KDE Dolphin file manager is bringing back Columns view after 15 years.
Developer Méven Car announced the return of Miller columns, featuring keyboard navigation, adjustable widths, and full support for sorting and previews.
This feature was originally present in Dolphin since KDE 4.0, but disappeared in 2011 when the application changed its internal mechanism. Despite user requests over the years, the column view was never brought back.
How the new view works
With columns, each folder appears in its own frame. When someone selects a subfolder, its contents open in the next column, while previous folders remain visible. This makes it easier to navigate folders that are deep within others without losing the sense of location.
The new implementation supports keyboard navigation using the left and right arrows, as well as the enter key. Users can adjust the width of columns manually, let them automatically adjust to the contents, or set them to a fixed width. At the same time, basic features such as sorting, grouping, hidden files, zooming, and previews work across all columns.
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The location bar, window title, file actions, and the built-in command window follow the last column, while open columns are restored when Dolphin restores a previous session. Users can enable the new view with the Ctrl+4 shortcut or through the view settings. The feature is exclusive to Dolphin and is not available in other applications.
When will it be available
Its inclusion in the official December release is not yet locked in. The developers have until November 12th to decide if it's ready, otherwise it will be released in April 2027.
Arch Linux users can already try it out via a special development package, while users of other systems can build it themselves from source. The developers encourage users to try it out in their daily use and report any issues before the November deadline.
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