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FileSteep

File manager with previews, content search and a built-in terminal

Updated August 2026 · v1.6.5

Screenshots

FileSteep is a file manager for people who spend real time in their files. Six ways to look at a folder, previews for almost anything without opening another app, a terminal in the same window, and search that finds a file by what is inside it.

Everything runs on your Mac. No account, no cloud, no folder is uploaded anywhere.

Highlights

  1. Six views, one folder - grid, details, gallery, column, tree and list. Switch to whichever one fits the job instead of forcing every folder into the same layout.
  2. Preview without opening anything - PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, CSV, Markdown, JSON, code with syntax highlighting, images, audio and video, all inside the window.
  3. Search that reads inside files - find a document by a phrase in it, not just by its name, with results as you type.
  4. A terminal where you already are - a full shell docked in the same window, opening in the folder you are looking at.
  5. Split panes and tabs - two folders side by side, drag between them, and tabs for the places you keep coming back to.
  6. Rename hundreds of files at once - build the pattern, see exactly what every file will be called, then apply it.
  7. Find what is wasting space - duplicate detection and folder size breakdowns that show where the gigabytes actually went.
  8. Archives handled in place - browse, extract and create zip, tar, 7z and rar without a separate utility.
  9. Tags, notes and bookmarks - label files your own way and jump back to the folders you live in.
  10. Compare files and folders - a side-by-side diff for text, and a folder comparison that shows what is missing on each side.
FileSteep

How it works

Open FileSteep and it starts where you would expect, in your home folder. Pick a view from the toolbar, click a file to preview it in the side panel, and press the split button when you want a second folder next to the first.

Everything else is where you would reach for it: right-click for the actions on a file, Cmd+F to search, and the terminal panel at the bottom when a command is faster than a click.

Perfect for

  1. Developers who want a terminal and a code preview inside the file manager
  2. Anyone sorting a large photo, video or document library
  3. People who move and rename files in bulk and want to see the result before committing
  4. Anyone who has run out of disk space and cannot find out why
  5. Anyone who finds the stock file manager too slow to work in all day

Open source

FileSteep is built on Xplorer by Justin Maximillian Kimlim and is distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3. The complete corresponding source code is published here. The About window links the archive matching your installed build.

Frequently asked questions

What is FileSteep?

File manager with previews, content search and a built-in terminal. It is one of the curated macOS and Windows apps included in the getapps.cafe subscription.

Which platforms does FileSteep support?

FileSteep is a native desktop app for macOS. Download it straight from this page and your getapps.cafe sign-in activates it.

Is FileSteep included in the getapps.cafe subscription?

Yes. Every getapps.cafe membership - Solo Cup ($9.99/month, 1 device) and Family Roast ($15.99/month, up to 5 devices), or $4.99 and $7.99 a month paid annually - includes FileSteep and every other app on the menu.

Can I buy FileSteep on its own?

FileSteep is not sold separately - it comes with a getapps.cafe membership, from $4.99/month, which also unlocks every other app on the menu. New memberships start with a 7-day free trial you can cancel before it is charged. If you bought FileSteep outright in the past, it stays yours - sign in and it still works.

How do I activate FileSteep?

Download FileSteep from this page, open it, and sign in once with your getapps.cafe account. Each device you sign in uses one licence slot on your plan; remove a device from your account any time to free it.

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