How to check that which default file manager you are using on linux #linux #linuxcommands

To find out which file manager you're using on Linux, here are a few methods depending on your setup:

### Method 1: Check Desktop Environment's Default File Manager
If you know your desktop environment, you can infer the default file manager:

- **GNOME**: Usually uses **Nautilus** (also known as **Files**).
- **KDE Plasma**: Usually uses **Dolphin**.
- **XFCE**: Usually uses **Thunar**.
- **LXQt**: Usually uses **PCManFM-Qt**.
- **MATE**: Usually uses **Caja**.

You can identify your desktop environment by running:

```bash
echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
```

This will output the name of the desktop environment, helping you identify the default file manager.

### Method 2: Checking the `xdg-mime` Settings
You can check what file manager is set as the default for opening folders with:

```bash
xdg-mime query default inode/directory
```

This command will return the `.desktop` file associated with the default file manager, e.g., `org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop` or `dolphin.desktop`.

### Method 3: Check Running Processes
If you have the file manager open, you can identify it by looking for its process name:

```bash
ps -e | grep -E 'nautilus|dolphin|thunar|pcmanfm|caja'
```

This command searches for common file manager processes. If one of these is running, it should appear in the output.

### Method 4: Run Common File Manager Commands
If you still aren't sure, try running common file manager commands in the terminal to see which one launches your file manager. For example:

```bash
nautilus .      # For GNOME
dolphin .       # For KDE
thunar .        # For XFCE
pcmanfm .       # For LXQt or LXDE
caja .          # For MATE
```

Only the installed file manager should launch when you run its command.