---
title: Project Panel - Zed
description: Navigate workspace files and directories with Zed's project panel. Create, rename, trash and delete file and directories.
---

# Project Panel

The project panel shows a tree view of your workspace's files and directories.
Toggle it with {#action project_panel::ToggleFocus} ({#kb
project_panel::ToggleFocus}), or click the **Project Panel** button in the
status bar.

![Project Panel](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/panel.png)

## Navigating

Use the arrow keys to move through entries. {#kb
project_panel::ExpandSelectedEntry} expands a directory and {#kb
project_panel::CollapseSelectedEntry} collapses it. {#kb
project_panel::CollapseAllEntries} collapses every directory at once. Press {#kb
project_panel::Open} 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.

### Auto-reveal

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.

### Sticky Scroll

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.

![Project Panel: Sticky Scroll Enabled](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/sticky-scroll-true.png)

![Project Panel: Sticky Scroll Disabled](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/sticky-scroll-false.png)

### Directory Folding

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.

![Project Panel: Auto Fold Directories Enabled](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/auto-fold-dirs-true.png)

![Project Panel: Auto Fold Directories Disabled](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/auto-fold-dirs-false.png)

## Selecting Multiple Entries

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, {#action project_panel::CompareMarkedFiles}
({#kb project_panel::CompareMarkedFiles}) opens a diff view comparing them.

![Project Panel: Compare Marked Files](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/compare-marked-files.png)

## File Operations

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

### Creating Files and Directories

- {#action project_panel::NewFile} ({#kb project_panel::NewFile}) creates a new
  file inside the selected directory.
- {#action project_panel::NewDirectory} ({#kb project_panel::NewDirectory})
  creates a new directory.

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

### Renaming

Press {#kb project_panel::Rename} 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.

### Cut, Copy, and Paste

- {#action project_panel::Cut} ({#kb project_panel::Cut}) marks entries for
  moving.
- {#action project_panel::Copy} ({#kb project_panel::Copy}) marks entries for
  copying.
- {#action project_panel::Paste} ({#kb project_panel::Paste}) 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.

### Duplicate

{#action project_panel::Duplicate} ({#kb project_panel::Duplicate}) copies and
pastes the selected entries in one step.

### Trash and Delete

- {#action project_panel::Trash} ({#kb project_panel::Trash}) moves entries to
  the system trash.
- {#action project_panel::Delete} ({#kb project_panel::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 and Drop

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.

## Git Integration

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).

![Project Panel: Git Integration](https://images.zed.dev/docs/project-panel/git-status.png)

Use {#action project_panel::SelectNextGitEntry} and {#action
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.

## Diagnostics

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 {#action project_panel::SelectNextDiagnostic} and
{#action project_panel::SelectPrevDiagnostic} to navigate between files that
have diagnostics.

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

## Filtering and Sorting

### Hiding Files

- `project_panel.hide_gitignore` hides files matched by `.gitignore`. Toggle
  this with {#action project_panel::ToggleHideGitIgnore}.
- `project_panel.hide_hidden` hides dotfiles and other hidden entries. Toggle
  with {#action project_panel::ToggleHideHidden}.

### Sorting

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.

## Other Actions

- {#action project_panel::RevealInFileManager} ({#kb
  project_panel::RevealInFileManager}) reveals the selected entry in Finder /
  File Explorer.
- {#action project_panel::NewSearchInDirectory} ({#kb
  project_panel::NewSearchInDirectory}) opens a project search scoped to the
  selected directory.
- {#action project_panel::RemoveFromProject} removes a workspace root folder
  from the project.