Leo Commander blog

Mac file management, the Total Commander way.

Practical how-tos for people who move a lot of files: keyboard shortcuts, moving and renaming, syncing folders, and honest comparisons of Mac file managers.

How-to · 7 min read How to cut and paste files on a Mac Finder has no Cut for files, but one extra key turns a copy into a move. The shortcut, the menu route, the drag rules, Terminal, and the two-panel way.

Keyboard · 7 min read How to use the function keys on Mac Hold fn or Globe for one press, or switch the top row to standard F1 to F12 for good. Exact settings for current macOS, Monterey, Touch Bar Macs and PC keyboards.

Keyboard · 8 min read Total Commander shortcuts on a Mac, key by key Every common Total Commander key, the closest Finder way to do the same job on macOS, and the matching Leo Commander key, plus the two rules that make the switch easier.

How-to · 7 min read How to rename multiple files on a Mac Finder can rename a whole batch in one go. The three built-in options with worked examples, Automator and Shortcuts, a safe Terminal loop, and how to undo a rename.

How-to · 9 min read How to sync folders on a Mac Finder has no sync button. Here is the built-in rsync method with a safe dry run, the openrsync change in macOS Sequoia 15.4, and the apps that sync two folders with a visual compare.

Compare · 7 min read How to install Double Commander on a Mac Double Commander is a capable free file manager on macOS, with a few install quirks. How to get the Apple silicon build running, set up SFTP, and what the open bug reports say.

Guides

In-depth guides

Long reads on choosing a Mac file manager, with sources for every claim.

Guide · 11 min read Total Commander for Mac and the alternatives that work Ghisler makes Total Commander for Windows and Android only. How to run it on a Mac anyway, which native apps work like it, and what changes when you switch.

Guide · 11 min read The best Finder alternative for Mac in 2026 Seven Mac file managers, from Total Commander-style apps to MacStories' Mac App of the Year, checked on keys, sync, rename and price. What each one does well, what to watch for, and who should pick it.

Guide · 11 min read Dual-pane file managers for Mac and how two panels work Finder shows one folder per window. Here is what a two-panel file manager does instead, four ways to get close in Finder, and how seven Mac apps handle two panes.

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