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Sigma File Manager v2.2.0

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0

Sigma File Manager is a free, open-source file manager for Windows and Linux that features fast global search, dual-pane navigation, tabs, file previews, extension support, network sharing, and a customizable interface. It offers a modern alternative to traditional file explorers for managing both local and network files.
(4.5)

Developer

Aleksey Hoffman

Category

Utilities

Operating System

Windows / Linux

Date Published

Thu Nov 12 2026

Review Sigma File Manager v2.2.0

Sigma File Manager is a free, open-source file management application designed as an alternative to traditional tools like Windows File Explorer. It combines a modern interface with productivity features, including global search, multiple tabs, split-pane navigation, file previews, tagging, and network sharing.

Available for Windows and Linux, Sigma is designed for users who frequently work with large collections of files and desire greater control over how they navigate, organize, and transfer data. Its extension system also allows users to add functionality beyond what is included in the core application.

Features

Smart Global Search

One of Sigma's standout features is its global file search. It can locate files and folders across indexed locations and supports flexible queries that account for misspellings, incorrect capitalization, missing words, and different word orders.

The project reports search performance of around two seconds across a 1 TB drive under its stated conditions. Actual results will depend on the storage device, indexing state, and system hardware.

Tabs and Split View

Sigma supports multiple tabs, allowing users to keep several directories open and switch between them without repeatedly navigating through folder hierarchies.

Its split-view mode displays two independently navigable locations side by side. This is particularly useful when moving or copying files between directories, comparing folder contents, or organizing project assets.

File Management and Organization

The application provides common file operations alongside additional organization tools:

The dashboard and quick-access features help users reach frequently used files and locations without navigating through the entire directory structure.

Quick View and Archive Support

Sigma includes a built-in Quick View feature that lets users preview supported files by pressing the Space key. Supported content includes images, videos, audio, PDFs, and text files.

It also provides archive management for creating and extracting ZIP files. This keeps common compression tasks accessible without requiring a separate archive application for basic ZIP operations.

Extensions and Marketplace

The extension system makes Sigma more flexible than a conventional file manager. Users can install extensions from its marketplace or local folders to add commands, pages, shortcuts, and settings.

Extensions can also provide additional utilities, including media conversion, image optimization, and video downloading. The marketplace makes it possible to expand the application's functionality without waiting for every feature to become part of the core program.

Extensions run in isolated JavaScript module environments with permission controls. However, users should still review extension permissions and trust the source before installing third-party additions.

LAN File Sharing

Sigma can share files and folders over a local network. Other devices can access shared content through a web browser, making it convenient to transfer or stream files without installing a dedicated client on every device.

The application also provides FTP-based sharing, including support for transferring files between devices. QR codes and shareable addresses simplify connecting from phones, tablets, and other computers.

Network Locations

Sigma includes experimental support for connecting to remote storage locations through protocols such as SSHFS, NFS, SMB, and CIFS.

This feature is useful for users who manage files across network-attached storage, Linux servers, and shared folders. Since network-location support is still marked as alpha, it should be tested carefully before being used as a primary workflow.

Customization and Keyboard Shortcuts

The interface supports visual customization, including backgrounds, transparency, and other appearance settings. Keyboard shortcuts and a command palette make common actions accessible without relying entirely on mouse navigation.

The application also supports localization, making it accessible to users working in different languages.

Download Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 - Software Mirrors

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 for Windows

Sigma-File-Manager-2.2.0-windows-setup.exe | 15.04 MB

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 for Linux

Sigma-File-Manager-2.2.0-linux.flatpak | 15.47 MB

Sigma-File-Manager-2.2.0-linux.deb | 21.88 MB

Sigma-File-Manager-2.2.0-linux.AppImage | 88.09 MB

Sigma-File-Manager-2.2.0-linux-binary | 56.32 MB

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 Source Code

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 Source code (zip)

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 Source code (tar.gz)

Sigma File Manager v2.2.0 Release Notes:

v2-2-0-announcement-main-wide

Download

See the assets section below to download the installer for your platform.

Release Notes

Summary: System clipboard integration with other apps, box selection, linked split view, link handling, password-protected ZIP archives, native Properties on Windows, extension API expansions, Hebrew language support, and navigator polish.

New Features

System Clipboard Integration

Copy and paste files, folders, and images between Sigma File Manager and other apps through the system clipboard.

  • Cross-app file transfer: copy or cut items in SFM and paste them into apps like File Explorer, or paste paths and files copied from other apps into the navigator with Ctrl+V;

  • Image paste: paste images copied from browsers and other apps directly into a folder;

  • Conflict dialogs: when pasted items already exist, choose Rename or Merge, and resolve individual file conflicts with Replace, Skip, Keep both, or Apply to all;

  • Clipboard toolbar: optional toolbar preview for images and file paths copied in other apps;

Toolbar visibility can be controlled in Settings > UI appearance > Clipboard. Paste with Ctrl+V still works when the toolbar is hidden.

