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KDE Dolphin gives you three different ways to locate files: Search retrieves names or text across a chosen scope, Filter hides non-matching names in the folder you are viewing, and ordinary navigation lets you work directly between locations. Once you combine those tools with Details view, predictable sorting, Places bookmarks, and split view, large collections become much easier to inspect and reorganize.
The steps below follow the KDE Dolphin Handbook for KDE Frameworks 6. Menu wording and shortcuts can vary slightly in an older or distribution-customized release, so check your installed version if a command is not where described.
Choose the right Dolphin tool first
Search and filtering look similar but solve different problems. Use the following decision guide before typing anything:
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| Find files by name or text inside files | Search (Ctrl+F) |
A selected scope, including the current location, subfolders, or the Everywhere option |
| Temporarily hide unrelated items while staying in one folder | Filter (Ctrl+I) |
Names of items currently shown in the active folder view |
| Compare size, dates, type, or other attributes | Sort By and Details view | Metadata for items in the current view |
| Copy or move items between two known locations | Split view (F3) or drag and drop |
Two folders displayed at the same time |
This distinction prevents a common mistake: the Filter bar cannot search the contents of documents, and a broad Search is unnecessary when you only want to hide unrelated filenames in the open folder.
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Find a file by name or by text inside it
Start a Dolphin search
- Open Dolphin and navigate to a sensible starting location, such as your Home folder.
- Press
Ctrl+F, or choose Edit → Search. Dolphin opens the find bar and begins searching as you type; KDE documents the search as case-insensitive. - Choose whether to search filenames or file contents. Content searching is useful for locating a note, source file, or document when you remember a phrase but not its filename.
- Set the search scope. You can search the current location and its subfolders or choose Everywhere when the item may be elsewhere.
Search terms do not need surrounding wildcards: foo and *foo* are equivalent. An asterisk (*) matches zero or more characters, while a question mark (?) matches one character. For example, report?.odt can match a one-character variation in the filename.
Because matching starts as soon as you type, begin with a distinctive fragment rather than a very common word. You can then add a file category, date, rating, or tag from More Options instead of repeatedly changing the initial query. Clear the query or close the find bar when you are ready to return to ordinary browsing.
See the KDE Documentation Team’s quick tips for filtering, finding, and searching in files for the complete search-bar behavior.
Understand “Everywhere” and Baloo indexing
Everywhere is not automatically a live scan of every mounted disk. When KDE’s Baloo file-indexing services are active, Dolphin searches folders included in the index. If Baloo is not running, KDE says the Everywhere option starts from your Home folder instead. Consequently, a result set can differ according to indexing settings, excluded folders, and whether a location has been indexed yet.
If a file is missing from Everywhere, try searching from the folder where you expect it to exist. Also verify that the relevant location is included in your desktop’s indexing configuration and that the external disk is mounted. Searching file contents is especially dependent on an index and on the file type being readable by the indexer. A direct search from a known folder is therefore the better diagnostic step than assuming that an Everywhere result proves the file is absent.
Narrow a search with More Options
Use More Options in the find bar when a text match is too broad. KDE documents filters for:
- File categories such as Documents, Audio, Video, and Images.
- A time period, which is useful for locating recently changed material.
- Ratings and tags.
The documented tag syntax includes tag:"foo". Combining a distinctive name fragment with a type or date criterion usually produces fewer results than using a generic word alone. These criteria are most useful when you are looking for a set of files rather than one exact name—for example, a group of tagged images or documents changed during a particular period.
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After configuring a useful query, save it and add it to the Search For section in the Places panel. The saved entry gives you a reusable virtual location without rebuilding the search each time. Saved searches are particularly useful for recurring work such as “all recently modified images” or a tagged project archive. Treat the saved item as a query, not as a second copy of the files: opening it shows matching results wherever they are stored.
Filter the folder you are viewing
Use the Filter bar for a quick name match
- Open the folder whose visible items you want to narrow.
- Press
Ctrl+I, or select Edit → Filter. - Enter a text fragment. Dolphin shows items whose names contain that fragment; KDE’s example uses
.mp3to show audio files in the current view. - Press
Escor use the bar’s hide control when you want to return to the full folder listing.
Filtering does not retrieve files from other directories and does not inspect document text. If you type invoice, it displays currently visible names containing “invoice”; it does not find a PDF whose contents mention the word but whose filename does not. It is consequently a fast, temporary lens for a crowded directory, not a replacement for Search.
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Sort files by name, size, date, and metadata
Choose the sort key and direction
Open View → Sort By and select an attribute such as name, size, or date. The same controls let you reverse the direction, place folders first, and group items by the selected criterion. For example, sorting by size in descending order puts the largest files at the top, while sorting by modification date in descending order exposes the newest changes first.
Grouping changes the visual organization as well as the order, which can make a mixed collection easier to scan. If the result looks confusing, turn grouping off and keep only the sort direction. Remember that sorting affects the current view; it does not rename files or change their contents.
