For example, imagine opening a folder with 20,000 log files.
In Nautilus, you might wait several seconds while the folder loads.
Ranger can also take time because it processes directory entries one by one.
Yazi works differently.
It loads files in parallel, displays the interface almost immediately, and continues indexing in the background.
It can also show actual image previews instead of just generic file icons.
Yazi is a terminal-based file manager built for speed.
It’s written in Rust and uses asynchronous (non-blocking) I/O, which means it can perform multiple tasks at the same time instead of waiting for one task to finish before starting the next.
In practice, this makes Yazi feel much more responsive.
For example, you can start browsing a large directory immediately while Yazi continues loading file information and generating thumbnails in the background.
The interface stays smooth instead of freezing until everything is loaded.
This guide is tested on Ubuntu 26.04 and Rocky Linux 10, but the same commands work on most modern Linux distributions with a recent terminal emulator.
Yazi includes two command-line programs:
You’ll use the ya command later in this guide when you customize Yazi with additional plugins and themes.
Yazi isn’t included in the default Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, or Rocky Linux repositories, so you’ll need to install it either from the official binary release or by building it with Cargo.
Here’s what each command does:
Here’s what these commands do:
After installation, check that Yazi is available by running:
If the installation was successful, you’ll see the installed version number.
If you get a command not found error, make sure the installation completed successfully and that /usr/local/bin is included in your PATH.
Start Yazi by running:
By default, Yazi opens in your current directory and displays three panes:
The live preview pane is one of Yazi’s biggest advantages.
As you move through files, the preview updates automatically without opening another application.
Yazi uses Vim-style keyboard shortcuts for navigation.
For example, use j and k to move through the file list.
Press l to enter a directory or open a file, and press h to return to the previous directory.
One of Yazi’s most useful features is its built-in preview pane.
Simply move the cursor over a supported file, and Yazi displays a preview without launching another program.
It supports previews for many common file types, including:
Yazi makes it easy to work with multiple files using only the keyboard.
Press the Space key to select the current file without moving the cursor.
Continue moving through the directory and press Space on other files to add them to the selection.
Once you’ve selected the files you want, you can copy and paste them using familiar shortcuts:
One of Yazi’s most useful features is batch renaming.
After selecting multiple files, press r.
Yazi opens the selected filenames in your default text editor ($EDITOR) as a simple list.
For example:
Edit the filenames however you like:
Save the file and close the editor.
Yazi compares the original list with the edited one and renames only the files whose names changed.
Since nothing is renamed until you save and exit the editor, you can safely cancel the operation without affecting your files.
Yazi includes two different search methods:
To search within files, press S and start typing your search term.
For example:
Yazi uses ripgrep to search through your files and updates the results as you type.
Matching files appear immediately in the current pane.
When you press Enter on a search result, Yazi opens the file in your default editor near the matching text, making it quick to locate and edit the information you need.
Yazi includes a built-in package manager called ya, which lets you install plugins to add new features or customize the file manager.
Plugins can display Git status, improve previews, change the interface, and much more.
For example, you can install the official Git status plugin and the Full Border plugin with:
Here’s what these commands do:
You can view all installed plugins by running:
Example output:
To update all installed plugins to their latest versions, use:
After installing a plugin, it is recorded in:
Most plugins also require a small configuration change in:
The required configuration varies from one plugin to another, so check the plugin’s documentation for the exact setup instructions.
Yazi is a fast and modern terminal file manager that makes working with files more efficient.
Its asynchronous design keeps the interface responsive, even when browsing large directories, while built-in previews, keyboard-driven navigation, and powerful search tools help you manage files without leaving the terminal.
In this guide, you learned how to install Yazi, navigate directories, preview files, search with ripgrep, perform bulk file operations, and extend its functionality with plugins.
If you’re new to terminal-based file managers, start by using Yazi in a directory you work with regularly.
Try features like file previews, multi-file selection, and bulk renaming to see how they can simplify your workflow.
Have you tried Yazi or another terminal file manager? Share your experience, favorite plugins, or workflow tips in the comments below.
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**📚 Original Source:**
[Yazi: Fast Rust-Based Terminal File Manager for Linux](https://www.tecmint.com/yazi-terminal-file-manager-linux/)
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