pcmanfm

pcmanfm [OPTIONS] [PATH...]

-h, --help
    Displays a help message with all available command-line options and exits.

-v, --version
    Prints the version information of pcmanfm and exits.

-w, --new-window
    Opens a new pcmanfm window, even if an instance is already running.

-d, --desktop
    Starts pcmanfm in desktop management mode. In this mode, it handles the desktop background, icons, and context menus. This is typically how it runs as part of an LXDE/LXQt session.

-n, --no-desktop
    Prevents pcmanfm from managing the desktop. This is useful if another application is responsible for the desktop or if you only want to use pcmanfm as a file browser without its desktop features.

-x, --exit
    Closes all running pcmanfm instances, including any desktop manager processes.

--set-wallpaper=FILE
    Sets the specified image FILE as the desktop wallpaper. Requires pcmanfm to be running in desktop management mode.

--set-wallpaper-mode=MODE
    Defines how the wallpaper is displayed. Common MODEs include tile, stretch, center, fit, and zoom.

PATH...
    Specifies one or more directories to open in the pcmanfm window. If no PATH is provided, it typically opens the user's home directory.

pcmanfm is a highly efficient and lightweight file manager, often used as the default in desktop environments like LXDE and LXQt. It offers a comprehensive set of features for file browsing, copying, moving, deleting, and renaming files and folders. Beyond basic file operations, pcmanfm also functions as a desktop manager, capable of handling desktop icons, wallpapers, and providing a desktop context menu. Its design prioritizes speed and low resource consumption, making it an excellent choice for older hardware or users who prefer a minimal yet functional environment. It supports tabbed browsing, customizable views, and basic network share capabilities.

When running pcmanfm in desktop management mode (-d), it often starts as a background daemon. Be mindful of potential conflicts if another desktop environment or application attempts to manage the desktop simultaneously. Using -x is crucial to properly exit the desktop management process.

One of pcmanfm's distinguishing features is its integrated desktop management. It can render the desktop background, display icons on the desktop (for files, folders, or mounted drives), and provide a right-click context menu on the desktop itself. This dual functionality as both a file browser and a desktop manager makes it a central component of lightweight desktop environments.

pcmanfm supports a variety of plugins that extend its functionality, such as archive handling, volume management, and image viewing directly within the file manager. Users can also highly customize its appearance, toolbar, and shortcuts through its preferences dialog, adapting it to their workflow and aesthetic preferences.

Created by Hong Jen Yee (PCMan) in 2005, pcmanfm was initially developed as a lightweight alternative to existing file managers for Linux. It quickly became a core component of the LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) project due to its focus on speed and minimal resource usage. While originally written in GTK+ 2, it later saw a significant rewrite to GTK+ 3. A separate Qt-based version, PCManFM-Qt, was developed to serve as the default file manager for the LXQt desktop environment.

nautilus(1), thunar(1), dolphin(1), xfce4-appfinder(1)