Box Selection

Drag on empty space in the navigator to select multiple items with a selection box.

  • Modifiers: hold Ctrl or Shift to add to the current selection; hold Alt to invert;

  • Easier targeting: optionally increase list padding and grid gaps for more room to start a drag;

Enable in Settings > General > File view > Enable box selection.

Linked Split View

New Linked split view mode for a simpler column-style workflow: clicking a folder in the first pane shows that folder's contents in the second pane. The existing independent Split mode is unchanged. Choose the mode from the navigator options menu under Split view mode, or toggle split view with Ctrl+S.

Link Handling

Create and inspect filesystem links from the navigator.

  • Create link: create symbolic links, shortcuts, hard links, and junctions from the context menu (Create link);

  • Link columns: optional list columns for Kind, Links, Link target, and Link status (Valid, Broken, Unknown, Unsupported);

  • Open behavior: directory shortcuts and symlink folders navigate to their targets; other link targets open with the default app;

Native Properties Window

On Windows, open the native system Properties dialog for selected items from the context menu, actions menu, Alt+Enter, or Alt + double-click.

List View Column Resizing And Reordering

List view columns can be resized and reordered to match how you work.

  • Resize: drag column edges to change widths;

  • Reorder and visibility: manage order and visibility from the list header Columns popover;

  • Width options: Fill available width and Set minimum widths;

Root Locations Address

A root Locations address lists drives and virtual locations for faster switching.

  • Address bar: go up from a drive root or open Locations from the address bar / address editor;

  • Favorites and tags: Locations can be added to favorites and tagged like other directories;

  • Split view: especially useful for switching drives between panes without leaving the navigator;

Extensions

Extension APIs And Views

Extensions gain more host capabilities and UI building blocks.

  • Local binaries: configure extension dependencies with auto setup or manually chosen local binaries (Extensions > Dependencies);

  • HTTP requests: extensions can make HTTP requests to hosts allowed by their manifest;

  • View control: extensions can apply navigator layout and sorting preferences (with the view permission);

  • Clipboard API: extensions can read and write the clipboard (with permission);

  • List-detail view: new extension UI pattern with a searchable list and a detail pane;

New Settings

  • Enable box selection: drag empty space to multi-select (Settings > General > File view > Enable box selection);

  • Increase file view gaps: add list padding and larger grid gaps for easier targeting (Settings > General > File view > Increase file view gaps);

  • Keep Quick View window in memory: keep Quick View loaded so it opens instantly (uses about 200 MB) (Settings > General > Performance > Keep Quick View window in memory);

  • Keep Print window in memory: keep the Print window loaded so it opens instantly (uses about 200 MB) (Settings > General > Performance > Keep Print window in memory);

  • Clipboard toolbar for external images: show the clipboard toolbar for images copied in other apps (Settings > UI appearance > Clipboard);

  • Clipboard toolbar for external paths: show the clipboard toolbar for file paths copied in other apps (Settings > UI appearance > Clipboard);

  • Dynamic info panel size: let the info panel size adapt, or turn this off by resizing manually (Settings > UI appearance > Info panel > Dynamic info panel size);

  • Show full-size image in info panel preview: show full-resolution images in the info panel (Settings > UI appearance > Info panel > Show full-size image in info panel preview);

  • Mute video preview by default: mute info panel video previews while browsing (Settings > UI appearance > Info panel > Mute video preview by default);

  • Automatically play video previews: autoplay videos in the info panel when selected (Settings > UI appearance > Info panel > Automatically play video previews);

New Shortcuts

  • Native Properties (Alt+Enter): open the native Properties window for selected items on Windows;

New Languages

  • Hebrew (עברית): full translation with right-to-left layout support (Settings > General > Language);

UX Improvements

Archive Extraction

ZIP extraction now supports encrypted archives and non-UTF-8 file names.

  • Password-protected ZIP: enter an archive password when extraction requires it;

  • File name encoding: choose encoding in Archive extraction options, with auto-detect preferred and grouped regional encodings as fallbacks;

Grid Sorting

Grid layout now has its own sort controls in the navigator options menu.

  • Sort by: Name, Items, Size, Modified, Created, Tags, Kind, Links, and Link status;

  • Direction: ascending or descending, stored separately from list-view sorting;

Shell Extensions

The context menu can load modern shell extension actions registered by other apps under Shell extensions.

Session Memory

Scroll positions and active tabs are restored when you switch away from a page or pane and come back during the same session.

Navigator Performance

Browsing large folders and media is faster and uses less memory.

