Opening the file browser from terminal
What's the command to open the file browser? I want it so that I can assign a keyboard shortcut to open a specific folder.
nautilus --browserwill ensure that Nautilus is launched in browser mode even if you're normally using it in spatial mode.You can append the path you want to open to the end:
nautilus --browser ~/some/directoryBut the problem I have with `nautilus` is that it has root permissions. How can I avoid that? I don't want to accidentally delete any files.
It shouldn't have root permissions unless you launch it with `gksudo`.
simply you can type nautilus in command text. I have done the same shorcut using Win+E for opening nautilus
this seems to work OK, but throws a ton of errors for me and others.
The gnome-open command will open a directory with the appropriate application, which in this case is Nautilus:
gnome-open PATHThis will open the directory /tmp using the Nautilus file browser.
gnome-open /tmpOR
cd /tmp gnome-open .I like the
gnome-opencommand because you can use this exact same command to open a file with the appropriate application. No need to remember any funny flags. It just works.gnome-open file.pdfwill open the PDF in a PDF browser.gnome-open file.zipwill open a zip file using the Zip archive viewer.
It's also similar in name and function to the Mac OS X
opencommand, for those of us who use Macs.To update this answer: gnome-open is now called gvfs-open. If you want a desktop-agnostic command, you can also use xdg-open.
This leaves the terminal hanging awaiting more input, so you have to kill with Ctrl-C
@JeffPuckettII In my experience, `gnome-open file.ext` will open a file, hand it off to another program and then exit. It does not hang awaiting for more input, at least not on my Ubuntu 14.04 box at home.
To update @JasonChampion's update: `gvfs-open` is now deprecated, replaced by a small shell script that calls `gio open`. `xdg-open` is also a wrapper script, and on most Ubuntu systems it's likely to call `gio open`. `gnome-open` still exists as a binary distinct from `gio`
As of 2018, one can use the GIO commandline tool on Gnome:
gio open some/directoryExcellent, works great in 18.04, thanks!
For me the safest way that is compatible with almost all environments is xdg-open
xdg-open $HOME/testThis would open a directory named test (for example) under your home directory.
this is the better answer, compared the accepted answer. The reason is: nautlius opens a folder but it hangs the command line until you closed the opened File Explorer, but this one opens the file explorer and you can still use command line.
Works like a charm :)
For me, this option also hangs the command line... (Ubuntu 18.04)
I put the following line in my
.bashrc:alias opn="nautilus -s ."Now you can open with
$ opn /path/to/folderThere is a command named `open` already in package `kbd`, it's linked to `openvt`.
Working in Ubuntu 18.04 too, unlike some of the other answers here.
cool answer. it helps to create the shortcut.
You can use
nautilus PATHfor the Gnomenemo PATHfor the Cinnamoncaja PATHfor the MATEthunar PATHfor the Xfce
For reference, I'm running Ubuntu Bionic 18.04.
The easiest and safest way I open the file explorer from command line is with the
xdg-opencommand, which itself often aliased as thebrowsecommand if that's more your style.xdg-openships natively with Ubuntu.xdg-opencan also open any file or web URL, and will open it according to your computer's default application for files of that filetype.Examples:
browse .Opens the file explorer in my current directory.xdg-open ~Does the same, but my home directory.xdg-open https://www.google.caLaunches google's homepage with your default browser (xdg-open will open it as a new tab if a browser session is already open).Man pages for
xdg-opencan be found hereNote that the xdg-open command is not meant to be used with root priveleges.
Use
nautilusFor root file browsing, it's
gksudo nautilus.- Using nautilus for current directory ->
nautilus ./ - Using gnome-open for current directory ->
gnome-open ./
For gnome-open if might be required to installsudo apt install libgnome2-bin
- Using nautilus for current directory ->
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Content dated before 6/26/2020 9:53 AM
Jon Doe 10 years ago
But the problem I have with `nautilus` is that it has root permissions. How can I avoid that? I don't want to accidentally delete any files.