Changing Directory

Each panel displays a list of files and directories in its current directory. The current directories in the left and right panels are independent, so you can view two unrelated directories at the same time. The current directory is identified by its full disk, archive, or plugin file system path, which is displayed in the Directory Line.

This section describes the ways to change the current directory in a panel.

Changing Directory Relative to the Current Directory

Function	Shortcut	Note
Enter Focused Directory	Enter, double-click, or Ctrl+Page Down	Changes the current directory to the focused (or double-clicked) directory.
Back (in directories history)	Alt+Left Arrow	Changes the current directory to the previous directory (the directory that was current before the change to the current directory).
Forward (in directories history)	Alt+Right Arrow	Undoes the Back function. Changes the current directory to the next directory.
Go to parent directory	Backspace or Ctrl+Page Up	Changes the current directory to the parent directory (or stays in the root directory).
Go to root directory	Shift+Backspace or Ctrl+\	Changes the current directory to the root directory.
Go to shortened path	Click	Click the shortened path in the Directory Line. As you move the mouse pointer over the path components, the shortened paths are highlighted.

Other Ways of Changing Directory

To Change the Current Directory to	Use	Note
a directory placed on some other local or network drive, the Documents folder, a shared directory on a computer on the network (the Network item), a directory on some plugin file system, a directory opened in the other panel, or a directory defined as a Hot Path	Left/Change Drive (Alt+F1) or Right/Change Drive (Alt+F2)	Opens the Change Drive Menu for the left or right panel.
a directory placed on some other local or network drive, the Documents folder, a shared directory on a computer on the network (the Network item), or a directory on some plugin file system	Click	Click in the Drive Bar.
the last visited (or root) directory of local or network drive	Shift+drive letters	For example, the Shift+C key for drive "C:".
a specified disk, archive, or plugin file system path	Commands/Change Directory (Shift+F7)	Uses the Change Directory dialog box and works with full or relative disk paths, archive paths, and plugin file system paths specified by the user.
a shared directory on a computer on the network	Ctrl+` or Ctrl+,	Uses the Network item from the Change Drive Menu.
a directory opened in the other panel	Left or Right/Go To/Path from Other Panel (Ctrl+.)	This command is useful for changing the panel directory to match the directory displayed in the other panel.
a disk, archive, or plugin file system path specified by text on the clipboard	Edit/Paste (Ctrl+V)	Works with full or relative disk paths, archive paths, and plugin file system paths from the clipboard.
a disk, archive, or plugin file system path specified by dropped text or a directory	Drag & Drop	Drag text or a directory to the Directory Line. Works with full or relative disk paths, archive paths, and plugin file system paths. You can also drag text from the Directory Line of the other panel.