  • Cold loading: faster first load when opening directories;

  • Icon loading: custom and system icons appear with less delay;

  • List scrolling: smoother list scrolling in large directories;

  • Media previews: image, GIF, and video previews are more responsive and use less memory;

  • Indexing: more stable global search indexing;

Home Page And Context Menus

  • Disconnect: disconnect network or removable mounts from the context menu when supported;

  • Close all duplicates: tab menu Close all duplicates now closes every duplicate path in the workspace, not only duplicates of the current tab;

  • Right-click clear: right-clicking empty navigator background clears the current selection before opening the background menu;

  • Home actions: home page context menus close after action clicks, Open in new tab opens the navigator, and new tabs scroll into view;

  • Window drag region: on Linux-style title bars, the drag region extends across toolbar buttons for easier window moving;

UI Improvements

  • Active pane indicator: clearer active pane marker in the status bar when split view is on;

  • Resizable info panel: drag to resize the info panel width and the preview/details split;

  • Compact info panel: denser property layout in the info panel;

  • Context menu actions: Edit card is shown as an action button, with smaller action buttons overall;

  • Navigator styling: improved adaptive layout, tab active-state styles in split view, and command palette extension view design;

  • RTL layout: cleaner alignment for right-to-left languages;

Bug Fixes

  • Type-to-search: fixed quick search not activating on non-Latin keyboard layouts;

  • Directory loading: fixed entries reordering after a directory finishes loading;

  • Custom icons: fixed custom icons loading with a noticeable delay;

  • Grid cards: fixed grid layout cards changing size while loading;

  • Grid scrollbar: fixed the grid scrollbar hiding behind sticky headers;

  • Quick selection: fixed quick file selection sometimes opening the file;

  • Terminal shortcut: fixed Alt+T opening a terminal for the current directory instead of the selected entry;

  • Open files: fixed opened files launching from the wrong working directory;

  • SMB shares: fixed inability to open files on SMB shares;

  • WSL paths: fixed WSL host UNC path handling on Windows, including //wsl.localhost as a virtual distro list;

  • Default file manager: fixed setting the default file manager in Microsoft Store builds;

  • AppImage (Linux): fixed Could not create default EGL display: EGL_BAD_PARAMETER;

  • Extension install (Linux): fixed install failures for multi-file dist extensions;

  • Extension details: fixed overview page alignment styles;

  • Device wake: fixed the app getting stuck in a loading state after device wake-up;

  • Update notifications: fixed update notifications appearing for unreleased versions;

  • RTL: fixed right-to-left layout issues;

  • Translations: fixed missing and incorrect translation strings;

See more details in CHANGELOG

Support

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Performance and Compatibility

Sigma File Manager uses the Tauri framework in its second-generation architecture, replacing the earlier Electron-based implementation. This change substantially reduces the application's installation and storage footprint compared with its previous architecture.

Its modern interface is designed around quick navigation and responsive file browsing. Features such as indexed search, directory monitoring, and split views are particularly useful for users working with large folder structures.

Sigma supports 64-bit Windows and Linux. macOS is listed as technically supported by the project, but official precompiled builds are not provided. Linux distribution compatibility and installation experience may vary depending on the packaging format and desktop environment.

One consideration is that Sigma is an evolving project. Some advanced capabilities, particularly network locations, remain experimental. Users who depend on specialized file-system integrations should verify compatibility with their environment before switching from an established file manager.

System Requirements

The project does not specify a universal minimum RAM or processor requirement. Actual resource consumption will depend on the number of open tabs, file previews, indexing activity, and installed extensions.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

How to Install

Windows

The easiest installation method is through Windows Package Manager:

winget install sfm

Alternatively, download the Windows installer from the project's GitHub Releases page.

Linux

Sigma provides several Linux distribution options, including Flatpak, Snap, and an experimental AppImage build.

For Flatpak, download the package and install it with:

flatpak install ./Sigma-File-Manager-*-linux.flatpak

For the Snap package:

sudo snap install sigma-file-manager --edge

The available installation formats and release assets may vary between versions. Check the official release page for the latest packages.

Final Verdict

Sigma File Manager is a capable alternative to traditional desktop file managers, particularly for users who want faster navigation and more flexible file organization. Its combination of global search, tabs, split views, quick previews, tagging, and LAN sharing makes it useful for everyday file management as well as more demanding workflows.

The extension marketplace is another important advantage, allowing users to add functionality without relying exclusively on built-in tools. Its move to Tauri also gives the newer architecture a considerably smaller footprint than the previous Electron-based application.

However, the project is still evolving, and experimental network support may not be suitable for every environment. The lack of official macOS binaries is another limitation for users on Apple's desktop platform.

Overall, Sigma File Manager is worth considering if you want a modern, customizable, and extensible file manager for Windows or Linux.

Sources


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