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Natural sorting is useful for numbered names. With natural order enabled, Dolphin sorts File1, File2, File10. A conventional alphabetical order can instead place File10 before File2. The KDE configuration documentation explains this behavior in its section on natural sorting: Configuring Dolphin.
Use Details view when attributes matter
Dolphin provides three display modes:
- Icons: a visual layout suited to photographs, screenshots, and other items identified quickly by thumbnails.
- Compact: a denser list when you need to see many names at once.
- Details: rows and columns for comparing metadata.
In Details view, you can show information such as size, date, type, rating, tags, and comment. Depending on the file type, Dolphin can expose additional sort criteria, including a document’s word or line count, an image’s dimensions or orientation, and audio artist, album, duration, or track information. Metadata availability depends on the file and the installed KDE components, so a column can be blank for items that do not provide that information.
Details is usually the most informative choice before an archive or cleanup operation: inspect size and date first, then use type or tags to avoid selecting unrelated items. Icons remain more useful when visual recognition is faster than reading filenames, while Compact is a practical compromise for folders with many entries.
Make a view change temporary or persistent
Dolphin remembers folder display settings per folder by default. That means a photo directory can stay in Icons view while a source-code directory remains in Details view. To control the scope of a change, open the folder’s view-properties or display-style dialog. KDE documents options to apply the style to:
- Only the current folder.
- The current folder and its subfolders.
- A broader set of folders, with a default style for folders that have no custom setting.
This behavior and the available scope choices are described in Folder View Display Style. If Dolphin keeps reverting to a style you do not expect, check whether a parent-folder or default setting is being applied. Applying a style to subfolders is convenient for a project tree, but using the current-folder option avoids unexpectedly changing unrelated directories.
Show hidden files safely
Linux uses hidden names—normally names beginning with a dot—for configuration data and other items that should not clutter ordinary browsing. In the current Dolphin view, press Alt+. or Ctrl+H to toggle hidden-file display. You can also use the hidden-file command in the View menu.
Hidden files are not inherently disposable. Before deleting or moving one, confirm that it is not a configuration directory required by an application. Hide them again when finished if showing them makes normal navigation harder. If a file seems to disappear after you create it, toggling hidden-file display is a quick way to check whether its name begins with a dot.
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Navigate quickly with Places, folders, and the location bar
Use Places for recurring locations
The Places panel holds bookmarks for folders and entries for attached disks or other media. Add a folder by dragging it into Places or by opening the panel’s context menu and choosing its add-bookmark command. A saved search can also appear under Search For, keeping both physical folders and reusable queries in one navigation area.
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The Folders panel presents a filesystem tree for drilling into directories without replacing the main view. You can enable or configure these panels from Dolphin’s panel controls. KDE’s panel documentation covers Places and Folders in detail: Dolphin Panels.
Places is especially useful for locations that are not close together in the filesystem, such as a project directory, a removable drive, and a network share. A bookmark records navigation convenience; it does not keep a removable disk mounted or guarantee that a remote server is available.
Enter a path directly
Use Dolphin’s location bar to type or paste a path, then press Enter. This is often faster than opening several parent directories, and it is useful when a command, message, or script gives you an exact location.
The location bar also accepts KDE network URLs. KDE gives fish://username@remotehost as an SSH example and documents supported remote-management protocols such as FTP, NFS, SFTP, SMB/CIFS, and WebDAV. Whether a protocol works depends on the KDE components installed and the remote system’s configuration; a URL alone does not grant access. See The Location Bar for syntax and behavior.
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Use split view for deliberate transfers
- Press
F3to toggle Dolphin’s split view. - Navigate one pane to the source folder and the other to the destination. Each pane can show a different location.
- Select the files or folders to transfer. Use the normal multi-selection methods for your desktop, such as holding
Ctrlwhile selecting individual items. - Press
Ctrl+F5to copy the selection to the inactive split view, orCtrl+F6to move it there. - Confirm the destination and any overwrite or conflict dialog before allowing the operation to complete.
The move command requires write permission at the destination and, where relevant, permission to remove the original. If you lack the required permission, Dolphin will not offer a successful move; copy the files to a location you can write to or correct the ownership and permissions using an appropriate administrator procedure. A cross-device move may also behave like a copy followed by removal, so verify the destination before deleting the source yourself.
Drag and drop when the visual relationship is clear
You can also select items and drag them from one view or pane to another. Dolphin asks whether the operation should copy or move when the destination and drag gesture leave the choice ambiguous. Drag and drop is convenient for a few items, while split view with explicit shortcuts is easier to audit for a large transfer. In either method, wait for the operation and review conflict prompts instead of closing Dolphin immediately after dropping.
The KDE Handbook’s Dolphin View and Command Reference document split view, selection, drag-and-drop behavior, and the keyboard commands.
A practical workflow for a messy folder
- Locate the working area: use Places or paste the path into the location bar.
- Decide whether you need retrieval or narrowing: use
Ctrl+Ffor another location or file contents; useCtrl+Ionly to narrow names already in view. - Switch to Details: expose size, date, type, or other metadata before deciding what belongs in an archive.
