Getting started

Wander is a file manager for Windows with a focus on ease of use and media. It replaces File Explorer: easier to use, more stable, and with more features. Everything familiar is still there: keyboard shortcuts, the clipboard, drag and drop, the context menu, undo with Ctrl+Z. On top of that:

• bookmarks, a folder tree that remembers expanded branches, and state saved between launches;
• preview and thumbnails for many formats, from RAW and 3D models to spreadsheets and code;
• convenient batch processing: batch rename, conversion, custom actions;
• photo culling: ratings, side-by-side comparison, tools to check sharpness and exposure;
• companion files such as .xmp and .meta, shown as one item with the main file.

The window has these main parts:

• the Folders pane on the left: Bookmarks and Computer;
• the file area in the center: the files of the open folder, search, filters;
• the Preview pane on the right: the selected file, two files side by side, a folder summary;
• the address bar and menus at the top: navigation, file operations, settings;
• the status bar at the bottom: the selection, operations in progress, messages and the action journal.

Where to start.

• Navigating folders: with the tree and Bookmarks on the left, or with the address bar. To bookmark a folder, drag it to the “+” zone below the bookmarks. Ctrl+1 moves the keyboard to the Folders pane. Bookmarks and expanded folders are kept between launches. Archives open as read-only folders, and USB devices show up in “Computer” next to the drives.
• Display mode for folder contents: Details, Tiles, Icons or Gallery in the “View” menu. Each folder remembers its view and sort order, and a folder of images and photos opens in Gallery.
• Search: press Ctrl+F and start typing a name. To search for text inside files, type it after a colon (name:text or just :text); this works in Office documents and EPUB too. The file type goes after a slash (holiday /vid), and photos can be filtered by shooting data: iso>1600, f/2.8. Esc clears the search. For complex queries, there's a separate window.
• Viewing: the Preview pane on the right is open from the first launch; Ctrl+Q hides and shows it. For the selected file, it shows an image, RAW, video, music, PDF, a spreadsheet, a 3D model, a font, highlighted code, or a summary of an archive or folder. Select two files to see them side by side for comparison.
• Basic operations: copying, moving, deleting and dragging to other programs work the way you're used to. Anything reversible is undone with Ctrl+Z, and anything irreversible asks first. Name conflicts are resolved in a single window that compares the files.
• Culling photos: fast RAW viewing and comparison is what sets Wander apart. Ratings right in Gallery, side-by-side comparison of two photos, including in full screen, and RAW files that open instantly. Review helpers mark focus and sharpness, show the histogram and clipped highlights, lift shadows and tone down highlights.
• Advanced operations: the “Actions” menu has batch rename, conversion of videos, documents and images, and custom actions.
• Also: the action journal in the status bar answers “where did I move that?”, and settings change behavior, appearance and performance.

Keyboard shortcuts, the essentials:

All keyboard shortcuts are on the “Keyboard shortcuts” page.

Settings open from ⋯ → “Settings”; there, F1 opens this guide at the section about the open page. Frequently used toggles are also in the right-click menu on empty space in the Folders pane.

Dark theme and language. In “Settings” → “Interface”, you choose the color scheme (same as Windows, light or dark) and the interface language: English or Russian.