https://github.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter

Adds a Filter button to the VS Code Explorer toolbar — the file filter that should be there by default.
https://github.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter

explorer file-explorer filter productivity search visual-studio-code vscode vscode-extension

Last synced: about 15 hours ago
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Adds a Filter button to the VS Code Explorer toolbar — the file filter that should be there by default.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter
• Owner: mayerwin
• License: mit
• Created: 2026-06-10T11:21:33.000Z (18 days ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2026-06-10T12:20:25.000Z (18 days ago)
• Last Synced: 2026-06-10T13:13:24.159Z (18 days ago)
• Topics: explorer, file-explorer, filter, productivity, search, visual-studio-code, vscode, vscode-extension
• Language: JavaScript
• Size: 89.8 KB
• Stars: 1
• Watchers: 0
• Forks: 0
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
  • License: LICENSE

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README

          
# Explorer File Filter

A tiny VS Code extension that adds a **Filter** button to the Explorer toolbar — right next to *Collapse Folders* — so you can filter the file tree with one click instead of hunting for a keyboard shortcut.

It's the button that should have been there by default. Nothing to configure — it just works.

## What it does

- Adds a 🔍 **Filter** button to the Explorer view title bar (after the *Collapse Folders* icon).

- Clicking it focuses the Explorer and opens its built-in filter, which **prunes the tree to matching files** as you type.

## How it works

**1. A new Filter button appears in the Explorer toolbar** — right after *Collapse Folders*:

![Filter button in the Explorer toolbar](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter/main/images/screenshot-1-button.png)

**2. Click it and the filter opens instantly:**

![Explorer filter open](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter/main/images/screenshot-2-open.png)

**3. Type, and the tree narrows to matching files:**

![Explorer filter in action](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter/main/images/screenshot-3-filtered.png)

Press `Esc` to clear and close the filter.

## Why

VS Code can already filter the Explorer tree — when the Explorer is focused you can open the filter with `Ctrl+Alt+F` (Windows/Linux), `⌥⌘F` / `Cmd+Alt+F` (macOS), or `F3` — but that shortcut is hidden and many people never discover it. This extension surfaces the same filter as an obvious toolbar button, exactly where you'd expect to find it.

## Filter mode

So the filter **prunes** the tree (rather than only highlighting matches), the extension sets the built-in setting `workbench.list.defaultFindMode` to `filter` the first time it runs. This is a standard VS Code setting that applies to tree filters — you can change it back at any time in Settings.

## Troubleshooting

**The Filter button disappeared from the Explorer toolbar?**

VS Code lets you hide toolbar buttons (through the `…` menu, or by right-clicking them). If the Filter button gets hidden, re-checking it in the `…` menu only returns it to the overflow menu — it won't re-pin to the toolbar. To bring the icon back:

> **Right-click any Explorer toolbar icon (or the Explorer title bar) → "Reset Menu".**

That restores the default toolbar, Filter button included. This is standard VS Code behavior and applies to every toolbar button, not just this one.

## Install

- **Marketplace:** search for *Explorer File Filter* in the Extensions view, or install from the [Visual Studio Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=mayerwin.explorer-file-filter).

- **From a `.vsix`:** download the latest from [Releases](https://github.com/mayerwin/explorer-file-filter/releases) and run *Extensions: Install from VSIX…*.

## License

[MIT](LICENSE) © Erwin Mayer