Questions and answers
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About Dirnex
- What is Dirnex?
- A file manager for the Mac with two panes side by side, made to be used from the keyboard, in the spirit of the classic commanders. It’s a native Mac app, free to use and open source.
- Why use it instead of Finder?
- Finder is made for browsing. Dirnex is made for working with files: two folders side by side, a key for every command, copies that wait in a queue and can be undone, and servers, archives and clouds that open like folders. Finder stays, and you can use both.
- I use Total Commander on Windows. Will I feel at home?
- Mostly, yes. Tab, Space and the function keys F3 to F8 do what you expect. Settings ▸ Shortcuts has a Total Commander set of keys, and you can change any key yourself. See the keys side by side.
- Which Macs does it run on?
- Any Mac with macOS 14 or later, with Apple silicon or Intel.
- Why isn’t it in the Mac App Store?
- Apps from the App Store run in a sandbox, which keeps them away from most of your disk. A file manager has to reach all of it. Dirnex is signed and notarized by Apple instead, and it updates itself.
- Is there a version for Windows, Linux, iPhone or iPad?
- No. Dirnex is made only for the Mac, and uses what macOS offers: Finder tags, Spotlight, Quick Look and APFS.
Privacy and security
- Why does Dirnex ask for Full Disk Access?
- macOS keeps some folders closed to apps, such as those of Mail, Messages and other apps’ data. A file manager needs to see them, as Finder does. You can say no: Dirnex still works, but macOS keeps those folders closed to it.
- Does Dirnex collect data about me?
- No. There are no analytics and no account. On its own, Dirnex goes online only to check for updates. The Privacy Policy lists everything.
- Where are my server passwords kept?
- In your Mac’s Keychain. They go only to the server they’re for.
- How can I trust an app with all my files?
- Its code is public, so anyone can check what it does. Every release is built from that code on GitHub, then signed and notarized by Apple.
The license
- What can I do without a license?
- Everything. No feature is locked. For the first 30 days there is no reminder at all. After that, a short reminder appears when Dirnex starts, and once a day.
- What happens when my updates end?
- Nothing changes for the versions you have. A license covers every version released before its end date, forever. Newer versions show the reminder until you renew. Updates are never blocked.
- How does renewing work?
- A renewal costs the same as a new license. Renew early, and the new period starts when the current one ends, so you lose no days.
- Can I use it on all my Macs?
- Yes. A license is for one person, on all of their Macs. For a team, buy one license per person in a single checkout.
- Does a license need the internet?
- No. It arrives by email and activates with one click. Dirnex checks it on your Mac and never asks a server.
- Why pay for an open-source app?
- A license pays for the time it takes to make Dirnex and keep it growing. The code stays open so anyone can check it, and every feature stays free to use.
- Can I build Dirnex myself?
- Yes. The code is on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license, and a copy you build yourself never shows the reminder. A license is for the signed version from this site, which updates itself.
Prices are on the Pricing page.
Help
- How do I report a bug?
- Write to support@dirnex.app, or open an issue on GitHub. Say what you did, what happened, and which versions of Dirnex and macOS you have.
- How do I update Dirnex?
- Dirnex checks for new versions and offers each one when it’s ready. To check now, choose Dirnex ▸ Check for Updates…
- Can I try new versions early?
- Yes. Turn on Receive beta updates in Settings ▸ General. Betas come out more often than stable versions, and can have rough edges.