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FAQ

Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. For step-by-step guides, follow the links.

Getting started​

Which macOS versions are supported?
DCommander supports macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon native. See Overview.

First launch asks me to pick a folder. What should I choose?

  • macOS 26 “Tahoe” and newer: choose your Home folder.
  • macOS 13–15: choosing / (root) is allowed.
    You can add more locations later in Preferences → Permissions. See First-run Setup.

Where do I download it?

  • App Store: seamless updates.
  • Setapp: included in your Setapp plan.
  • Website (DMG): signed & notarized build with direct licensing.
    See Install.

Features & workflow​

Why did my copy go to the “wrong” side?
Operations always go from the active pane → to the inactive pane. Press Tab to switch the active pane. See Panels & Layout and Operations.

Can I preview without opening an app?
Yes. Press Space for Quick Look or F3 for the built-in Viewer. See Viewer & Quick Look.

Keyboard-only flow?
Start with Keyboard Shortcuts, then explore Operations.

Permissions & access​

I can’t see /Volumes or I get “operation not permitted.”
Add the needed paths in Preferences → Permissions (e.g., /Volumes, an external drive). Enabling Full Disk Access is optional but can reduce prompts. See First-run Setup.

Do I need Full Disk Access?
Not strictly. It helps with certain protected locations (e.g., parts of ~/Library). If you prefer minimal access, add just the folders you need in Permissions.

Remote connections​

Do you support servers and network shares?
Yes. Saved sessions for FTP / SFTP / SCP live in Remote Connections.
SMB / AFP network drives are mounted via Mount Network Drive (not saved as sessions). See Remote Connections.

What’s in a saved connection?
Session name, type (FTP/SFTP/SCP), hostname (host[:port]), username, and either Password or Public Key auth. You can Edit, Duplicate, Remove, Import, and Export sessions.

Why isn’t my SMB/AFP share in the saved list?
SMB/AFP mounts are temporary system mounts created via Mount Network Drive; they’re not saved as Connection Manager entries.

Find files​

Can I search by partial names?
Yes. Use Find Files → Search for (wildcards not required). Optional RegEx and Case sensitive are available. Scope the Search location and enable Search in sub-folders if needed. See Find Files.

Can I search inside files?
Yes—use Find text inside file for plain-text matching (with optional case sensitivity).

Batch rename​

How do I rename lots of files at once?
Use Multi Rename with masks/tokens like [N] (original name), [E] (extension), [C] (counter), and date tokens [Y][M][D][h][m][s]. See Batch Rename.

Does Search/Replace support regex?
No. Search/Replace is plain-text only.

Why can’t I sort the preview list?
The preview table does not support sorting. Sort items in the file pane first, then open Multi Rename so the counter order matches your intent.

Compare & sync​

How do I synchronize two folders?
Open Synchronize folders. Options are intentionally simple:

  • Scan folder contents (recursive)
  • Left to Right one-way sync (only copy Left → Right)
    Click Compare, review the color-coded actions, then Synchronize. See Compare & Sync.

What do the symbols/colors mean?

  • > (green): copy Left → Right
  • < (blue): copy Right → Left
  • X (red): delete on the destination side
  • = (black): no change (equal)

Can I tweak actions per file?
No—there are no per-item overrides. Adjust the two options above and re-compare.

Copy/move & performance​

Copy seems slow or unreliable to a specific device.
Try Byte-by-byte copy and adjust the buffer in Preferences → Operation → Copy/Delete. For slow links, stage remote → local, work locally, then push back once. See Operations.

Progress on the Dock icon?
Enable Show progress indicator on Dock icon in Preferences.

Licensing & updates​

What are the licensing options?

  • App Store: purchase via Apple ID.
  • Setapp: included in your Setapp subscription.
  • Website (Paddle): direct license (DMG).
    See Install for source-specific details.

How are updates delivered?
Via the App Store, Setapp, or the update notification/website for the website build.

Support​

What should I include when I contact support?
macOS version, DCommander version, steps to reproduce, and any error messages. See Troubleshooting for quick fixes first.

Shortcuts (quick reference)​

  • Copy / Move: F5 / F6
  • View / Edit / Delete: F3 / F4 / F8
  • New Folder: F7
  • Quick Look: Space
  • Find Files: (your assigned shortcut or toolbar; often ⌥F7)
  • Transfer Manager: ⌘J
  • Swap / Equalize panes: ⌘U / ⌘E

Full list: Keyboard Shortcuts.

See also​