere.
Thanks for the response — I appreciate you laying out the design questions. I’ll try to briefly address them based on how file managers like Nemo and Dolphin handle split view, which I think could work for Nautilus too.
In terms of toolbar layout , both Nemo and Dolphin keep a single, shared toolbar. Toggling split view (usually with F3) just divides the file area — everything else stays the same. The transition is instant and smooth, without changing other UI elements.
View focus is typically indicated with a subtle highlight or border around the active pane. Actions like copy/paste or keyboard navigation apply to the focused side, and you can switch focus with Tab or a mouse click — it feels intuitive and doesn’t clutter the interface.
Regarding window size , maybe Nautilus could behave like it already does: when it gets too small, you just can’t resize it further, and the sidebar may hide automatically. That same logic could apply to split view.
As for the sidebar , both Dolphin and Nemo use a single sidebar shared between panes. It updates based on the active pane, which avoids duplication and keeps things simple. I think Nautilus could follow the same model without going against GNOME’s design principles.
I don’t think Nautilus would need to completely reinvent the wheel here — split view is a well-established feature, and while environments like Cinnamon and KDE have different design philosophies, they’ve already addressed many of the practical UI challenges. Even within GNOME’s more minimal and focused approach, I believe it’s possible to adapt what works well elsewhere in a way that aligns with its design goals. There’s definitely design and implementation work to be done, but considering the productivity benefits, it seems like a good improvement that could enhance workflows without compromising the simplicity and clarity of the interface.
Hi All, new to this forum. Join specifically to chime in on this topic.
I would also love to see the split view/dual pane feature. Long time Linux Mint user, but recently started working with Rocky Linux which uses Gnome Files. This feature (in Mint’s Caja) is one that I use all the time. Perhaps one of the most difficult things to adjust to in Gnome is not having this feature. I even tried adding the Gnome Extension for the split screen, but unfortunately, after downloading and installing it, I got a red flag saying that this version doesn’t work with the extension. So back to square one. What I liked most about the dual pane, is one can highlight several files on one side, right click to open the menu, and move or copy directly over to the other pane. No copy/cut and paste.
I definitely understand that the developers probably have bigger fish to fry and we all appreciated the hard work they do. Adding this feature would surely make me praise them even more
