---
title: "Midnight Commander"
category: "Terminal and shell"
tagline: "A two-pane terminal file manager in the style of Norton Commander."
source: "pacman"
package: "mc"
command: "mc"
website: "https://midnight-commander.org/"
code: "https://github.com/MidnightCommander/mc"
---

## What it is

Midnight Commander is a terminal file manager with two side-by-side panes, function-key shortcuts and a menu bar, modeled on the DOS-era Norton Commander. It copies and moves files between panes, browses inside archives, and includes a text editor (`mcedit`) and file viewer. You can use the mouse in it, too.

## Why it's here

- **Easy to learn.** The function keys are labeled along the bottom of the screen.
- **Two panes.** Copying between directories is one keypress.
- **Handy on servers.** It runs anywhere there's a terminal.

## On CoreDesktop

Midnight Commander is installed from pacman with no extra setup. Type `mc` in a terminal. `update` keeps it current along with the rest of the pacman packages.