## Project Panel

The project panel shows a tree view of your workspace's files and directories. Toggle it with `project panel: toggle focus` ( `ctrl-shift-e`), or click the **Project Panel** button in the status bar.

Use the arrow keys to move through entries. `right` expands a directory and `left` collapses it. `ctrl-left` collapses every directory at once. Press `space` or click to preview a selected file, without giving it a permanent tab. Editing the file or double-clicking it promotes it to a permanent tab.

By default, switching files in the editor will automatically highlight it in the project panel and scroll it into view. This can be disabled with the `project_panel.auto_reveal_entries` setting.

When `project_panel.sticky_scroll` is enabled (the default), ancestor directories pin themselves to the top of the panel as you scroll, so you always know which directory you're on.

When `project_panel.auto_fold_dirs` is enabled (the default), chains of directories that each contain a single child directory are collapsed into one row (for example, `src/utils/helpers` instead of three separate levels). Right-click a folded directory and choose **Unfold Directory** to expand the chain, or **Fold Directory** to collapse it again.

Hold `shift` while pressing the up/down arrow keys to mark additional entries. Most file operations, like cut, copy, trash, delete and drag, apply to the full set of marked entries.

When exactly two files are marked, `project panel: compare marked files` ( `alt-d`) opens a diff view comparing them.

Right-click an entry to see the full list of available operations, or use the keybindings below.

- `project panel: new file` ( `ctrl-n`) creates a new file inside the selected directory.
- `project panel: new directory` ( `alt-ctrl-n`) creates a new directory.

An inline editor appears so you can type the name. Press `enter` to confirm or `escape` to cancel.

Press `f2` to rename the selected entry. The filename stem is pre-selected so you can type a new name without accidentally changing the extension. Press `enter` to confirm or `escape` to cancel.

- `project panel: cut` ( `ctrl-x`) marks entries for moving.
- `project panel: copy` ( `ctrl-c`) marks entries for copying.
- `project panel: paste` ( `ctrl-v`) places them in the selected directory.

When pasting would create a name conflict, Zed appends a "copy" suffix (e.g., `file copy.txt`, `file copy 2.txt`). If a single file is pasted with a generated suffix, the rename editor opens automatically so you can adjust the name.

`project panel: duplicate` (``) copies and pastes the selected entries in one step.

- `project panel: trash` ( `delete`) moves entries to the system trash.
- `project panel: delete` ( `ctrl-delete`) permanently deletes entries.

Both actions show a confirmation prompt listing the affected files. If any of the files have unsaved changes, the prompt warns you.

Drag entries within the panel to move them. Hold `alt` while dropping to copy instead of move. You can also drag files from your operating system's file manager into the project panel to copy them into the project. Drag and drop can be disabled with the `project_panel.drag_and_drop` setting.

When `project_panel.git_status` is enabled (the default), file and directory names are tinted to reflect their git status—modified, added, deleted, untracked, or conflicting.

Setting `project_panel.git_status_indicator` to `true` (disabled by default) adds a letter badge next to each name: **M** (modified), **A** (added), **D** (deleted), **U** (untracked) or **!** (conflict).

Use `project panel: select next git entry` and `project_panel::SelectPrevGitEntry` to jump between tracked files with uncommitted changes. The right-click menu also offers **Restore File** to discard changes and **View File History** to browse a file's commit log.

The `project_panel.show_diagnostics` setting controls whether error and warning indicators appear on file and folder icons. Set it to "all" to see both errors and warnings, "errors" for errors only, or "off" to hide them. Diagnostics propagate upward—if a file deep in a directory has an error, its ancestor folders show an indicator too.

Enable `project_panel.diagnostic_badges` (disabled by default) to display numeric error and warning counts next to each entry. Use `project panel: select next diagnostic` and `project panel: select prev diagnostic` to navigate between files that have diagnostics.

- `project_panel.hide_gitignore` hides files matched by `.gitignore`. Toggle this with `project panel: toggle hide git ignore`.
- `project_panel.hide_hidden` hides dotfiles and other hidden entries. Toggle with `project panel: toggle hide hidden`.

The `project_panel.sort_mode` setting controls grouping:

- "directories_first" (default) — directories appear before files at each level.
- "files_first" — files appear before directories.
- "mixed" — directories and files are sorted together.

The `project_panel.sort_order` setting controls name comparison:

- "default" — case-insensitive natural sort (`file2` before `file10`).
- "upper" — uppercase names grouped first, then lowercase.
- "lower" — lowercase names grouped first, then uppercase.
- "unicode" — raw Unicode codepoint order with no case folding.

- `project panel: reveal in file manager` ( `alt-ctrl-r`) reveals the selected entry in Finder / File Explorer.
- `project panel: new search in directory` ( `ctrl-alt-shift-f`) opens a project search scoped to the selected directory.
- `project panel: remove from project` removes a workspace root folder from the project.

See also [Diagnostics & Quick Fixes](/content/docs/diagnostics.html) for editor and tab diagnostic settings.