Why two panes beat two windows
Moving files between two places is one of the most common things you do on a Mac, and two overlapping windows make it fiddly: you resize, you drag, you lose track of which window is which. A dual-pane file manager puts both folders in one window, one beside the other, so the source and the destination are always in view.
That's especially handy for sorting a Downloads folder into projects, copying work to a backup drive, or comparing what's in two folders before you move anything.
How dual pane works in ZincFiles
Press ⌘\ to split the window, and again to go back to one pane. Each pane shows its own folder. Select files in one pane and copy or move them to the other.
The command palette works in both panes: press ⌘K and type the command you want, and it acts on what's selected in the pane you're in.
Copies that keep going while you work
Big copies run in the background with their progress in view, so you can keep browsing, searching and previewing while gigabytes move. Folder sizes are shown live, so you know how much you're about to copy before you start. See how folder sizes work.
Servers and containers, side by side
SFTP servers, S3 buckets and Docker containers open in ZincFiles like any folder. Put one in a pane and a local folder in the other, and moving files between your Mac and a server looks just like moving them between two folders. SFTP uses your Mac's own SSH setup, so your keys and host settings just work.
Part of a keyboard-first file manager
Dual pane sits alongside the rest of ZincFiles: instant search with ⌘F, Quick Look with Space, Columns, List, Icons and Gallery views, tabs, tags and batch rename. Everything stays on your Mac: no account, no analytics, no tracking.
How to get started
- 1
Open the first folder
Browse to the folder you're copying or moving from.
- 2
Press ⌘\
The window splits into two panes.
- 3
Open the second folder
Browse to the destination in the other pane.
- 4
Copy or move
Select the files and copy or move them across. Big copies carry on in the background.
Questions and answers
How do I turn on dual pane in ZincFiles?
Press ⌘\ (Command and backslash) in any ZincFiles window to split it into two panes, side by side. Press ⌘\ again to go back to a single pane.
Can I copy files between two folders on a Mac without dragging between windows?
Yes. In ZincFiles, open the two folders side by side with Dual Pane (⌘\), select files in one pane and copy or move them to the other. Big copies run in the background with their progress shown.
Can one pane show a server?
Yes. ZincFiles opens SFTP servers, S3 buckets and Docker containers like any folder, so one pane can show a server while the other shows a folder on your Mac.
Does the command palette work in dual pane?
Yes. The ZincFiles command palette (⌘K) works in every view, including both panes, and acts on what's selected in the pane you're in.
How much does ZincFiles cost?
ZincFiles costs $39.99 at launch (regular price $69.99), paid once: it is not a subscription. A license is for one Mac, every 1.x update is free, and you can get a full refund within 3 days, no questions asked.
