Documentation

Everything you need to get started with AppCommander

Getting Started

AppCommander is a dual-pane file manager for macOS, inspired by Norton Commander and Total Commander. It allows you to efficiently manage files on your local machine and remote servers via SSH/SFTP.

First Launch

Open AppCommander from your Applications folder
Complete the onboarding wizard (5 pages)
Grant Full Disk Access when prompted for full functionality
Start navigating with the dual-pane interface

Keyboard Shortcuts

Modern	Classic	Action
`Tab`	`Tab`	Switch between panels
`Cmd+C`	`F5`	Copy to other panel
`Cmd+X`	`F6`	Move to other panel
`Delete`	`F8`	Delete selected
`Shift+Cmd+N`	`F7`	New folder
`Cmd+K`	`Cmd+K`	SSH Connection Manager
`Cmd+F`	`Cmd+F`	Find files
`Space`	`Space`	Toggle selection

SSH/SFTP Guide

Connect to remote servers using SSH/SFTP with password or SSH key authentication.

Connecting to a Server

Press Cmd+K to open SSH Connection Manager
Click Add Connection
Enter host, port, username
Choose authentication: Password or SSH Key
Click Test Connection to verify
Save and Connect

Parallel Downloads

Files 10MB or larger are automatically downloaded using 5 parallel SFTP connections, providing 3-5x faster transfers on high-latency connections.

SSH Tunnels

Configure port forwarding in connection settings:

Local Forward (-L): Access remote services locally
Remote Forward (-R): Expose local services remotely
Dynamic/SOCKS (-D): Create a SOCKS proxy

Working with Archives

AppCommander can browse archives as virtual folders without extracting them first.

Supported Formats

Format	Browse	Extract	Create
ZIP	✅	✅	✅
TAR/TGZ/TBZ2	✅	✅	✅
7z	✅	✅	✅
RAR	✅	✅	❌

For 7z and RAR support, install the required tools:

brew install p7zip    # For .7z files
brew install unrar    # For .rar files

FAQ

How does the trial work?

All features are available for 60 days, no credit card needed. The app keeps working after the trial — we just ask that you purchase a license if you like it.

Can I use it on multiple Macs?

Yes! One license covers up to 3 Macs that you own.

Which Macs are supported?

AppCommander requires Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, or M4) and macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later.

What archive formats are supported?

ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ, 7z (with p7zip), and RAR (read-only, with unrar).

How do I connect via SSH?

Press Cmd+K to open the connection manager. Add your server details, choose password or SSH key auth, and connect.

Is my data safe?

AppCommander runs entirely on your Mac. SSH credentials are stored in the macOS Keychain. We never collect your data.