- Sort for the decision: use descending size to find space-consuming files, descending date to review recent work, or natural name order for numbered sequences.
- Reveal hidden entries only when necessary: use
Alt+.orCtrl+H, and avoid changing configuration files casually. - Open split view: place the source and destination side by side, then use
Ctrl+F5orCtrl+F6so the operation’s direction is explicit. - Check permissions and results: inspect the destination after the transfer and resolve conflicts rather than assuming every item moved.
Troubleshooting common surprises
Everywhere returns too few results
Search the expected folder directly first. Then check whether Baloo indexing is enabled and whether the folder or external volume is excluded, unmounted, or not indexed yet. Remember that KDE’s documented fallback without Baloo starts from Home rather than scanning every filesystem location.
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The Filter bar does not find text inside a document
That is expected: Filter matches names in the current view. Close it and use Ctrl+F, selecting file-content search and an appropriate scope.
Files appear in an unexpected order
Review View → Sort By, direction, the folders-first option, and whether grouping is enabled. For numbered filenames, enable natural sorting so numeric portions are ordered as numbers rather than plain letters.
A metadata column is empty or unavailable
Not every file type supplies every attribute. Try a more general column such as name, size, date, or type; document, image, and audio-specific fields only work where the relevant metadata exists.
A move fails
Verify that the destination is writable and that the source can be removed. If the destination is read-only, mounted with restrictive permissions, or owned by another account, copy to a permitted location or fix the underlying mount or permission issue before retrying.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a file in Dolphin?
Press Ctrl+F or choose Edit → Search. Enter a name fragment, select filename or content search, and choose the current folder, its subfolders, or Everywhere. If Everywhere misses the file, search the expected folder directly and check Baloo indexing.
How do I search inside files in KDE Dolphin?
Open Search with Ctrl+F, switch the match type to file contents, and choose an appropriate scope. Content results depend on indexing and on whether the file type can be read by the indexer, so a direct search from a known directory can be more reliable than an Everywhere query.
How can I filter a folder without searching the whole computer?
Press Ctrl+I to open the Filter bar and type part of an item name. It narrows names in the active folder view only; it does not inspect document text or retrieve items from other directories. Press Esc to close it.
How do I sort files by size or date?
Use View → Sort By, select size or date, and choose ascending or descending order. Enable Details view when you need to compare the actual values. The folders-first and grouping controls can further organize the resulting list.
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Alphabetical sorting compares characters, so File10 can precede File2. Enable natural sorting in Dolphin’s configuration to order numeric portions naturally: File1, File2, then File10.
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How do I show hidden files?
Press Alt+. or Ctrl+H, or use the hidden-file command in the View menu. Hidden entries often contain application settings, so inspect their names carefully before changing or deleting them.
What is the safest way to move files between folders?
Press F3 for split view, open the source and destination in separate panes, select the items, and use Ctrl+F5 to copy or Ctrl+F6 to move. Confirm conflicts and verify the destination. A move requires suitable write and removal permissions.
Can Dolphin open remote folders?
Yes, when the required KDE components and remote setup are present. Type a supported URL such as fish://username@remotehost in the location bar. KDE also documents FTP, NFS, SFTP, SMB/CIFS, and WebDAV; availability depends on the installed components and server configuration.
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Official reference
The KDE Dolphin Handbook is the authoritative reference for the interface covered here. Its individual pages explain search and filtering, folder display properties, view modes, panels, location URLs, commands, and configuration in the context of KDE Frameworks 6.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a file in Dolphin?
Press Ctrl+F or choose Edit → Search. Enter a name fragment, select filename or content search, and choose the current folder, its subfolders, or Everywhere. If Everywhere misses the file, search the expected folder directly and check Baloo indexing.
How do I search inside files in KDE Dolphin?
Open Search with Ctrl+F, switch the match type to file contents, and choose an appropriate scope. Content results depend on indexing and on whether the file type can be read by the indexer.
How can I show hidden files?
Press Alt+. or Ctrl+H, or use the hidden-file command in the View menu. Hidden entries often contain application settings, so inspect them carefully before changing or deleting them.
How do I sort files by size or date?
Use View → Sort By, select size or date, and choose ascending or descending order. Details view displays the values for direct comparison.
How do I move files between two folders?
Press F3 for split view, open the source and destination in separate panes, then use Ctrl+F5 to copy or Ctrl+F6 to move selected items. Confirm conflicts and verify the destination.
Why are File10 and File2 in the wrong order?
Alphabetical sorting compares characters. Enable natural sorting in Dolphin’s configuration to order numeric portions as File1, File2, then File10.
The Bottom Line
Use Ctrl+F when you need retrieval by filename or content, Ctrl+I when you only need to narrow the current folder, and View → Sort By with Details view when metadata matters. Places and the location bar speed navigation, while split view and explicit copy or move shortcuts make transfers easier to verify. Keep Baloo indexing, hidden-file safety, and write permissions in mind when results or operations look unexpected.
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