# mc — Midnight Commander, the Visual Terminal File Manager > Practical guide to Midnight Commander (mc) — manage, edit and transfer files in the terminal with a dual-pane interface, and browse inside archives. Source: https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/mc/ Midnight Commander (`mc`) is a visual file manager for the terminal with the classic dual-pane interface: you see a directory on the left and right, and copy, move, edit or delete files with function keys. Keep in mind that mc is third-party software and not preinstalled everywhere – install it from your package manager when needed (for example `apt install mc`). Through its shell VFS you can even browse inside archives and on remote servers (SSH, FTP) as if they were local folders, and with the built-in editor `mcedit` you edit files without leaving mc. Be aware that `F8` deletes files directly; this guide walks you through the shortcuts that let you move around mc safely and fast. ## Launch & Navigation `mc` — Start Midnight Commander. ```bash mc ``` `mc ` — Start with specific directories in left and right panels. ```bash mc /var/log /tmp ``` `mc -b` — Start in black and white mode (no colors). ```bash mc -b ``` `Tab` — Switch between left and right panel. ```bash Tab ``` `Arrow keys / Page Up / Page Down` — Navigate files in the active panel. ```bash Up/Down to move, Enter to open directory ``` `Alt+o` — Open the current directory in the other panel. ```bash Alt+o ``` `Alt+i` — Make the other panel show the same directory. ```bash Alt+i ``` `Alt+y` — Go to the previous directory in history. ```bash Alt+y ``` ## File Operations `F5` — Copy selected file(s) to the other panel. ```bash F5 ``` `F6` — Move or rename selected file(s). ```bash F6 ``` `F7` — Create a new directory. ```bash F7 ``` `F8` — Delete selected file(s). ```bash F8 ``` `Insert` — Select/deselect a file (move to next). ```bash Insert ``` `+ (Plus)` — Select files by pattern (glob/regex). ```bash + then type *.log ``` `- (Minus)` — Deselect files by pattern. ```bash - then type *.tmp ``` `* (Asterisk)` — Invert selection (toggle all files). ```bash * ``` `Ctrl+x c` — Change file permissions (chmod). ```bash Ctrl+x c ``` `Ctrl+x o` — Change file ownership (chown). ```bash Ctrl+x o ``` ## View, Edit & Search `F3` — View the selected file (internal viewer). ```bash F3 ``` `F4` — Edit the selected file (opens mcedit). ```bash F4 ``` `Alt+?` — Find file by name (search dialog). ```bash Alt+? ``` `Alt+s` — Quick search: start typing a filename to jump to it. ```bash Alt+s then type file prefix ``` `Ctrl+s` — Quick search forward in the file list. ```bash Ctrl+s ``` `Alt+Shift+?` — Find file by content (grep through files). ```bash Alt+Shift+? ``` ## Panel & Display `Ctrl+u` — Swap left and right panels. ```bash Ctrl+u ``` `Alt+,` — Toggle horizontal/vertical panel layout. ```bash Alt+, ``` `Ctrl+o` — Toggle panels off/on (show shell output underneath). ```bash Ctrl+o ``` `Alt+t` — Cycle panel listing mode (full, brief, long, custom). ```bash Alt+t ``` `Alt+.` — Toggle hidden files (show/hide dotfiles). ```bash Alt+. ``` `Ctrl+x t` — Copy tagged filenames to the command line. ```bash Ctrl+x t ``` `Ctrl+x p` — Copy the current panel path to the command line. ```bash Ctrl+x p ``` ## Shell & Menu `F9` — Open the top menu bar. ```bash F9 ``` `F10 / Esc Esc` — Quit Midnight Commander. ```bash F10 ``` `F2` — Open the user menu (custom commands). ```bash F2 ``` `Ctrl+Enter` — Copy current filename to the command line. ```bash Ctrl+Enter ``` `Alt+Enter` — Copy current filename with full path to command line. ```bash Alt+Enter ``` `Alt+h` — Show command-line history. ```bash Alt+h ``` `Ctrl+x q` — Toggle quick view (preview file in the other panel). ```bash Ctrl+x q ``` ## Remote & Archives `cd sh://@` — Connect to a remote server via SSH (Shell VFS). ```bash cd sh://admin@server.example.com/var/www ``` `cd ftp://@` — Connect to an FTP server. ```bash cd ftp://admin@ftp.example.com ``` `Enter (on archive)` — Browse inside an archive file (tar, zip, rpm, deb, etc.). ```bash Navigate to archive.tar.gz and press Enter ``` `F5 (inside archive)` — Extract files from an archive to the other panel. ```bash Enter archive → select files → F5 ``` `Ctrl+x d` — Compare directories (highlight differences). ```bash Ctrl+x d ``` ## mcedit — Internal Editor `mcedit ` — Open a file directly in the Midnight Commander editor. ```bash mcedit /etc/nginx/nginx.conf ``` `F2` — Save the current file. ```bash F2 ``` `F10 / Esc` — Quit the editor. ```bash F10 ``` `F7` — Search for text. ```bash F7 ``` `F4` — Search and replace. ```bash F4 ``` `F3` — Start / end block selection (mark text). ```bash F3 to start, move cursor, F3 to end ``` `F5` — Copy selected block. ```bash Select with F3, position cursor, F5 ``` `F6` — Move selected block. ```bash Select with F3, position cursor, F6 ``` `F8` — Delete selected block. ```bash Select with F3, then F8 ``` `Shift+F5` — Insert file content at cursor position. ```bash Shift+F5 ``` `Ctrl+y` — Delete the current line. ```bash Ctrl+y ``` `F9` — Open the editor menu bar (File, Edit, Search, etc.). ```bash F9 ``` `Ctrl+s` — Toggle syntax highlighting on/off. ```bash Ctrl+s ``` `Alt+n` — Toggle line numbers. ```bash Alt+n ``` ## Conclusion Midnight Commander is a surprisingly complete file manager for the terminal: with two panels, function keys and the built-in editor `mcedit` you handle managing, editing and transferring files in one place – without a mouse and without a graphical interface. Especially strong is the shell VFS, which lets you browse archives and remote servers (SSH, FTP) like local folders. Because mc is third-party software, install it from your package manager first if needed. Be careful with the function keys: `F8` deletes the tagged files directly – check your selection beforehand, because an accidental `F8` on many tagged files happens fast. ## Further Reading - [Midnight Commander – official site](https://midnight-commander.org/) – the project home page with docs, downloads and the manual - [mc(1) manual page](https://linux.die.net/man/1/mc) – the full reference for command-line options and key bindings ## Related Commands - [vim](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/vim/) – powerful editor as an alternative to mcedit - [nano](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/nano/) – simple editor you can wire up as the external editor in mc - [ls](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/ls/) – lists directory contents on the command line